Sr. Trust Strategist

Baird; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Baird Trust Company seeks a Trust Strategist to partner with Baird Financial Advisors and deliver customized trust and investment management solutions. You will guide sophisticated estate and tax planning for high-net-worth clients, collaborating with CPAs, attorneys and specialists to implement strategies and expand fiduciary relationships.

As a trusted expert, you will lead client meetings, prepare materials on current plans and tax strategies, and educate colleagues on the value of Baird

Qualifications

• 10+ years of trust industry experience with high-net-worth clients
• Expertise in trust administration, estate settlement and tax planning
• Knowledge of income taxation for trusts, estates and related entities
• Ability to analyze complex trust-related matters and provide recommendations

Responsibilities

• Serve as the trust and estate planning expert within Baird Trust, supporting advisors and clients
• Educate advisors on trust services and value propositions
• Participate in meetings with clients and professionals to illustrate plans and tax strategies
• Collaborate with CPAs, attorneys and other centers of influence to develop referrals
• Present continuing education on estate, tax and trust topics
• Create materials on trust planning topics and legislative changes
• Lead initiatives and projects within Trust Company and PWM
• Grow future fee appointments naming Baird Trust as fiduciary

Skills

Trust administration

Estate settlement

Estate planning

Tax planning

Wealth transfer

Investment concepts

Multi-jurisdictional tax rules

Client relations

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Juris Doctorate or equivalent

LLM / CFP / CTFA desired

Bachelor's in Economics, Finance, Accounting or Business Administration

Job description

About The Role

Make a meaningful impact on clients, families and future generations as a Trust Strategist with Baird Trust Company. You will partner with Baird Financial Advisors to deliver customizable trust and investment management solutions that help clients build, protect and transfer wealth.

About The Role

Make a meaningful impact on clients, families and future generations as a Trust Strategist with Baird Trust Company. You will partner with Baird Financial Advisors to deliver customizable trust and investment management solutions that help clients build, protect and transfer wealth.

As a trusted expert in sophisticated trust, estate and tax planning, you will help high-net-worth clients navigate complex decisions, strengthen relationships with their professional advisors and create strategies tailored to their current and future needs. You will collaborate with Estate Settlement Officers, Trust Officers, Portfolio Managers and other specialists across Baird to bring those strategies to life.

The Impact You’ll Make

• Serve as the trust and estate planning expert within Baird Trust, supporting Baird Financial Advisors in deepening relationships with top clients and engaging high-net-worth prospects
• Educate Baird Financial Advisors on Baird Trust Company’s services and the value they provide to clients and their families
• Support trust and estate planning conversations by attending meetings with clients and their professional advisors and preparing materials that illustrate current estate plans, suggested modifications and new planning and tax strategies
• Partner with Baird Financial Advisors, Baird Family Wealth Strategists, Tax Strategists, Wealth Planners, Market Directors and other PWM associates to identify trust service opportunities across the PWM client base
• Collaborate with clients’ CPAs, attorneys and other centers of influence to address complex matters, develop referral relationships and connect prospective clients with Baird
• Meet with centers of influence in Baird markets to introduce Baird Trust services and demonstrate how those services can support their clients
• Deliver presentations on estate, tax and trust planning topics for internal associates, external client and prospect events and professional continuing education seminars
• Serve as a subject matter expert on advanced trust and estate planning questions and collaborate with other Baird experts to develop effective client strategies
• Create client-focused white papers and materials related to trust and estate planning strategies and relevant changes in federal and state legislation, with a focus on trust planning
• Drive growth in future fee appointments that name Baird Trust Company in a fiduciary capacity
• Assist Trust Counsel and Trust Company associates with trust and estate matters
• Participate in Trust Company projects and the introduction of new initiatives, systems, products, services and processes

What You’ll Bring To Baird

• A minimum of 10 years of trust industry experience preferred, including work with high-net-worth clients and familiarity with advanced tax and wealth transfer techniques
• Expertise in trust administration and estate settlement principles and theories
• Expertise in estate planning concepts, charitable giving and federal and state estate, gift and generation-skipping taxes
• Expertise in the income taxation of trusts, estates, corporations, S corporations, LLCs, partnerships and charitable entities
• Knowledge of investment concepts, practices and procedures used in the trust industry
• Ability to analyze complex trust-related matters and provide appropriate recommendations
• Ability to interpret and apply state and federal statutes, tax rules and regulations in a multi-jurisdictional setting
• Advanced problem-solving and research skills with a timely, solution-oriented approach to resolving inquires
• Experience presenting continuing education seminars to varying audiences, including internal associates, clients, attorneys and CPAs
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex tax and estate planning strategies clearly and connect professionally with clients and advisors
• Active listening skills with the ability to ask thoughtful questions and understand the perspectives of internal and external clients
• A collaborative mindset that values teamwork, diverse perspectives and shared success, with the ability to lead teams and manage associates
• Juris Doctorate or equivalent experience required, with an LLM, CFP or CTFA desired
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Economics, Finance, Accounting or Business Administration, or equivalent experience