Bailard Named San Francisco Chronicle Top Workplace
Independent by design. Empowered by culture.
SAN FRANCISCO – May 12, 2025 – Bailard, an independent wealth and asset management firm, has once again been recognized as one of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top Workplaces in the Greater Bay Area. Ranked first in the small company category (35-149 employees), this marks Bailard’s second consecutive year on the list—based entirely on employee feedback.
At a time when many financial firms are consolidating, Bailard’s independence continues to set it apart. The firm combines the scale to serve a broad range of clients with the agility and personal touch of a closely connected team. That independence also fuels a workplace culture where employees feel heard, make a difference, and are energized by the work they do.
“Our independence has always been a defining trait of Bailard,” said Sonya Mughal, CFA, CEO of Bailard. “It allows us to be nimble, personal, and direct—whether we’re serving clients or supporting each other as colleagues. We don’t have layers of red tape. We have passion, accountability, and the freedom to do what’s right.”
The award is based on confidential survey results gathered by research partner Energage LLC, which measures key drivers of engaged workplace cultures—such as feeling respected, supported, and empowered.
Rooted in its core values of accountability, compassion, courage, excellence, fairness, and independence, Bailard fosters an environment where employees can bring their best thinking to clients and colleagues alike. With this latest recognition, the firm reinforces its position as a rare combination in financial services: an enduring independent firm with a vibrant, values-led culture.
To learn more about opportunities at Bailard, visit https://bailard.com/careers/.
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About Bailard, Inc.
Founded in 1969, Bailard is an independent, values-driven firm serving individuals, families, and institutions. The firm delivers comprehensive wealth management alongside institutional investment strategies across public and private markets.
Bailard’s wealth management offering includes personalized financial and wealth planning, investment portfolio management, and advanced strategies for special situations. Its asset management capabilities span domestic and international equities, fixed income, sustainable and responsible investing, private real estate, and customized solutions designed to meet a diverse range of client needs.
Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bailard is a majority employee-owned, woman-led firm with $6.5 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025. A Certified B Corporation™ and a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investing, Bailard is proudly independent—built to put clients first, with clear values, extensive experience, and a long-standing commitment to accountability.
About the San Francisco Chronicle Bay Area Top Workplaces
The San Francisco Chronicle Bay Area Top Workplaces is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The 2025 Top Workplaces award was released in May 2025, with responses 103 companies recognized across small, midsize, and large categories. Bailard ranked #1 out of 57 participants in the small company category (fewer than 149 employees). The 2024 Top Workplaces award was released in August 2024, with 117 companies recognized. Bailard ranked #2 out of 65 small companies. These awards and recognitions do not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and are not indicative of Bailard’s future performance. There were no fees to enter. There is no guarantee Bailard or any of its strategies will achieve performance or investment objectives. Past performance is no indication of future results. All investments have the risk of loss.
Country Indices Flash Report – April 2025
U.S. policy and global equities swung wildly during the month as ‘Liberation Day’ was followed by a 90-day pause in many tariffs and the administration’s harsh tone toward Fed Chair Jerome Powell softened. These America-centered policy shocks led to broad dollar weakness: the euro and pound reached three-year highs. EAFE had declined more than 10% before fully recovering, ending April in positive territory.
Quarterly International Equity Strategy Q1 2025
Non-US assets found renewed vigor to begin 2025, in sharp contrast to late 2024. Echoing the first Trump administration eight years ago, U.S. policy uncertainty weighed on the dollar and U.S. equities, while stimulus and reform improved sentiment elsewhere (the Eurozone in particular). The resulting spread of MSCI EAFE over MSCI USA was the widest first-quarter return differential since 1986. While reduced policy visibility may dampen real investment and activity across many countries and industries in the short-term, we believe recent volatility may provoke broader re-examination of allocation to non-US equities, and a constructive starting point for longer-term performance.
Quarterly Technology Equity Strategy Q1 2025
The Bailard Technology Strategy posted a 1Q25 total return of -9.35% net of fees—ahead of both the benchmark index (S&P North American Technology Index) and the competitor-comprised benchmarks. The Morningstar U.S. Open End Technology Category returned -9.98% and the Lipper Science and Technology Fund Index returned -10.88%, while the S&P North American Technology Index returned -11.43%. Over longer time periods of 3, 5, and 10 years, the Strategy’s net returns continued to lead the competitor’s peer benchmarks—quite substantially, as seen in the table to the right.
Despite market volatility in Q1, we have not significantly altered our positioning. Our view is that nothing is broken in tech, and we remain convicted in our investment process. With prices and valuation changing dramatically, we expect to optimize our positioning by bolstering or adding high-quality companies trading at attractive discounts to long-term value. We anticipate stabilization in industry fundamentals and fiscal policy in the latter part of this year.
Quarterly Small Value Strategy Q1 2025
Policy uncertainty, mixed economic and inflation numbers, and a declining stock market prompted investors to opt for the perceived safety of large cap stocks in the first quarter. Though trade wars disproportionally hurt larger cap stocks due to their much greater international exposure, and the new administration’s proposed deregulatory initiatives relatively help smaller companies, fear of recession eclipsed any other rational analysis during the period. As a result, small cap stocks now appear to be discounting a severe recession based upon price declines, while large cap stocks are barely discounting a mild one.
Country Indices Flash Report – March 2025
U.S. stocks breached the 10% correction level from February highs, while EAFE made new ones in March. The gap between EAFE and the U.S. is the largest first quarter differential since 1986.
Country Indices Flash Report – February 2025
Developed markets posted strong returns, driven by local share price gains and a weaker dollar. Uncertainty around Trump administration policy may be pressuring the dollar and boosting gold. EAFE’s early-year outperformance vs. the U.S. index is the largest in 30 years.
Bailard CEO, Sonya Mughal's 30-Year Journey
“There’s no role or career that a woman cannot thrive in,” said Sonya Mughal, CEO of Bailard. “What people do need to understand is that you can thrive only in the correct environment.”
Country Indices Flash Report – January 2025
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