Mission Statement

Navigating complex wealth requires more than making investing decisions. We aim to help you step back and see the big picture - advocating for you, your family, and the people and causes you care about. Working together, we design strategies developed to help you grow, sustain, and transfer your wealth to amplify the impact at every step of life’s journey with insight, simplicity, perspective, and solutions.

Welcome

As a multi-generational legacy team, we help client families streamline the complexities of significant wealth. We’ve built our team to provide continuity and connectivity across life stages and priorities. Our structure and approach nurture each family’s long-term legacy through customized advice and guidance.

Recognition

Dana Locniskar

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Advisors", 2016-2025

(Published in April 2023-2024. Rankings based on data as of June of the previous year. Years pre-dating 2023, published annually Aug - Oct. Rankings based on data as of March - June of current year.)

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Show More Recognitions

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Advisors", 2016-2025

(Published in April 2023-2024. Rankings based on data as of June of the previous year. Years pre-dating 2023, published annually Aug - Oct. Rankings based on data as of March - June of current year.)

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2025

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2025

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Barron's "Top 100 Financial Advisors", 2005-2007, 2009, 2011

(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)

Financial Times "400 Top Financial Advisers", 2013-2014, 2017, 2019-2020

(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors", 2009-2025

(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024-2025

(Published annually in May. Years pre-dating 2024, published as Barron's "Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams" list annually March - April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)

Show more recognition

Dana Locniskar

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Advisors", 2016-2025

(Published in April 2023-2024. Rankings based on data as of June of the previous year. Years pre-dating 2023, published annually Aug - Oct. Rankings based on data as of March - June of current year.)

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Show More Recognitions

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Advisors", 2016-2025

(Published in April 2023-2024. Rankings based on data as of June of the previous year. Years pre-dating 2023, published annually Aug - Oct. Rankings based on data as of March - June of current year.)

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2025

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2025

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Barron's "Top 100 Financial Advisors", 2005-2007, 2009, 2011

(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)

Financial Times "400 Top Financial Advisers", 2013-2014, 2017, 2019-2020

(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors", 2009-2025

(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024-2025

(Published annually in May. Years pre-dating 2024, published as Barron's "Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams" list annually March - April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)

Thomas Pursel

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors", 2014-2017

(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2020-2025

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Show More Recognitions

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors", 2014-2017

(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2020-2025

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2025

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024-2025

(Published annually in May. Years pre-dating 2024, published as Barron's "Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams" list annually March - April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)

Matthew Biddinger

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor

Forbes "America's Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors", 2017-2019

(Published annually July – Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors", 2019

(Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.)

Show More Recognitions

Forbes "America's Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors", 2017-2019

(Published annually July – Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors", 2019

(Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2022-2023, 2025

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2025

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Forbes "America's Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024-2025

(Published annually in May. Years pre-dating 2024, published as Barron's "Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams" list annually March - April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)

Griffin Nienberg

Senior Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2022-2025

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State", 2022-2025

(Published annually Aug - September. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Show More Recognitions

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2022-2025

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State", 2022-2025

(Published annually Aug - September. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2025

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024-2025

(Published annually in May. Years pre-dating 2024, published as Barron's "Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams" list annually March - April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)

John Rochow

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State", 2023-2025

(Published annually Aug - September. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Show More Recognitions

Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State", 2023-2025

(Published annually Aug - September. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2025

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024-2025

(Published annually in May. Years pre-dating 2024, published as Barron's "Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams" list annually March - April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)

The Locniskar Pursel Biddinger Nienberg Rochow Group

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2025

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Forbes "America's Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024

(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024-2025

(Published annually in May. Years pre-dating 2024, published as Barron's "Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams" list annually March - April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)

Click here to learn more about advisor recognitions

Our Approach

The Locniskar Pursel Biddinger Nienberg Rochow Group

From our locations in Bloomfield Hills, MI and Coral Gables, FL, our group of investment professionals provide financial services and strategies to help streamline the complexities of significant wealth, offering a highly sophisticated boutique-like level of service supported by the resources of a global investment firm. Client balances entrusted to our team were $4.983 billion as of September 19, 2025, and include ultra-affluent individuals, families, corporations, endowments, and non-profit organizations.

Our group's combined partner experience is over 147 years at Merrill, and our approach is designed to nurture each client's long-term legacy through customized advice and guidance. As a multi-generational team, each client has direct, one-on-one access to a partner of our group, which combined with the scope of our services, helps to create a powerful synergy to streamline clients' financial lives.

Investment management through Merrill
Liquidity Event & Succession Planning strategies through consultation with the Private Sales Referral Network (PSRN)
Trust, estate, and philanthropy planning strategies through access to Bank of America
Tax-effective hedging and diversification strategies; concentrated stock management for corporate executives
Insurance solutions through Merrill Lynch Life Agency, Inc.
Credit and banking needs through access to Bank of America
Access to Family Office Services through Merrill

Meet Our Team

Dana Locniskar

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor

248.540.2070

Thomas Pursel,

CPFA®

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor

248.540.2041

Matthew Biddinger,

CIMA®

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor

248.540.2045

Griffin Nienberg,

CEPA®, CPFA®, CRPC™

Senior Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor

248.540.3092

John Rochow,

CPFA®, CPWA®, SE-AWMA™

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

248.540.2656

Trevor J Andrews,

CFA

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Investment Management Specialist

248.540.2087

Griffin Horne,

CRPC™

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Planner

248.540.2125

Debbie J O'Parka

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Associate

248.540.2143

Jennifer R Gelineau

Officer, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate

248.540.2527

Sandra L Kinsler

Officer, Registered Wealth Management Client Associate

248.540.2880

Elizabeth Horne

Private Wealth Client Associate

248.540.2446

Zachary Schmidtke

Officer, Private Wealth Client Associate

248.540.2411

Michelle D Silver

Private Wealth Client Associate

248.540.2172

Lauren Ruggirello

Registered Private Wealth Client Associate

248.540.2197

Alyssa Cox

Private Wealth Client Associate

248.540.3334

Avery Waite

Registered Private Wealth Client Associate

248.540.3056

Additional Resources

The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Private Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.

Nicholas A. Beilfuss

Wealth Strategist

Merrill

Clauter Charleston

Alternative Investments Regional Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Bridget Swan

Wealth Management Lending Officer

NMLS #426159

Bank of America, N.A.

Expand to see all specialists

Insights

Market Briefs: Breaking insights on the economy and policy changes

Considerations for potentially reducing your tax bill this year or moving forward

Insights on how families can navigate communication amidst wealth

Strategic approaches to real estate gifting

The value of developing family policies

Market Decode: Small caps, big potential

About Private Wealth

We meet complexity head on
Growing and navigating wealth isn't a straight line. There are complexities and opportunities at every turn. That's why your Merrill team serves as mission control for your wealth, offering the highest level of execution and world-class intellectual capital to help keep you moving forward through every pivotal moment. Find out what it's like to work with us.