International wealth manager Robert W Baird & Co. is stepping up expansion efforts with the opening of two new branches in the US.

Nine wealth management professionals were named into the company's new branch at Fort Worth, Texas, all of whom are former employees of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Of the nine, six are veteran financial advisors with over 20 years of industry experience. W Paul Davis was appointed director, Roger Metz, director, Craig Nicholson, director, William Knight, senior vice president, Peter Philpott, vice president, and Paul Robinson, also as vice president.

They are joined by wealth management professionals Kathy Breen as administrative office manager, Susan Fink as registered client relationship associate, and Kimberly Gould as client relationship assistant. All nine will report to Jarrett Kovics, who stepped in in June this year as branch manager of the Dallas office.

On a similar occasion, Baird also announced the opening of its first wealth management office in South Carolina.

Three financial advisors were appointed to the new Charleston office, bringing over 75 years of combined industry experience. Charles Knowlton, whose advisor experience covers the likes of The Robinson Humphrey Company and Prudential Securities, heads the branch as senior vice president, branch manager and financial advisor. He is joined by Mildred Kitchell as director and financial advisor, and Nicholas Verano IV as financial advisor. Sandra Gary completes the team as assistant vice president and administrative office manager. Kitchell and Verano are known specialists in the wealth management service for high net worth families.

Baird has been actively reinforcing his private wealth business over the past year, hiring over 100 financial advisors in 2009 and 47, so far, in 2010. The company has also embarked on a series of new branch launches since 2009 and says it plans to open more over the next months.