Baird deepens Arizona reach with former $305M Edelman Financial Engines team

Baird deepens Arizona reach with former $305M Edelman Financial Engines team
New Chandler office strengthens firm’s Southwest foothold for advisors and clients alike.
FEB 03, 2026

Baird has expanded its Arizona presence with the addition of an experienced advisory team and the opening of a new private wealth management office in Chandler, continuing the firm’s steady growth across the Southwest.

The Cowans Mitchell Group has joined Baird from Edelman Financial Engines and will operate from offices at 3100 West Ray Road. The team oversees approximately $305 million in client assets and is led by Director and Financial Advisor Jason Cowans, alongside Vice President and Financial Advisor Wilson Mitchell and Client Assistant Carmen Vander Wal.

Cowans brings more than 25 years of industry experience, having previously held roles at ING Funds, H&R Block Financial Advisors and Salomon Smith Barney. He holds the CFP and ChFC designations and earned a mathematics degree from the University of Arizona. Mitchell has nearly two decades in financial services, holds CFP and CRPC credentials, and received his finance degree from the University of Utah.

“We are excited to have Jason and Wilson join our best-in-class team and help launch our new Chandler location. Their decades of experience and intricate knowledge of the local Arizona community will help to further enhance our offerings as we continue to grow our presence in the Southwest,” said Adam Persily, market director with Baird.

The Chandler office adds to Baird’s existing Arizona locations in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Kierland, Peoria (Sun City) and Tucson, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to serving clients throughout the state.

Baird’s Private Wealth Management business includes nearly 1,400 financial advisors with an average of 20 years of experience, overseeing more than $369 billion in client assets as of Sept. 30, 2025.

Latest News

What it really takes to serve ultra high net worth clients
What it really takes to serve ultra high net worth clients

Most firms think they are ready for the ultra high net worth market. Most are not.

Stifel settles another complaint involving former star Miami broker
Stifel settles another complaint involving former star Miami broker

Stifel has paid or is on the hook for close to a staggering $200 million in damages and settlements to former clients of Chuck Roberts.

Advisor moves: LPL firm Genesis Wealth adds $725M veteran from JPMorgan
Advisor moves: LPL firm Genesis Wealth adds $725M veteran from JPMorgan

UBS also expanded in the Southeast with six advisors overseeing more than $2 billion, while Osaic lured a $300 million family-led practice from Wells Fargo's FiNet.

Salesforce launches Agentic Advisor as AI notetakers threaten CRM dominance
Salesforce launches Agentic Advisor as AI notetakers threaten CRM dominance

The new AI workspace rollout promises to automate the full advisor workflow just as third-party tools wage a turf war for central control of wealth firms' tech stacks.

Advisor moves: LPL lands UBS veteran as &Partners grows by $1.6 billion
Advisor moves: LPL lands UBS veteran as &Partners grows by $1.6 billion

Mega-RIA picks up $250M advisor, while three firms head for &Partners.

SPONSORED Why direct indexing stopped being optional

Direct indexing is on pace to outgrow ETFs and mutual funds. Northern Trust's Ken Lassner explains why the advisors who get it wish they had started sooner.

SPONSORED Estate planning isn't a service add-on. It's your retention strategy.

As $84 trillion prepares to change hands, advisors who treat estate planning as peripheral are quietly building a sieve, not a book.