Baird snags another Morgan Stanley Smith Barney team

Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. has made another addition to its wealth management business, this time snatching a $150 million adviser team from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.
MAR 31, 2010
Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. has made another addition to its wealth management business, this time snatching a $150 million adviser team from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Russ Guard, a 15-year veteran of Smith Barney, and Jacob Duffy, who was with Smith Barney for five years, will operate as a team serving the Phoenix-Scottsdale market. At their prior firm, Mr. Guard and Mr. Duffy brought in $1 million in revenue annually, said Baird spokeswoman Anne Crago. The two advisers are joined by Carol Frasco, a registered client relationship associate. Ms. Frasco was at MSSB for about seven years, the Baird spokeswoman said. The new hires are in keeping with Milwaukee-based Baird's expansion strategy, the firm emphasized today. The $55 billion firm now employs 50 associates in the Phoenix-Scottsdale market and operates two office locations in Arizona. This year, Baird added 22 financial advisers, and last year, it added more than 100. The firm also recently announced plans to open offices in Charlotte, N.C., and St. Paul, Minn.

Latest News

Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients
Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients

By listening for what truly matters and where clients want to make a difference, advisors can avoid politics and help build more personal strategies.

Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak
Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak

JPMorgan and RBC have also welcomed ex-UBS advisors in Texas, while Steward Partners and SpirePoint make new additions in the Sun Belt.

Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’
Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’

Counsel representing Lisa Cook argued the president's pattern of publicly blasting the Fed calls the foundation for her firing into question.

SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation
SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation

The two firms violated the Advisers Act and Reg BI by making misleading statements and failing to disclose conflicts to retail and retirement plan investors, according to the regulator.

RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia
RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia

Elsewhere, two breakaway teams from Morgan Stanley and Merrill unite to form a $2 billion RIA, while a Texas-based independent merges with a Bay Area advisory practice.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.