Baird Adds 15 Veteran Financial Advisors, Opens First Baltimore Wealth Management Office

Global Financial Services Firm Further Expands its Mid-Atlantic Presence

Baird, an international, employee-owned financial services firm, today announced that it has added 15 veteran Financial Advisors and opened the firm’s first office in the Baltimore area, further expanding its Mid-Atlantic presence. In total, 22 financial professionals have joined Baird and are working from Baird’s new state-of-the-art office, located at 100 West Road, Suite 200 in Towson, Md.

The new Baltimore-area office reinforces Baird’s commitment to serving high-net-worth clients with complex financial needs in the Mid-Atlantic region. In August, the firm announced plans to open multiple wealth management offices in both the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets adding Brian J. McGrath, Senior Vice President, Branch Manager in Philadelphia, and James E. Furletti, Senior Vice President, Branch Manager in Baltimore.

“We are very excited to be opening our first Baltimore office – yet another step forward in Baird’s ongoing expansion in the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Michael J. Schroeder, Director of Baird Private Wealth Management. “By adding these talented financial professionals, Baird demonstrates its continued success attracting top advisors who are committed to the same mission: to provide the best financial advice and service to our clients, and to be one of the best places to work for all associates.”

The 15 Financial Advisors joining Baird’s new Baltimore office are:
   • Joe Fuggi, Senior Vice President, CPA, CFP^®
   • Jeff Graham, Senior Vice President
   • Tim Hargest, Senior Vice President
   • Mike Levin, Senior Vice President
   • Jim Mugele, Senior Vice President, CPA 
   • Steve Welsch, Senior Vice President
   • Rich Zink, Senior Vice President
   • Jerry Marquez, First Vice President, CFP^®
   • Walter Noto, First Vice President
   • Rich DuVal, First Vice President
   • Jason Harris, Vice President
   • Keith Levitt, Vice President, CFP^®
   • Marco Sacca, Vice President
   • Mike Johnson, Financial Advisor, CFP^®
   • Bob Manankil, Financial Advisor

James E. Furletti, Senior Vice President and Manager of the new Baltimore branch, added, “Our goal continues to be recruiting the best talent. The best talent enables us to offer the best and most comprehensive service to an expanded base of high-net-worth families, individuals, business owners and corporate executives in the greater Baltimore area. The 15 professionals who’ve joined us represent that top-notch talent and we’re thrilled to have them as a part of the Baird team.”

In addition to the office in Baltimore, Baird operates two offices in the greater Washington, D.C. area with more than 50 associates: a Private Wealth Management and fixed income institutional sales office in Reston. Va. and an investment banking and equity research office in McLean, Va.

Baird’s Private Wealth Management business continues to grow around the country. Since 2007, veteran Financial Advisor teams have been added in Minnetonka, Minn., Phoenix, Ariz., and Scottsdale, Ariz., in addition to the new office in Reston, Va. and one in Sacramento.

Baird uses a comprehensive 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.

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 Graduate 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.

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 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 more than $49 billion in client assets as of Sept. 30, 2008.

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 2,300 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird oversees and manages client assets of more than $66 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.