John G. Taft

John G. Taft (born 1954) is an American financier and author. He holds the position of Vice Chairman at Baird and serves on the firm's executive committee.

Early Life and Education:

Born in 1954, Taft was raised in New Haven, Connecticut. He is a grandson of U.S. Senator Robert A. Taft and a great-grandson of President William Howard Taft. His father, Horace Dwight Taft, served as dean of Yale College. Taft graduated from the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut, in 1972. He earned a bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1977, graduating magna cum laude. During his time in college, he worked as a copy boy for The New York Times and later as a reporter in Lowell, Massachusetts. He attended graduate school at Yale University in New Haven to study finance.

Early Career:

In 1981, Taft entered the investment industry, beginning with Piper Jaffray, a regional brokerage firm based in Minnesota, where he worked for ten years assisting with government and public finance projects, including work for the city of St. Paul. He also served as an assistant to the Mayor of St. Paul. Subsequently, he became managing director at Piper Jaffray and later served as president, CEO, and chairman of Voyageur Asset Management, part of Dougherty Financial Group. Voyageur was subsequently acquired by Dain Rauscher.

RBC Wealth Management:

In 2001, Dain Rauscher was acquired by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Taft was appointed head of asset management and products for RBC’s U.S. and international division. In September 2005, he became CEO of RBC Wealth Management U.S., the retail brokerage arm of RBC. During his tenure, RBC Wealth Management avoided major difficulties during the 2008 financial crisis, and assets under management increased by 60% from 2008 to 2011, reaching approximately $220 billion. He enhanced technology investments and promoted team-based advising to support financial advisors.

Acquisition and Leadership in U.S. Operations:

In November 2015, Taft facilitated RBC’s acquisition of City National Bank for $5.4 billion, which expanded the bank’s banking and lending capabilities in the U.S. By early 2016, his unit managed $273 billion in assets across 41 states, with a team of approximately 1,900 financial advisors. He served on RBC’s US holding company board and was a member of RBC’s Global Wealth Management Operating Committee. He was also the executive sponsor of RBC’s PRIDE employee resource group. Taft retired as CEO of RBC Wealth Management U.S. on May 31, 2016.

Post-Retirement and Other Roles:

Following his retirement, Taft served as chairman and CEO of Delaney|Taft LLC, as a director of Columbia Threadneedle Funds, and as a senior advisor to Deloitte and Touche LLP. In 2018, he returned from retirement to join Baird, a Milwaukee-based financial services firm, as Vice Chairman. In this role, he assists with strategic initiatives, particularly the expansion of Baird’s private wealth management business. Taft also sits on the boards of Hilliard Lyons Trust and RiverFront Investment Group and is a senior advisor to LFE Capital.

Writing and Public Commentary:

Taft is an author and commentator whose work addresses responsible investing and the role of finance in society. His topics include corporate responsibility, industry trends, diversity, and political issues. He has published op-eds in outlets such as Forbes and The New York Times and has appeared on CNBC, CNN, Bloomberg, and other media. He authored two books: "Stewardship: Lessons Learned From the Lost Culture of Wall Street" (2012) and "A Force for Good: How Enlightened Finance Can Restore Faith in Capitalism" (2015). His writings often advocate for ethical standards and sustainability in finance.

Public Service and Memberships:

Taft has served on numerous boards, including the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Minneapolis Foundation, and the Itasca Project. His past board memberships include the Greater Twin Cities United Way, Walker Art Center, Macalester College, and Minnesota Public Radio. He has also participated in various task forces and initiatives promoting civic and corporate responsibility.