SOUTHFIELD — Plante Moran Financial Advisors, the registered investment advisor affiliate of public accounting and advisory firm Plante Moran, has announced new roles for Mark Dixon and Jim Baird.
Dixon, who has been serving as both the leader of the firm’s institutional practice and chief investment officer, will focus his efforts on leading PMFA’s rapidly growing institutional practice. Baird, who had been serving as PMFA’s chief investment strategist, will expand his scope and take over as the firm’s new chief investment officer. The PMFA institutional practice currently has $1.7 billion in assets under management, with an additional $700 million in assets under supervision.
Dixon has been with the firm for 23 years. He is a partner within PMFA and has more than 20 years of experience in investment consulting and financial planning. He serves high net worth individuals, foundations, endowments, and pensions and will continue in his role as chair of the PMFA Investment Committee. Dixon is based at the firm’s Southfield office.
Baird, who is also a partner with PMFA, has been with PMFA since 1999, having joined Plante Moran in 1994. He works in PMFA’s Kalamazoo office and is widely regarded as an expert on the U.S. economy, capital markets, and issues relevant to wealth management.
Baird regularly speaks with the press and is frequently quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Times, the Associated Press, CBS Marketwatch, and more. He will continue to be PMFA’s public face to the news media regarding the economy, capital markets, and investing.
According to PMFA President John Lesser, “this will allow Mark to spend more time and energy expanding and growing our institutional practice. Jim will assume more responsibility for the oversight of the firm’s investment research function. He is highly qualified for the role, and his capabilities are what make this shift in focus for Mark possible.”