Our Process
How We Work With You
Everything we do for our clients is built on trust and the deep relationships we develop with them. Some of the unique ways we work with you:
Before the Relationship
We create a financial plan before we make the mutual decision to bring someone on as a new client. The process begins with a Discovery Meeting, where we learn everything about your financial situation, concerns and goals. From there, we create a plan with the tools to get you where you want to go.
Family Culture
We think of our clients as part of the family. That was true with Hefren-Tillotson, a family-owned firm where the team began, as well as with Baird. That family experience allows us to get close enough to our clients to fully understand every aspect of their lives.
Business Owners
We understand that business owners are often too busy running their enterprise to focus on their personal financial affairs. We can help ease that burden, as well we set up succession or transition plans for when you’re ready to exit the business. The expertise of Baird’s Business Owner Solutions Group is of tremendous help here.
Estate Planning
We work with multiple generations, whether that’s bringing in an existing client’s children or working with a client’s parents. With estate planning issues, it’s critical to have all parties understand what their expectations and responsibilities are.

The Bucket Approach
The keystone to our investment process is our Bucket Approach to managing money. This approach immunizes our clients from the paramount concern of most retirees; “where is my next check coming from?”
We continuously educate our clients on the 3 types of investments in their portfolios:
Each bucket has its own risk and opportunity. Understanding those risks and opportunities is important, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. The key to successfully managing your buckets starts with the other piece of the puzzle, your financial plan. Through our Masterplan process we learn where you are today; your definition/tolerance for risk, your goals/objectives, and your timeframe to achieving those goals. Then, and only then, do we have the information to build the Bucket Approach for your investment portfolio.