John G. Taft
Vice Chair at Baird; financier, author, and board director
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Summary
Advocate for stewardship and responsible finance — author and public speaker who consistently emphasizes that the financial services industry should serve society, restore trust in capitalism, and prioritize client-focused ethics. wikipedia+2
Seasoned wealth-management executive and board leader — more than a decade as CEO of RBC Wealth Management, later joining Baird as Vice Chair and serving on multiple corporate and investment firm boards (RiverFront, Octavus, Sagard). wikipedia+2
Active nonprofit and philanthropic involvement — long-term trustee and leader in Minneapolis-area philanthropy and the arts, including board service and leadership at The Minneapolis Foundation and past service on the Andy Warhol Foundation board. minneapolisfoundation+1
Public commentator and media contributor — frequently appears in media and industry forums on topics such as alternative investments, stewardship, and the intersection of finance and society, and maintains a public blog through Baird. rwbaird+1
Family legacy and values inform public stance — draws on a multigenerational family tradition of public service (including descent from Robert A. Taft and William Howard Taft) as a grounding for advocating ethical leadership and community service. taftschool+1
Work
Education
Projects
Writing
Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost Culture of Wall Street
January 1, 2015Explores stewardship as serving others and argues for a culture in finance that emphasizes ethics, client focus, and societal responsibility.
A Force for Good: How Enlightened Finance Can Restore Faith in Capitalism
January 1, 2012A collection of essays and commentary arguing that finance can be harnessed to serve public goods, restore trust in capitalism, and reward responsible corporate behavior.
amazon.comOp-eds and commentary on responsible investing and corporate responsibility
Regular opinion pieces and commentary in outlets and on his blog about corporate responsibility, diversity, and finance's role in society.