Challenge your thinking and build an amazing career with the best people in the financial services industry! Baird’s Financial Advisors provide advice, strategies, and solutions to high-net worth individuals and families across the United States, serving as true partners. True wealth management goes beyond managing investments. At Baird, we understand it begins with learning all we can about what our clients want for themselves and their families. We work closely with them to prioritize their goals, utilizing Baird’s resources and expertise to create a tailored plan to ensure success as they’ve defined it. Check out this to learn more about our Private Wealth Management business.

Under limited supervision and on own initiative, provide tax planning expertise and support for Baird Financial Advisors, Wealth Planners, Wealth Strategists and clients. Duties include: review of client tax returns, use of firm standard tools to quantify the tax impact of planning strategies, discussion of advanced tax savings strategies, and presentation of analysis results.  Also serve as a technical expert on a wide variety of tax planning issues while recognizing your role is not to be the client’s primary tax advisor.  This person must be able to work as part of a team that is geographically diverse, meaning supporting team initiatives while often working in a remote capacity.  Strong verbal and written communication skills required, including the ability to explain complicated tax issues in simple, easy-to-understand terms for non-tax professionals.  Activities and duties require a high level of organization and expertise.  Must be able to serve as an advocate for the value of financial, estate and tax planning to Financial Advisors. 

As a Senior Tax Strategist you will:

Provide support in all aspects of the tax planning process to Financial Advisors (FAs) in Baird branches. This will involve identifying tax planning opportunities and creating analyses using either self-created or standard firm tools, and will often include participation in data gathering and/or analysis presentation meetings or calls.Be able to answer both administrative and technical questions from FAs and their support staff regarding advisor use of Baird’s tax planning software, Holistiplan.Assist the Cost Basis Reporting team in gathering information and identifying client accounts subject to unrelated business income tax (UBIT). Review calculations performed by outside accounting firm and address any related questions asked by Financial Advisors.May be asked by Financial Advisors to work with a client’s external tax professional. Topics may include questions on 1099 reporting, Baird policies, etc.Be able to answer advanced tax and financial planning questions.  For more unique questions, be able to research solutions and/or work with other department members or professionals to find an answer.Research tax matters and summarize conclusions and rationale. Research will focus on federal individual tax issues, but will also involve trust, corporate, pass-through and tax-exempt entities, as well as state tax issues.  Occasionally, the impact of foreign citizenship or residency may arise.  All research and advice is provided with the understanding that Baird is not the primary tax advisor for the client.  Clients are always directed back to their own tax or legal advisor for further input.Analyze and interpret new tax legislation to assess its potential impact on Baird clients. Develop and present clear, accessible written articles and presentations that explain key provisions in straightforward, client-friendly language.Be able to interpret various tax planning documents, including tax returns and related documents, account statements, executive compensation grant information, annuity contracts, Social Security benefit estimates, life insurance policy documents, etc.Help create and deliver written articles and presentations for clients as well as other professionals on tax, estate and financial planning topics.Work with the rest of the Wealth Planning department to develop standard deliverables and service tiers to ensure consistent support across the firm.Have an understanding of the products and services offered within a brokerage environment, and be able to work with associates of those departments. Recognize when to involve other specialists within the firm in a particular situation.Work with Business Development Consultants to promote to Financial Advisors the importance of tax planning in attracting and retaining clients.

What makes this opportunity great:

Excellent work/life balance.Ability to work with a variety of teams and leaders, proving your ability to be flexible and highly adaptable.Significant opportunity to learn from other subject matter experts and expand knowledge base.Work with a team of associates passionate about achieving great results for clients and giving back to the communities where we live and work.

What we look for:

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Master’s Degree in TaxationMinimum of ten years tax planning experience required, with emphasis on individual and trust tax planning.  Experience in the brokerage industry a plus.Active CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license required. Additional licenses (e.g., CFP®, PFS, CIMA®, CPWA®) a plus but not required.Experience with Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) a plus.Strong computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office products.  In particular, experience creating client analyses in Excel and PowerPoint from scratch.  Experience with MoneyGuide financial planning software and Holistiplan tax software a plus.Willingness to travel. Position will require approximately 10-20% travel.Ability to balance multiple projects and work under strict deadlines.Ability to work independently on projects and effectively relate to others in order to accomplish work responsibilities and objectives.Strong writing and presenting skills required, including experience speaking in front of groups of clients and other professionals (ranging from 25 to 200).Ability to research complex tax matters and successfully decipher tax legislation.Ability to work as a member of the larger Wealth Planning Department, collaborating with others as necessary.

Compensation and Benefits: 

$100,000-$175,000 annual salary Bonus potential up to 25%-35% of base pay Compensation and bonus are commensurate with experience, performance and/or firm profitability View our Total Rewards at Baird, which is a summary of our benefits and compensation Medical/Dental/Vision B/Well programs  Competitive bonding leave HSA Contribution FMLA EAP 10 paid holidays and competitive PTO package   Life and disability insurance  Retirement – 401k match and profit-sharing  Tuition Reimbursement 

#LI-CM1

Commitment to Inclusion & Diversity

Baird is committed to inclusion & diversity for our clients, our associates and the communities where we live and work. This commitment stems from our culture of integrity, genuine concern for others and respect for the individual. We view inclusion & diversity as an ongoing journey – one of shared responsibility, continuous improvement and a focus on progress. We invite you to join us as we work together to foster an environment where diversity unites rather than divides us. .