Baird adds 2 new teams, opens new wealth management office in Franklin | Communities

Baird — an employee-owned, international wealth management, asset management, investment banking/capital markets and private equity firm, announced that The Berry Peña Group and The Elder Grouphave joined the firm at a new branch in Franklin, located at 3401 Mallory Lane. Combined, the two teams are bringing $580 million in assets to the new office. 

The Berry Peña Group comes to Baird from B. Riley. Team members include Tyler Berry, who joins as a director, financial advisor, and Rachel Peña as a senior vice president, financial advisor. They are supported by Senior Client Specialist Cherie Seale. 

The Elder Group comes to Baird from Janney Montgomery Scott. Team members include Steve Elder who joins as director,financial advisor, and Ben Elder as vice president, financial advisor. They are supported by Senior Client Specialist Tamara Hackett. 

“We are thrilled to further cement our strong presence in the state with this new branch in Franklin and these two talented teams,” said Parker Griffith, Southeastern Market director for Baird’s Private Wealth Management business. “We are adding decades of experience, dedication and a deep understanding of the local Tennessee community, which goes hand in hand with Baird’s commitment to putting clients’ interests first.”

Tyler Berry brings nearly three decades of industry experience to Baird and holds a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA^®) designation. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and English from the University of Alabama. He currently serves as the President of the Mt. Hope Association Board and is a member of the Columbia State Community College Foundation Board. He previously served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Battle Ground Academy and the FFUMC Foundation. 

Rachel Peña brings nearly three decades of industry experience to Baird. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Economics. Previously she has served as a board member and president of the Friends of Nashville Ballet, and as a member and secretary for the Nashville Ballet Endowment Investment Committee.

Steve Elder began his career in 1989 with Northwestern Mutual and was associated with Hilliard Lyons for 17 years before joining Janney in 2017. Steve graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Business Administration and has completed coursework at the Securities Industry Institute at the Wharton School of Business. In the community, he is a past president of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Ben Elder joins The Elder Group and Baird from Janney where he served as a financial advisor. Before that, he worked at Jackson National as an analyst with the Investment Management and Portfolio Strategy Group. He attended University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance. Ben then went on to complete coursework and earn his Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) designation at Belmont University.

Baird has 10 other private wealth management offices in the state of Tennessee. The firm also has Public Finance, Institutional Fixed Income and Institutional Equity Research offices in Nashville and Knoxville. Baird’s Private Wealth Management business encompasses more than 1,400 Financial Advisors  averaging 20 years of industry experience and serving clients coast-to-coast with client assets of more than $310 billion as of June 30, 2024.