About the Role:
Begin your journey to becoming a Financial Advisor in Baird’s Financial Advisor Training Program—a structured career development path designed to build confident, competent, and credible advisors. Through hands-on experience and required licensing, you’ll master advanced training, and sales strategies, while integrating into a real-world practice. You will have the opportunity to partner with experienced advisor teams, support client planning, and contribute to new business development while learning to deliver an exceptional wealth management experience.
The Impact You’ll Make:
Year 1: Practice Immersion (12 Months) The initial Practice Immersion year is a customized entry point for participants, and will include the following, at minimum.
Pass all required licensing (Series 7, 66, Life & Health) and train incoming Associate Financial Advisor/Client Specialist successors as applicable.
Prepare for, attend, and shadow senior advisors in client meetings and calls; take meeting notes and complete all follow‑up tasks.
Memorialize and support the team service model and Standard of Care, including building performance reports.
Research investment solutions and assist senior advisors with portfolio‑related analysis and tasks.
Develop team marketing/branding and value proposition, and lead brokerage‑to‑fee conversion conversations with clients.
Year 2: Development (4-12 months) Participants are required to be fully licensed prior to entering year two, when they will focus on the Financial Advisor Training program curriculum. Participants will be required to complete all virtual and in-person requirements and pass all skill and knowledge checks. Participants are required to further pass a two-part comprehensive Capstone role play to progress in the program.
Complete FATP curriculum
Deepen investment knowledge, technology, and planning skills
Complete skill and knowledge checks
Expand role in client meetings and planning processes
Successfully pass Comprehensive Capstone Project
Years 3 & 4: Gain Essential Experience (24 Months) In years three and four, participants become Financial Advisor Associates and advance their experience and expertise, while working to earn the title of Financial Advisor (FA). To earn the FA title, participants must meet qualifying criteria that include but are not limited to 1) clearly demonstrated ability to deliver the Baird Wealth Management Experience confidently, competently, and credibly, and 2) proven ability to grow the business through quality new client acquisitions. This includes the following.
Complete Baird sales training and consistently achieve new client asset and revenue growth goals
Independently source, prospect, and close new business through networking, target markets, and referrals
Deepen existing client relationships by identifying and closing additional assets, including repricing and brokerage‑to‑fee conversions
Lead holistic planning engagements and delivering comprehensive financial plans for HNW clients and prospects
Build long‑term growth through COI development, referral and NextGen campaigns, and independently running mid‑ to top‑tier client meetings
What You’ll Bring to Baird:
Bachelor’s Degree
Minimum 3 years of professional experience prior to entering the four-year development path
Currently have or ability to obtain SIE, Series 7, Series 66 (or 63 and 65), and Life & Health Insurance
Pursuit of advanced designations throughout the program preferred (AAMS, CFP, CDFA, CFA, CIMA, SPWA, CWS, TPCP)
Entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on quality new client acquisition
Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
Coachable and collaborative team approach
Ability to build trusted relationships with clients and team members
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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.
Since 1919, Baird has guided families, businesses, communities and institutions toward their financial goals. Being privately held enables us to prioritize long-term planning and investment – for our clients and the firm – without having to weigh those against the quarterly expectations of outside shareholders.
Today Baird offers wealth management, investment banking, asset management, fixed income and equity sales and trading, equity research, public finance and private equity services. This balance of cyclical and counter-cyclical businesses provides financial strength and stability across market environments and enables us to consistently reinvest in our ability to serve clients.
We manage or oversee more than $525 billion in client assets and employ more than 5,300 Associates around the world. And, because nearly 85% of our associates are Baird stockholders, you can trust we all share a personal stake in your success.
For more than 20 consecutive years, Baird has been one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®, making us a workplace of choice for some of the most talented, passionate people in financial services. It also enables us to emphasize cultural compatibility in those we hire, many of whom stay their entire careers. All of this helps ensure the quality and consistency of our advice for clients and the timeless values that make the Baird Difference every day for our clients, our Associates and the communities we share.
For more information, please visit https://www.rwbaird.com/bairddifference/.
