Why did you join the financial services industry?

As a child, I visited New York City often.  I was fascinated by the professionals on the subway getting off at the Wall Street station.  I didn’t know what they did, but it sure looked like they were energized going to work. I knew I wanted to do something like that.  Later as a teen, I read a book on investments.  The idea of letting your savings grow and compound was fascinating.  I was hooked.

 Why were you looking to leave your old firm? 

Our team came to the realization that putting clients first was more important to our team than it was to our previous firm.  We wanted to be a service driven team, focused on the clients’ true needs, and not a corporate agenda or priorities. We lost the ability to make our own staffing and hiring decisions as a team, along with having to endure ever-changing service models, client segmenting and advisor compensation plans. We realized the firm model wasn’t getting better for our clients or associates - that’s when we knew it was time to look for other options.

What about Baird was appealing to you?

For me personally, it was the culture and vision.  When we had our Milwaukee recruiting visit, I had one simple question in my head as we met with Baird’s leaders: “Would I put these individuals in front of our clients?”  The answer was a resounding “YES” for every person we met with.  The passion and vision for Baird was contagious!

What were the deciding factors that made you join Baird?

We considered a great deal of other firms from traditional wire houses, private banks and firms in the RIA sector.  It’s a lot to choose from and can be overwhelming.Baird rose to the top for us because they are a private wealth firm with complimentary lines of business that enhance the client relationship.  This includes excellent investment banking, asset management, fixed income capital markets and trust platforms.   As a team that focuses on business owners and generational wealth, we have a great deal of confidence in leveraging these additional Baird services to best support our clients.Another key factor was the investment research Baird offers.  Having both Strategas and our Private Wealth strategists in house is a tremendous benefit to our clients. Lastly, the ability to invest in Baird’s privately held stock along with our fellow associates sealed the deal.  Too many other firms are diluted in purpose by too many outside stakeholders.  We enjoy knowing we have only two: our clients and our fellow associates.  Success here truly is shared. Baird offered a well-developed wealth management platform along with a growth mindset to allow us to serve our clients and their families for many years.

What makes Baird truly different in the industry?

I’m surrounded by people who enjoy working at Baird.  The employee ownership and client driven culture unites our associates and makes it a great place to work.  We all row in the same direction.

After being at Baird for a little while, have your expectations been met?  

My expectations have been greatly exceeded.  We heard a lot of recruiting pitches in our search for a better firm.  We found Baird had the best understanding of our team and whether we would be a fit for their culture.  That was important to us. 

Culture drift has negatively impacted many firms in this industry.  After two years, I can tell you the culture is as strong as promised.  We found a great home for our clients.

What is your career like at Baird today?

Energized.  After 30 years in the financial services industry, I am energized daily by the quality of the people around me and their passion for the firm.  Many of my clients have noticed.

What would you want other Financial Advisors contemplating a move to know about Baird?

It is an outstanding platform to serve your clients.  Every associate here is focused on serving those clients with you.  I wish I had found it sooner.