Four Merrill advisors from southeast Michigan have been named to the Barron’s 2026 Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list, a national ranking that recognizes advisors for professional excellence, client service, and industry leadership.
Jason Bowens, Melissa “Missy” Spickler, Dana Locniskar, and Abe Post were among the Michigan advisors included on this year’s list. Barron’s evaluates advisors using criteria that include industry experience, assets under management, regulatory record, and overall quality of practice. Together, the four advisors represent decades of experience serving individuals, families, executives, business owners, and institutions throughout southeast Michigan.
Bowens serves as managing director and wealth management advisor with The BBRK Wealth Management Group in Farmington Hills. A Northville resident originally from Lincoln Park, Bowens earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan Technological University before completing graduate studies at Purdue University and Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. In addition to holding the CFA, CFP, and CRPS designations, Bowens has remained active in youth sports and civic leadership efforts throughout the Detroit region, including Leadership Detroit and the Detroit Athletic Club.
Spickler, based in Bloomfield Hills, has spent more than four decades building a nationally recognized wealth management practice. She currently serves as managing director and wealth management advisor with The Spickler Wealth Management Group and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation. Along with repeated recognition on Barron’s Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list, Spickler also has been recognized by Forbes and Barron’s through rankings including Forbes’ Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State and Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors lists.
Locniskar, who joined Merrill in 1970, leads a Bloomfield Hills-based advisory team specializing in wealth management for high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and family offices. His work focuses on areas including philanthropic planning, trust and estate planning services, and concentrated stock strategies.
Over the course of his career, Locniskar has received recognition from Forbes, Barron’s, and the Financial Times, while his advisory team has also earned national recognition for private wealth management excellence. He currently serves on the boards of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, City Year Detroit, and Teach for America Detroit.
Post, founder and lead advisor of Post & Associates in Bloomfield Hills, began his career with Merrill in 1992. A graduate of Wayne State University, Post focuses on investment planning for individuals, families, and businesses, including employer-sponsored retirement plans. He holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designations and is designated by Merrill as a retirement benefits consultant. He remains active in the community through St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and local volunteer leadership efforts.
“The inclusion of these four advisors on Barron’s 2026 ‘Top 1,500 Financial Advisors’ list highlights the continued strength of Merrill’s advisory presence in Southeast Michigan,” says Ed Siaje, president of Bank of America Detroit. “This honor reflects the importance of long-term client relationships, experience, and community involvement within the wealth management profession, exemplified by these Merrill advisors.”
