Sarah Cuddy CFP®, CDFA®
Why were you looking to leave your old firm?
I was really unhappy at my old firm. The culture wasn’t healthy, there wasn’t much support for less tenured advisors, and the relationship with management felt adversarial. I didn’t see a path to success there.
What about Baird was appealing to you?
Right off the bat I was impressed with the time and care that was taken to get to know me and get to know my practice. The fact the Baird had an internal women’s affinity group for advisors (Baird Women Advisors) that could match me a mentor was huge. But most of all, I was excited to join a firm that had values that aligned with mine.
What were the deciding factors that made you join Baird?
After months of considering options, I knew in my bones that Baird was the right fit for me. I knew that if I moved my practice to Baird that I would be supported every step of the way, from the initial transition through to my eventual retirement. In preparing for my transition, the management team and transition team laid out step-by-step how I would make my move. I knew that if Baird was willing to invest that much in me just get me through the door, that the investments wouldn’t stop there.
The Parker Group
Why were you looking to leave your old firm?
We left a big wire house after years of battling a management team focused on the lowest common denominator. We didn’t have the administrative support we needed, but more importantly, we didn’t feel they shared our concern for our clients.
What about Baird was appealing to you?
Our last firm had layers upon layers upon layers of bureaucracy. If there was an event or initiative we needed approval for, no one wanted to make a decision. We knew we wanted a place where managers have the autonomy to make decisions. We were looking for a place where if you had an idea, managers would help you make it succeed. That’s what we found at Baird.
What were the deciding factors that made you join Baird?
We were 90% sure we were going independent, but then we sat for dinner with Baird managers, and it was a real eye-opener. Even though they were from all over the country – North Carolina, California, Colorado, you name it – they were all friends! We learned the hard way that a firm’s culture doesn’t count for much if the firm gets sold. Baird’s ownership structure is set up in such a way that the next generation of advisors will enjoy the same culture we have now.