Baird Taps Morgan Stanley Advisor to Join New Maine Office

Months after completing a new Portland, Maine office, Robert W. Baird & Co. has hired its first financial advisor for that location.

Veteran financial advisor Baron C. Becker joined Baird as a vice president and financial advisor on Friday, Nov. 16. He comes from Morgan Stanley, where he has served since 1999, and most recently had $60 million in client assets under management. Becker also previously held principal trader positions at Paine Webber and Murphy & Durieu.

Becker first approached Mark Stevanovic, who serves as senior vice president and branch manager of the Portland, Maine, office, about working at Baird after hearing about its strong reputation, Stevanovic said. The new location is also the first that Baird has established in the Northeast territory.

“That first position is not for everyone, and it is a bit of a calculated risk,” Stevanovic said of Becker’s move. “One of the thing that I know that appealed to Baron was not only the opportunity to have his business serviced on a platform that really puts the client first, but also to help me create the Baird story here in Portland.”

It was also that same firm reputation that attracted Stevanovic to Baird from Morgan Stanley in March.

“The most appealing aspect of Baird, for me, was the culture and the way the firm operated,” Stevanovic said. “It’s a private company. There is a great deal of accountability and support.”

That appeal should help as Baird continues to staff up the Portland, Maine, office, Stevanovic said. There is no target for new hires in that office, he said.

“I think the way Baird has operated in the past is we kind of go where the opportunity is,” Stevanovic said. “We just want to be in the business with strong professionals with great reputations. To the extent that I can continue to meet with folks like that, I think they would be welcome at a place like Baird.”

Also moving to Baird with Becker is Kim Fickett, who serves as a registered client relationship associate.

The new hire caps off Baird’s recent hiring expansion that has included the addition of a branch manager from UBS in Edina, Minn., and seven advisors from other firms in Texas, Maryland and Nebraska

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