Auburn Hills, MI Cross Creek Pkwy Office

Danielle Ligon is a financial advisor at Merrill with 22 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated since 2014. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Olivia Mc Gowan is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill in 2022, she worked at Stanley Black and Decker, Inc and held various positions in public sector roles and retail organizations. She has been involved with Color Street, a direct sales company, since 2019. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Vincenzo Russo is a Financial Advisor affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he provides personalized guidance to clients, focusing on building trust and helping them pursue their financial goals through strategic planning. His services include retirement planning, investment guidance, asset consolidation strategies, and supporting clients in navigating financial decisions. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Vincenzo's approach emphasizes understanding clients' priorities and simplifying complex financial concepts into actionable plans. Outside of his professional work, Vincenzo's interests include basketball, boating, bowling, pickleball, and running.

Douglas Johnson is a financial advisor at Merrill with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory role, he serves in the U.S. Naval Reserves, participating in monthly training and annual mobilization exercises. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Kristina Abro is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been with Merrill since 2012, following her graduation from Central Michigan University. In her role, Kristina employs a comprehensive approach to asset and liability management, focusing on creating personalized wealth management strategies tailored to each client's unique financial picture and goals. Her expertise covers a range of client focus areas including college education planning, divorce transition planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Kristina holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), reflecting her professional qualifications in the financial sector. Kristina is also engaged in community involvement, following Merrill's tradition of service by volunteering with local organizations. Outside of her professional work, her personal interests include cooking, reading, skiing, watching movies, and practicing yoga.

Sarah Riedel is a financial advisor at Merrill with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Bank of America and Merrill since 2020. Her early career includes multiple roles at the University of Michigan and positions in financial services and law firms. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Brian Higgins is a financial advisor with Merrill in Auburn Hills, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and 43 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 1977 and has also worked with Bank of America since 2009. Outside of his advisory work, he serves in a power of attorney capacity for a non-investment-related entity. Merrill serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients, offering managed account programs, third-party manager selection, discretionary portfolio management, brokerage execution, and custody services. The firm’s investment management includes multiple program strategies and extensive manager-constructed offerings, supported by integration with Bank of America’s broader banking and capital markets platform.

Kyle Johnson is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Team Fioroni at Merrill in 2015 after graduating from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Personal Financial Planning. Kyle holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Kyle’s expertise spans executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, defined benefit and contribution plans, legacy and philanthropic planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, and special needs planning. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, he is dedicated to providing clear, practical financial guidance to help clients build security and confidently navigate complex financial decisions. Prior to joining Merrill, Kyle gained industry experience as an Associate Financial Representative at Northwestern Mutual and co-founded the Future Financial Advisors Association at Central Michigan University. In addition to his professional work, Kyle is actively involved in his community. He is a board member at the Meadowbrook Center for Learning Differences and has served as a presidential nominee for the Rochester Rotary Club. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, skiing, soccer, swimming, watching movies, and spending time with his family.

Nicholas Fioroni is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works with executives, entrepreneurs, and multigenerational families to help simplify financial decisions, focusing on areas such as family wealth management strategies, services for defined benefit plans, managing new wealth, and socially responsible, values-based, and ESG investing. At Merrill, Nicholas is part of a team dedicated to comprehensive wealth management, involved in retirement planning, business transitions, legacy strategies, and complex lending. Nicholas began his career in financial advising in 2013 at Merrill. Before joining his current team, he held positions as a project coordinator and quality engineer at Caterpillar. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University. His professional credentials include the designations of Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Outside of his professional work, Nicholas enjoys adventure sports such as skydiving, mountain biking, white water rafting, and playing organized sports. He also engages in activities like biking, cooking, hiking, skiing, traveling, and woodworking.

Antonio Bugli is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on areas such as Legacy Planning, Managing New Wealth, Personal Retirement Planning, Tax Minimization, and Retirement Income. Antonio holds the Professional Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys football, golfing, hiking, hunting, pickleball, spending time with his family, and traveling.

William Schmidt is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in wealth management for individuals and their families. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at helping them achieve their long-term goals. Drawing on the investment insights of Merrill and the banking capabilities of Bank of America, he provides tailored advice across a broad range of areas including college education planning, executive and equity compensation, family wealth management, legacy and liquidity planning, retirement income, and tax minimization. Mr. Schmidt holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Miami University, with minors in Management and Latin American Studies. He holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) professional designations. Committed to community involvement, he volunteers with organizations such as Teach on the Beach and Racquet Up Detroit and is a member of the Detroit Athletic Club. He resides in Royal Oak, MI, with his wife and two rescue dogs, and in his free time enjoys cooking, fishing, golfing, photography, skiing, and traveling.

Samantha White is a financial advisor at Merrill with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill since 2021, following a one-year tenure at UWM. Prior to her advisory career, she worked at Chili's for five years. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Matthew Hollis is a Wealth Management Advisor affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works closely with individuals and business owners to develop personalized financial strategies, focusing on areas such as portfolio construction, retirement planning, legacy planning, liquidity management, and tax minimization. Matthew emphasizes risk minimization and employs strategies including modern portfolio theory to reduce portfolio volatility by using low and negatively correlating asset classes. Matthew began his career in financial services in 2003 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Miami University. He further pursued education and holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Business Economics from Oakland University. His professional credentials include the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS) designations.Matthew is active in his community, serving as a youth basketball coach and participating in his church, Christ the Redeemer in Orion, Michigan. He also engages in various sports such as baseball, basketball, bowling, golf, ice hockey, soccer, swimming, and tennis, and values spending time with his family.

Rhylie Alaimo is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has been serving clients since 2015. She works as part of a team of financial advisors, aiming to help clients pursue their financial goals through personalized wealth management strategies tailored to their unique circumstances. Her areas of expertise include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, women and wealth, and retirement income. Rhylie holds a Bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and holds the professional designations Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of her professional work, Rhylie participates in community volunteering, including involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters. In her personal time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, pottery, reading, tennis, traveling, and watching movies.

Chris Liparoto is a Wealth Management Advisor with over 30 years of experience in providing financial and wealth management advice and services. He is a Managing Director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he supports clients including families, business owners, retirees, and professionals in pursuing their financial goals through customized strategies. His areas of focus include wealth management, investment-based strategies, estate and wealth transfer, money management selection, as well as financing and treasury management strategies for small businesses. Chris holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Sociology from Michigan State University. He has earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation, the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) designation, and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation. His credentials reflect his commitment to professional standards in financial planning and wealth management. Residing in Oakland Township, Michigan, Chris lives with his wife and four sons. He and his family are actively involved in sports and music, and they enjoy traveling together, including annual trips to Colorado. Chris has been involved in community service for over 15 years, serving on various nonprofit boards. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Notre Dame Preparatory School in Pontiac, Michigan.