Baird Adds Ten Seasoned Financial Advisors in Sacramento, Opens Two New Offices

Firm Continues Northern California Expansion

Baird, an international, employee-owned wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm, today announced that it has added ten seasoned financial advisors and opened two new wealth management offices in the Sacramento area. The development is yet another illustration of Baird’s continued growth in Northern California.

The Meyers Investment Group, which includes eight financial professionals, has opened the firm’s first wealth management office in Grass Valley, Calif. The Meyers Group includes three financial advisors with more than 50 years of combined experience in the industry: Kenneth Meyers, Managing Director, Rick Hansen, Vice President, and Matthew Enright, Vice President.

In addition to the Meyers Investment Group, several other seasoned financial advisors – David Ettl, Senior Vice President, Jonathan Lee, Senior Vice President, John Landberg, Senior Vice President, Terry Lineberger, First Vice President, Jamie Nelson, First Vice President, Robert Ferriman III, Vice President and Bruce Yoshida, Vice President – have joined Baird. Lineberger and Nelson are working from the firm’s other new Sacramento area wealth management office, located in the mid-town neighborhood. Ettl and Lee are based from the new Grass Valley office. And Ferriman, Landberg and Yoshida are working from Baird’s Roseville office, which opened in November.

“We are very pleased to have these veteran advisors join Baird and continue our expansion in Northern California,” said Michael J. Schroeder, Director, Private Wealth Management. “Adding this high caliber talent, just months after opening our first Sacramento office, demonstrates our ability to attract top advisors who, in turn, can provide the best financial advice and service to the high-net-worth individuals, families and corporations we serve.”

Steve Stahlberg, Managing Director and Regional Director, added, “Baird is committed to this region. We are very focused on recruiting the best talent and we’re having great success. These financial professionals will enhance our ability to offer the most comprehensive service to clients, and we are thrilled to have them as a part of the Baird team.”

In addition to its three wealth management offices in the greater Sacramento area, Baird operates an investment banking office in Palo Alto and a fixed income sales & trading and equity research office in San Francisco. The firm plans to open additional wealth management offices in Northern California in the future.

Baird’s Private Wealth Management business continues to grow around the country. In 2008, the firm added 59 veteran Financial Advisors – an 84 percent increase in recruitment over the previous year. Since the beginning of 2009, Baird has hired 62 advisors. Beyond adding talent, Baird’s Private Wealth Management business has added new offices in other key markets including Baltimore, Easton, Md., Philadelphia and Minnetonka, Minn., and announced plans to open offices in San Francisco and Nevada.

Baird uses a comprehensive, team-based approach to financial planning and wealth management, supported by world-class research and technology. Baird Financial Advisors serve as personal wealth managers, developing customized financial strategies that address key concerns such as financial planning, asset allocation, tax management and wealth transfer. They are supported by nearly 60 in-house specialists in areas including estate planning, tax planning, investment research, and specialized services for business owners and corporate executives.

Teams enable Baird Financial Advisors to leverage their complementary strengths and develop advanced specialization for the benefit of clients. In addition to an average of 17 years of industry experience, nearly half of Baird’s Financial Advisors hold at least one professional designation or have qualified as a Senior Investment Consultant through Baird’s program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Baird’s ongoing investment in sophisticated tools helps Financial Advisors achieve a clear view of their clients’ goals, assets and strategies, and enables them to implement a broader array of investment solutions.

About Baird Private Wealth Management
Using a consultative approach, Baird’s 600 Financial Advisors deliver comprehensive wealth management solutions to clients nationwide. They have the resources to oversee the complete financial picture for high-net-worth families and individuals with complex financial needs. Baird Financial Advisors managed and oversaw $44 billion in client assets as of Dec. 31, 2009.

Leveraging a network of specialists, Baird Financial Advisors also work closely with business owners and corporate clients to address the specific needs of corporate executives, benefit coordinators and those in need of business transition planning.

About Baird
Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has more than 2,400 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird oversees and manages client assets of $62 billion. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird ranked 14th on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2009 – its sixth consecutive year on the list. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has operating subsidiaries in Asia supporting Baird’s private equity and investment banking operations. For more information, please visit Baird’s Web site at www.rwbaird.com.