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AFAT Advisor Associate

Baird · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Aug 6, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You would support financial education on debt management, retirement planning and Baird benefits. How do you teach benefits to someone who has never read their enrollment materials?

What they are checking: Whether they can explain benefits plainly to people who avoid the subject, because confused associates leave real money unused.

You would reach out proactively to associates to increase engagement. How do you approach someone who has not asked for help?

What they are checking: Whether they can reach out to associates warmly without pressuring them, since these clients are also their colleagues.

You sit in on planning meetings in partnership with other team members. How do you contribute in a meeting someone else is leading?

What they are checking: Whether they can add value in a meeting someone else leads, without taking over or sitting silently.

This asks for a minimum of one year of client-facing industry experience, the Securities Industry Essentials exam plus Series 7 and 66 or 7, 63 and 65, an undergraduate degree, and a commitment to a designation such as the certified financial planner credential within a year. What is your plan for that?

What they are checking: That they read the licensing and designation commitment and have thought about it.

What would you do

This team advises Baird's own associates and their families. How does advising a colleague differ from advising an outside client?

What they are checking: The defining feature of this role, which the posting states plainly.

A colleague asks your advice informally in a hallway. How do you handle that?

What they are checking: Whether they keep professional boundaries when clients are also coworkers, so informal advice never becomes careless or unrecorded advice.

How do you keep a colleague's financial information confidential inside the firm they work for?

What they are checking: The privacy problem this model creates, which the posting does not address.

A colleague wants to do something with their money that you would advise against. How do you say so?

What they are checking: Giving unwelcome advice to someone you will see at work tomorrow.

About the work

You would create customized annual financial plans for associate clients. Walk me through building a plan for someone early in their career.

What they are checking: Whether they can build a practical plan for someone early in their career, which is who this team mostly serves.

You would leverage planning results with team members to identify investment solutions. How do you connect a plan to an actual recommendation?

What they are checking: Whether they can turn planning results into a sensible investment recommendation, which is where a plan becomes real for the client.

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The full job description

As published by Baird.

About the Role: Baird’s Associate Financial Advice Team (AFAT) is a dedicated financial advisor team focused on delivering a full Wealth Management Experience to Baird Associates and their immediate families. The team provides personalized guidance across a range of financial topics, including retirement planning, investment consulting, debt management, education funding, and firm-specific benefits. AFAT Advisor Associates play a key role in building strong relationships and helping clients make informed decisions about their financial futures. In this client-facing role, you’ll collaborate with team members and internal partners to create and deliver customized financial plans, lead educational conversations and identify investment solutions tailored to each client’s goals. You’ll also proactively engage with associates to build awareness and support the follow-up and implementation of planning opportunities. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working in a collaborative, service-driven environment. The Impact You’ll Make: • Operate within the team’s client service and wealth management strategy to ensure high quality client service • Engage with associate clients and their immediate family by understanding their needs and providing education, financial planning and investment advice using our standard of care • Review, research and analyze data to create customized, annual financial plans for associate clients • Sit in on financial planning meetings with clients in partnership with other team members • Support financial education, such as debt management, 401k/retirement planning, Baird benefits and other associate offerings • Leverage planning results in partnership with other team members to identify the best investment solutions to implement • Assist with marketing efforts, such as educational resources, department presentations and communications to build awareness and engagement with Baird associates • Proactively reach out to associates to increase awareness and engagement and offer recommendations on how our team can add more value and how they can maximize Baird benefits • Support other team members with meeting prep, documentation, follow up and support the closing of opportunities identified to help associates meet their financial goals • Performs other duties and special projects as necessary • Directly supporting our associates in building strong financial futures • Supportive and collaborative team that values achieving great results for our clients and giving back to the communities where we live and work • Competitive benefits and a culture that cares about your well-being What You’ll Bring to Baird: • Minimum of one year of industry experience in a client facing role • Must hold SIE, Series 7/66 or Series 7/63/65 licenses • Committed to pursuing and achieving specialized professional designations (i.e., CFP, CPWA, CPA) or higher-level education equivalent within one year of assuming the role • Must have an undergraduate degree • Proven self-starter, highly motivated with the ability to work independently and within a team • Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholders • Ability to lead client conversations with professionalism, empathy and confidence • Great organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail • Collaborative mindset with a commitment to supporting team goals, sharing best practices and fostering a positive culture • Excellent presentation skills and written communication skills #LI-PWM2 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.

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