Baird snags Wells Fargo adviser, opens retail office in Denver

Karen Ogard, a 26-year industry veteran, last week left Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, where she was in the brokerage's Greenwood Village, Colo., office, and joined Robert W. Baird & Co. Ms. Ogard, a legacy A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. rep with more than $150 million in assets, also brought over two assistants to Baird, Kim Church and Veronica Manary. The trio opened up Baird's first retail office in Denver. Ms. Ogard began her brokerage career in April 1983 with A.G. Edwards. Baird “has a similar culture to A.G. Edwards,” Ms. Ogard said. “They're small enough so every client matters, but with access to the best” resources. Like other regional firms, Baird has been able to take advantage of turmoil at the larger firms. The company said it has added close to 100 brokers this year, bringing its head count to more than 600 reps.