Madison, Wis.-based Baker Tilly Investment Advisors has hired Bruce Laning to fill the RIA's newly created position of Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager.

Based out of the firm’s Milwaukee office, Laning, a chartered financial analyst, will preside over all sides of Baker Tilly’s operations from high-net-worth individual and family accounts to corporate retirement strategies.

With more than 25 years of experience in financial planning and investment advisory services, Laning retains a large network of contacts in the Midwest, which Baker Tilly believes will be useful in expanding its practices beyond the $1.25 billion in assets that it currently manages.

According to Steve Parish, president of Baker Tilly Investment Advisors, the new hire is in-line with the growth the company is experiencing as it looks to take on higher-net-worth individuals and larger accounts.

“I’d say the predominant challenge that Bruce is probably going to have to face, which is actually a good problem, is having to keep up the pace of the number of opportunities that are being serviced in this firm,” said Parish.

Previously, Laning was a portfolio manager and partner at Marietta Investment Partners and also served as president and CEO of Firstar Investment Research and Management Company.

Mason Braswell writes for Financial Planning.