Another ex-Edelman advisor joins Baird in Virginia

Another ex-Edelman advisor joins Baird in Virginia
Robert M. Sargent as director and financial advisor at Baird Private Wealth Management's Fairfax, Virginia office.
The employee-owned hybrid firm's latest hire in Fairfax reportedly managed $285M at his previous firm.
OCT 10, 2024

Baird Private Wealth Management is continuing to push deeper into Virginia as it welcomes another experienced financial advisor in the state.

The employee-owned firm announced the addition of Robert M. Sargent as director and financial advisor at its Fairfax, Virginia office, marking another step in the firm’s continuing growth strategy. Sargent joins the team alongside client assistant Kaitlyn Powell.

Sargent joins Baird after a brief tenure at Edelman Financial Engines, where he managed $245 million in assets. With 15 years of experience in the industry – including stints at Fidelity, Merrill and JPMorgan, according to his BrokerCheck profile – he brings significant expertise to his new role.

Apart from the Fairfax branch, which opened its doors in January, Baird operates three other offices across the state in Lynchburg, Richmond, and McLean. The firm's growing footprint underscores its ongoing commitment to delivering financial services to clients across the region.

"We are pleased to welcome Robert to our team,” Jim McGuire, Baird's branch manager at Fairfax said in a statement. "Our business is deeply committed to this region, and we look forward our continued growth in the region with the support of the Virginia community."

Sargent's hiring reflects a recent pattern of Virginia-based advisors exiting from Edelman and making their way to Baird, which included a 25-year veteran advisor who joined the Fairfax office in September and a pair of experienced professionals who went to its Richmond location.

Baird’s private wealth management division includes over 1,400 financial advisors across the country, with an average of 20 years of experience. The firm manages client assets totaling more than $310 billion as of June 30, 2024. 

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.