Client Specialist

About the role

As a Client Specialist at Baird, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering outstanding client service and operational support to one or more Financial Advisors. You’ll be at the heart of the client experience—coordinating onboarding, managing communications, supporting account operations, and helping organize impactful client events. Your work will directly contribute to the success of Baird’s Private Wealth Management business, where true wealth management means understanding each client’s unique vision and tailoring solutions to help them succeed.

Responsibilities

• Client onboarding coordination, including managing Financial Advisor(s) prospect pipeline, assisting with proposal generation, preparing new account paperwork, opening accounts, transitioning new assets to Baird, and establishing an ongoing communication/client service plan.
• Gain knowledge of and leverage partnership with Baird’s Corporate Resource Groups to provide the best wealth management solutions to clients.
• Answer all incoming phone calls and handle as appropriate; manage client needs where possible and advise Financial Advisor of action taken.
• Schedule client appointments and/or conference rooms for appointments.
• Assemble/generate materials including paperwork and reports for client meetings.
• Understand and ensure business adherence with firm and financial industry regulatory policies.
• Manage FA and Team’s social media presence (website, LinkedIn, X, etc.).
• Maintain Client Relationship Management (CRM) system for Financial Advisor(s), leveraging the platform to manage client relationships through mailings, reporting, e-mail tracking, and more, with the goal of implementing well-defined client service models.
• Organize and coordinate seminars and client events at the direction of Financial Advisor(s), including developing client lists, designing material and seminar/meeting content, coordinating PowerPoint presentations, and following through with client contact.
• Seek ways to enhance FA(s) business effectiveness and marketability.
• Initiate and complete all transactions required to fully service client accounts, such as paperwork, correspondence, client request fulfillment, and special projects as needed.
• Enter security orders including stocks, bonds, fixed income, options, annuities, and other investment vehicle orders per Financial Advisors’ instructions or upon client’s verbal direction.
• Provide back-up to other teams and the branch when necessary, as well as perform other duties and special projects as required.
• Proactively review investment opportunities on a daily basis and notify Financial Advisor(s) to take action on those opportunities with the goal of driving the Financial Advisors’ business. This may include funds available/money line, maturing securities, reorg items, and previous days’ activities.

Requirements

• 2+ years of prior industry and/or administrative work experience.
• Active Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam, Series 7, and Series 66 or Series 63 and Series 65 licenses, or willingness to study and obtain within 18 months of hire (training and resources provided and paid for by Baird). If not fully licensed, title will be Client Assistant.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with the ability to learn and effectively navigate Baird’s Private Wealth Management technology platforms.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to adeptly exchange ideas and information.
• Detail-oriented with an emphasis on accuracy.
• Strong organizational skills—consistent ability to prioritize workflow of team to achieve specific goals in a timely manner.
• Understanding of compliance regulations and correspondence policies.
• Maintains client confidentiality in all situations.
• Good analytical and critical problem-solving skills.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, not required.