As a Trust Strategist you will:

• Serve as the trust and estate planning expert within Baird Trust, supporting Baird Financial Advisor’s efforts to deepen their existing relationships with their top clients and engage high-net-worth prospects.
• Educate Baird Financial Advisors about the services offered through Baird Trust Company and how Baird Trust benefits clients and their families.
• Support financial advisors trust and estate planning discussions with clients by attending meetings with clients and their other professional advisors. Prepare meeting material to illustrate a client’s current estate plan and outline suggested modifications and new planning and tax strategies.
• Work with Baird Financial Advisors, Baird Family Wealth Strategists, Tax Strategists, Wealth Planners, Market Directors, and other PWM associates to identify opportunities within the PWM client base for trust services.
• Collaborate with other professionals (COIs) supporting the client, such as their CPA or attorney. Develop relationships with these professionals so they can serve as referrals for other clients and provide referrals to Baird.  Provide deeper assistance to a client’s CPA or attorney when issues are outside of their routine experience.
• Meet with COIs in Baird markets to introduce Baird Trust services for their clients.
• Make presentations on a variety of estate, tax, and trust planning topics for internal associates, external client and prospect events, and professional continuing education seminars.
• Serve as subject matter expert on advanced-level trust and estate planning questions from advisors and clients and collaborate with other subject matter experts at Baird to develop optimal client strategies.
• Create client oriented white papers and material related to trust and estate planning strategies and relevant changes in federal and state legislation, with a focus on trust planning.
• Be responsible for the growth of future fee appointments naming Baird Trust Company in a fiduciary capacity.
• Assist Trust Counsel and Trust Company associates as needed in trust and estate matters.
• Participate in Trust Company projects and/or introduction of new initiatives, systems, products/services, and processes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Expertise in trust administration and estate settlement principles and theories.
• Expertise in estate planning concepts, charitable giving, federal and state estate, gift, and generation skipping taxes.
• Expertise in income taxation of trusts, estates, corporations, S-corporations, LLCs and partnerships, and charitable entities.
• Knowledge of investment concepts and practices and procedures used in the trust industry.
• Able to provide appropriate recommendations for resolution of complex trust related issues.
• Able to interpret and apply state and federal statues and applicable tax rules and regulations in a multi-jurisdictional setting.
• Active listening, giving full attention to internal and external clients and taking the time to understand the points being made by asking questions as appropriate and listening to responses.
• Advanced problem solving sufficient to effectively analyze, research and resolve inquiries in a timely manner. Solution-oriented.
• Must work well within a team and be comfortable leading a team and managing associates.

What makes this opportunity great:

• Unique culture that values diverse backgrounds and perspectives while emphasizing teamwork and a strong sense of partnership.
• Compelling careers working side by side with the best in the business.
• Support & flexibility to grow and be your best at work, at home, and in the community.

What we look for:

• Juris Doctorate (JD), plus advanced certification LLM, CFP, CTFA desired.
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in relevant field such as Economics, Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
• 10+ year experience in the trust industry preferred working with high-net-worth clients and familiarity with advance tax and wealth transfer techniques required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with an emphasis on the ability to explain complex tax and estate planning strategies in terms clients can understand.
• Experience in presenting continuing education seminars for varying audiences, including internal associates, clients, and other professional advisors (e.g., attorneys and CPAs).

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