About The Role:
As a Wealth Planner at Baird, you will serve as a trusted technical expert and strategic partner to Financial Advisors (FAs) and clients, delivering advanced financial planning solutions across a broad range of complex scenarios. This role requires deep expertise in tax planning, estate strategies, and wealth management principles, along with the ability to lead initiatives that enhance planning capabilities firmwide.
You will work primarily from one of Baird’s offices in either Chicago, Indianapolis, or the Twin Cities with flexibility for regional travel. This position offers the opportunity to influence planning standards, mentor team members, and contribute to thought leadership in a collaborative, client-focused environment that values integrity and innovation.
The Impact You’ll Make:
- Lead the development and delivery of sophisticated financial plans for high-net-worth clients using firm-approved tools and methodologies.
- Provide advanced guidance on income tax, estate planning, and wealth transfer strategies; research and resolve complex issues.
- Serve as a subject matter expert for Financial Advisors and internal teams on planning concepts and regulatory considerations.
- Mentor and train junior and intermediate planners to build technical expertise and ensure consistency in service delivery.
- Create and present thought leadership content, including articles, webinars, and client presentations on advanced planning topics.
- Collaborate with internal specialists (tax, trust, investment) to design integrated solutions for clients.
- Partner with leadership to refine planning processes, tools, and service tiers to meet evolving client needs.
- Support business development efforts by demonstrating the value of planning in client acquisition and retention.
- Represent the Financial & Estate Planning team in cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives.
What You’ll Bring to Baird:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of financial planning experience, including advanced tax and estate planning; brokerage or wealth management experience strongly preferred.
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation required; additional credentials such as CPA, EA, CLU, or CIMA highly desirable.
- Basic brokerage licenses (Series 7, 66) required or ability to obtain promptly.
- Demonstrated experience in creating complex planning strategies and leading client-facing engagements.
Compensation and Benefits:
- $75,000-$140,000 annual salary range.
- Bonus potential up to 20-25% of base pay.
- Compensation and bonus are commensurate with experience, performance, and/or firm profitability.
- Check out our Total Rewards at Baird, which is a summary of our benefits and compensation.
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Baird is committed to diversity and provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, military service, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.
Baird Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Baird and has not been reviewed or approved by Baird.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings are positioned as a major strength, including a strong 401(k) with matching and profit-sharing contributions, plus access to financial planning support. Long-term wealth building is further reinforced through employee ownership and stock purchase opportunities.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits are framed as generous, including unlimited PTO in some descriptions, paid holidays, and paid volunteer time. Flex time and work-from-home options are also included as part of the broader work-life package.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive, spanning medical, dental, vision, and mental health support, alongside wellness programs and HSA/FSA options. Preventive care and employer contributions toward HSA/deductibles are highlighted as part of the design.
Baird Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1919, Baird has guided families, businesses, communities and institutions toward their financial goals for a century. Today employee-owned Baird offers wealth management, investment banking, asset management, institutional sales and trading, equity research, public finance and private equity services through more than 160 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Baird manages and oversees more than $305 billion in assets for clients around the world and employs more than 4,600 associates. Baird has been one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® since 2004, and is committed to policies and practices that provide equal employment opportunity at all times. These non-discriminatory practices apply to all areas of employment including: hiring, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits and educational opportunities. “Baird” is the marketing name for Robert W. Baird & Co., Incorporated and subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. For more information, please visit www.rwbaird.com.
