Business Development Consultant

About The Role:

The PWM Business Development team, comprised of regional consultants (BDCs), associates (BDAs) and PWM Growth Strategy Consultant is an established group with a mission to grow revenues and improve profitability by acting as an internal ‘management consultant’ and ‘practice management coach’ to Market Director, Branch Leaders, and Financial Advisor Practices. This Business Development group plays a leadership role in our regionally aligned Wealth Center – a team of functional experts that come together to elevate the business outcomes and client experience by partnering with our Financial Advisor Practices. In addition to coaching and consulting our branch network, the business development team is instrumental in building and partnering across the PWM platform on strategic initiatives.

The Business Development Consultants (BDC) play an important role to support PWM’s strategic and growth initiatives. Partnering with the Business Development team to drive consistency, engagement, and business outcomes across our branch network and with our internal Wealth Center and Wealth Solutions Group teams.

The Impact You'll Make:

As a consultant and partner to branch and market leaders:

• Industry/Business Knowledge. Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the Firm and PWM resources/Wealth Center (financial planning, technology, investment solutions, etc.) and solutions as well as its strategic partners.
• Participate in the Wealth Center, representing business development, on advancing the mission and outcomes of our regionally aligned resources in the Wealth Center and broader PWM 
• Proactively identify opportunities to drive profitability within the Market by leveraging firm initiatives; building strong relationships with various home office departments and strategic partners.
• Collaborate and partner with Executive Market Leaders, Market Leaders, and Branch Leaders throughout the year to understand priorities and provide resources/tools to help support desired outcome.
• Demonstrate ability to effectively apply product/business knowledge to recruiting efforts, “translate” competitor offerings into Baird’s resources and services. Understand and persuasively communicate how a recruit will be able to continue to meet and exceed their client’s needs.
• Assist Market Directors and Branch Managers to close and smoothly transition and support recruits and new advisors, including NextGen talent, into Baird.

As a member of the broader Business Development Team, Wealth Center, and Wealth Solutions Group:

• Leverage knowledge into proactive solutions that drive superior client outcomes and increased revenue growth.
• Develop understanding of Voice of Client and lead team to partner with Wealth Centers to develop strategies to surface with FA teams and Branch and Market leaders.  
• Partner with Professional Development and the Wealth Center to develop and host large scale professional development events (i.e. Growth Forums, Symposiums, Retreats for FA Teams).
• Partner with Wealth Center to centralize key tasks to drive consistency, efficiency, and superior outcomes for FA practices they engage.
• Proactively generate actionable ideas that link strategies to relevant tactics which Advisors may utilize to generate more business and/or improve client outcomes.
• Through relationship building and coaching engagements, identify and connect peer groups (of FAs, leaders, support staff) to share best practices and foster Baird’s culture.
• Develop strong relationships with PWM’s FA practices, bringing the breadth and depth of our platform and experts to each engagement. Ensure that our FA practices get the best of Baird and recognize their greatest success with their clients.

What You'll Bring To Baird:

• Bachelor’s degree required. 10+ years experience in the financial services industry preferred. SIE and Series 7/66 licensing is required. Attainment of, or demonstrated progress towards the CFP, CPWA, or ChFC designations is highly valued.
• Solid understanding of how a financial advisory practice functions.
• Prior experience in a consultative role, preferably working with financial advisors.
• Ability to travel a minimum of 50%.
• Comfort with ambiguity as well as strong organizational skills and ability to work independently.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills including above average presentation skills.
• Creative and collaborative problem solver with strong attention to detail
• Ability to be highly influential using strong fact-based arguments without the benefit of positional power.
• Ability to interact with senior leadership team, Financial Advisors, and home office personnel as needed.
• Strong service orientation as well as knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by financial advisors.
• Ability to originate, execute, and measure projects and initiatives at a branch, regional, and firm level
• Ability to organize and prioritize work, meet deadlines, and see a project through to completion with limited supervision
• Excellent organizational skills - ability to prioritize daily workflow to effectively meet deadlines. Ability to work independently in a fast-paced team environment with minimal supervision.
• Strong commitment to provide exceptional customer service. Excellent people/communication skills, self-motivated and a team player.

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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.