AFAT Advisor Associate

About the role

Baird’s Associate Financial Advice Team (AFAT) is a dedicated financial advisor team focused on delivering a full Wealth Management Experience to Baird Associates and their immediate families. The team provides personalized guidance across a range of financial topics, including retirement planning, investment consulting, debt management, education funding, and firm-specific benefits. AFAT Advisor Associates play a key role in building strong relationships and helping clients make informed decisions about their financial futures.

In this client-facing role, you’ll collaborate with team members and internal partners to create and deliver customized financial plans, lead educational conversations, and identify investment solutions tailored to each client’s goals. You’ll also proactively engage with associates to build awareness and support the follow-up and implementation of planning opportunities. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working in a collaborative, service-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Operate within the team’s client service and wealth management strategy to ensure high-quality client service.
• Engage with associate clients and their immediate family by understanding their needs and providing education, financial planning, and investment advice using our standard of care.
• Review, research, and analyze data to create customized, annual financial plans for associate clients.
• Sit in on financial planning meetings with clients in partnership with other team members.
• Support financial education, such as debt management, 401k/retirement planning, Baird benefits, and other associate offerings.
• Leverage planning results in partnership with other team members to identify the best investment solutions to implement.
• Assist with marketing efforts, such as educational resources, department presentations, and communications to build awareness and engagement with Baird associates.
• Proactively reach out to associates to increase awareness and engagement and offer recommendations on how our team can add more value and how they can maximize Baird benefits.
• Support other team members with meeting prep, documentation, follow-up, and closing of opportunities identified to help associates meet their financial goals.
• Perform other duties and special projects as necessary.

Directly support our associates in building strong financial futures.

Requirements

• Minimum of one year of industry experience in a client-facing role.
• Must hold SIE, Series 7/66, or Series 7/63/65 licenses.
• Committed to pursuing and achieving specialized professional designations (i.e., CFP, CPWA, CPA) or higher-level education equivalent within one year of assuming the role.
• Must have an undergraduate degree.
• Proven self-starter, highly motivated, with the ability to work independently and within a team.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to lead client conversations with professionalism, empathy, and confidence.
• Great organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Collaborative mindset with a commitment to supporting team goals, sharing best practices, and fostering a positive culture.
• Excellent presentation and written communication skills.

Benefits

• Supportive and collaborative team that values achieving great results for our clients and giving back to the communities where we live and work.
• Competitive benefits and a culture that cares about your well-being.