Office address: 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Website: rwbaird.com
Year established: 1919
Company type: financial services
Employees: 5,300+
Expertise: wealth management, asset management, investment banking, private equity, trust services, public finance, institutional research, equity trading, fixed income, estate planning
Parent company: Baird Financial Corporation
Key people: Steven Booth (CEO), James Allen and Kim Fleming (vice chairs), Timothy Byrne (chief information officer), Erik Dahlberg (president), Brian Doyal (co-head of global investment banking), Terrance Maxwell (CFO)
Financing status: corporation
Baird (Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated) is an employee-owned financial services firm based in Milwaukee, with more than 200 offices worldwide. As of 2025, it manages $525 billion in client assets and offers:
The company is recognized for reporting steady profits every year for 40 years and for its strong financial management.
The company was founded by Robert W. Baird in 1919. It weathered the Great Depression and played a role in financing local landmarks, like the Empire Building in Milwaukee.
The company’s leadership made bold moves, such as buying back $1 million in stock from its parent company in 1934. This gave the firm more control over its future.
In 1948, Baird joined the NYSE, with partners like Frieda Mueller helping pave the way. The postwar era brought new opportunities, and the firm guided investors through changing markets. The 1960s and 1970s saw the company grow its offices and support local companies, even during tough economic times.
The 1980s and 1990s brought more growth, with Baird focusing on research and client service. The firm expanded internationally in 1999 by acquiring Granville in London as it aimed to become a top middle-market investment firm.
In 2004, the company became fully independent again after buying itself back from Northwestern Mutual, reinforcing its employee-owned culture.
The company marked its 100th anniversary in 2019 by bringing thousands of associates to Milwaukee. In 2024, Baird won a $4.6 million arbitration claim, defending its business against Raymond James.
In 2025, it welcomed advisor teams from Janney and Wells Fargo to show its focus on growth and service. The company also expanded into Massachusetts with a new wealth office in Danvers.
Baird’s investment offerings are shaped by its employee ownership and focus on long-term relationships. The firm delivers a broad set of solutions, which include:
The company serves clients from more than 200 locations worldwide, including offices across three continents. Its broad reach and experienced team help deliver specialized solutions wherever clients need them.
Baird states that its culture values employee ownership and encourages every voice and idea. The firm says it is committed to a diverse, inclusive environment built on trust and respect.
The company’s mission is to live out its Baird Way:
The firm views inclusion and diversity as a shared responsibility and ongoing journey. The company says that it supports progress for associates, clients, and communities through a range of benefits:
It also supports ESG principles by running programs like Baird Gives Back Week and the Go Green initiative. The firm reports 200,000 client households get paperless statements, and 90 percent of workstation materials are recyclable.
Steve Booth is chair and CEO of the firm and serves on the board of Baird Financial Group and related companies. Before joining the company, Booth worked at Kidder, Peabody & Co. in Chicago’s corporate finance office. He holds business and economics degrees from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Northwestern.
The leadership team at Baird guides the firm’s strategy and supports its long-term growth and client focus:
Baird says that its leadership team focuses on stability and deep industry experience. Their continuity helps strengthen client relationships and build lasting expertise.
Baird has expanded its presence in California by opening a new office in Santa Clara. The company brought on Robert Choy as director and financial advisor, who managed $150 million at Edelman Financial Engines, a national investment advisory firm. This move is part of a wave of 2025 initiatives by major firms to bring in experienced advisors and expand their reach.
To expand access to alternative investments for US wealth clients, the company has also formed a strategic partnership with Sagard. It acquired a minority stake with the Canadian alternative asset manager and will distribute select alternative strategies through its private wealth network. This collaboration helps Baird offer new investment options and supports its long-term focus on product innovation and advisor education.
In a sign that the economy may be on the verge of another recession, investors are paying less for equities than they have during every recession since Ronald Reagan was president
Robert W. Baird & Co. has lured father-son team M. William McCollum Jr. and Travis McCollum from Wells Fargo Advisors LLC to work in its Charlotte, N.C., office.
Ones who get it right really stand out from the pack, say industry watchers
The following is a list of the ten firms that attracted financial advisers with the most assets during the 12-month period ending March 31, 2011, according to data recorded in the InvestmentNews <a href=InvestmentNews <a href=http://www.investmentnews.com/section/recruiting-moves>Advisers on the Move</a> database. During that time, InvestmentNews tracked 544 financial advisers that have changed firms, with more than $76 billion in client assets at the time of their departure.
Americans spending less, saving more; overall indebtedness at lowest level since 1994
The Ohio Division of Securities issued a notice that it intends to file a cease-and-desist order against a banned broker who allegedly continued to act as an investment adviser
The firm is seeking $344K from the ex-broker - and current Hamilton County, Ohio trustee - for alleged 'unauthorized withdrawals' from a client's account.
Says brokerage told officials in Wisconsin it would take '15 Enrons' to sink $200M investment; CDOs went bust
Selling into a depressed market is not the brightest move ever, but that's what many clients are doing by cashing out their muni bond funds. The better play? Stay patient -- and buy individual bonds
Recruiters say laid off trainees and low producers won't have trouble lining up work
Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. is opening up an office in Salt Lake City to offer financial advice with the help of Dean Cottle, a veteran wirehouse complex manager from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.
When seemingly every broker-dealer wants to increase its reps — at a time when the total population of financial advisers is in the process of shrinking — is it possible for anyone to actually win the so-called recruiting wars?
Agency extends due date for Form 8939;' good news' for those struggling with cost basis of property
If an investor can hang on during short-term periods of underperformance, it turns out the old buy-and-hold argument for well-managed mutual funds may be right after all. That's one of the key take-aways of research conducted by Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.
The 200 to 300 financial advisers and trainees given their walking papers at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC this quarter probably won't have much trouble finding new jobs, according to industry recruiters.
