John Taft

John Taft is Vice Chairman of Baird, an employee-owned provider of diversified financial advice and services around the world. For more than 35 years, people have trusted John's perspective on the financial industry. His diverse industry experience includes 10 years as the CEO of RBC Wealth Management and past service as Chairman of the Securities Industry Financial Markets Association. In these roles as well as his writing, he has consistently emphasized the importance of earning and keeping clients' trust. John's other past professional roles have included time as a consultant for Deloitte & Touche, president and CEO of Voyageur Asset Management; president and CEO of Dougherty Summit Securities; a member of the board of directors of Segall Bryant & Hamill, The Clifton Group and Columbia Threadneedle Funds; and a managing director at Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood. Prior to his financial career, John served as assistant to the Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, and was a journalist. John has served as a board member and as a volunteer with a wide range of not-for-profit and public service organizations. He credits his family, including his great-grandfather, 27th U.S. President William Howard Taft, for instilling strong core values that shape his definition of business success and belief in the importance of treating all people with dignity.