Baird snatches Wells Fargo adviser with $350M in AUM

Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. has added a top broker from Wells Fargo and a new director to its Houston market. Gary Foose Jr. joins the firm as a director and financial adviser in Houston with $350 million in client assets and $1 million in annual production. “Gary's a high-integrity guy. He's been in the business 25 years and has a loyal client base,” said Jarrett Kovics, regional director for Baird's private wealth management business. Craig Young, previously a branch manager at UBS Financial Services, has been named director of the Houston market. He will oversee Baird's two local wealth management offices. “I've been wanting to hire Craig Young for two years and just needed the right opportunity,” said Mr. Kovics. “He has a ton of energy and we need that given the opportunity in such a large market.” This month, McAdams Wright Ragen, a Seattle firm with $10 billion in client assets, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Baird. Baird's wealth management business now includes 800 financial advisers with client assets of more than $100 billion. The firm has 80 offices throughout 26 states.