Sonya Mughal Named Women in Wealth Advocate of the Year at 2026 Private Asset Management Awards
Bailard CEO Sonya Mughal, CFA, has been named Women in Wealth Advocate of the Year – Individual at the 2026 Private Asset Management (PAM) Awards, presented by With Intelligence. The award recognizes individuals who actively support the advancement and participation of women in wealth management. Winners were announced at a live ceremony in New York on February 5.
About Sonya Mughal
Sonya became Chief Executive Officer of Bailard in April 2021, after nearly three decades at the firm. She is the first woman and first person of color to lead the company. Her leadership is marked by consistency and fairness, along with a clear expectation that decisions be both thoughtful and well reasoned.
"Wealth management is stronger when more women are part of it. As advisors, as leaders, and frankly, as clients,” said Mughal. “I am deeply honored, but this truly belongs to the Bailard team. Nearly half of our senior leaders are women, and that is no accident. It is what happens when people are genuinely committed to doing what is right."
Women in Leadership at Bailard
As of December 31, 2025, 48% of Bailard's VPs and above are women. That figure speaks to steady hiring, promotion, and retention decisions over time.
One of the firm’s more tangible practices is pay transparency. Managers understand that compensation decisions must be clear and defensible. That discipline encourages open conversation and reduces ambiguity around advancement, an area where finance has not always been consistent.
For clients, that consistency supports stable teams and clear processes. For employees, it creates a more transparent path for growth.
“The conversations I have with clients are different here,” said Lena McQuillen, CFP®, Vice President and Director of Financial Planning at Bailard. “There is a level of trust that comes from working with a firm that genuinely walks the talk, and you really do get to make a difference in people’s lives.”
About the Private Asset Management Awards
The Private Asset Management Awards recognize firms and individuals across the private wealth management space. The 2026 awards ceremony brought together senior decision-makers from family offices, multi-family offices, private banks, and wealth management firms across the United States. Winners are selected by an independent panel of industry professionals.
In addition to Mughal’s individual recognition this year, Bailard’s Chief Investment Officer Dave Harrison Smith, CFA, was shortlisted for Manager or Investment Research Professional of the Year. The firm was also shortlisted in prior years for Best Philanthropic Initiative and Women in Wealth Advocate of the Year - Company.
About Bailard, Inc.
Bailard is an independent firm that has served individuals, families, and institutions since 1969 with comprehensive wealth management and disciplined asset management solutions. Our work is rooted in clear values, long-term thinking, and a steady commitment to putting clients first. Across the firm, we provide financial and wealth planning, portfolio management, and asset management strategies spanning domestic and international equities, fixed income, sustainable and responsible investing, private real estate, and customized mandates. The firm manages more than $7.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025.
Bailard is a Certified B Corporation™ and signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investing. We are built on accountability, compassion, and a long-term commitment to doing what’s right for our clients. Learn more at bailard.com, and explore career opportunities at bailard.com/careers.
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Leadership statistics as of 12/31/2025. Bailard does not endorse or control, either expressly or implicitly, the content posted by any third party and disclaims all comments made or information provided by non-Bailard employees. These recognitions do not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and are not indicative of Bailard’s future performance. There was no cost to enter. The Private Asset Management Awards 2026 judging process is designed to be rigorous and thorough to ensure all entries receive full consideration and that excellence in each of the categories is truly rewarded. A mix of leading wealth managers, advisors/consultants, service providers, and other industry experts make up the judging panel. Presented by With Intelligence, part of S&P Global, winners were announced in February 2026. Additional information is available here: https://awards.withintelligence.com/privateassetmanagementaward/en/page/2026-winners.
Bailard Earns Global Recognition and National Ranking
Firm honored at the international Wealth for Good Awards and named to Financial Advisor Magazine’s 2025 Top RIA ranking.
SAN FRANCISCO – August 27, 2025 – Bailard, Inc. today announced it has received two honors this summer, reflecting both the firm’s values-driven commitment to its community and its continued standing among the nation’s independent RIAs. Bailard was awarded “Best Philanthropic Initiative (Americas)” at the global 2025 WealthBriefing Wealth for Good Awards and was also named to Financial Advisor Magazine’s 2025 Top RIA Ranking.
The Wealth for Good Awards are an international program recognizing wealth management firms worldwide that advance initiatives prioritizing purpose and impact. Bailard was recognized for the work of the Bailard Foundation, which has distributed more than $1.25 million in grants and donations since its inception in 2019, with over 90% of those funds benefiting the local Bay Area community. The Foundation focuses on affordable housing, homelessness and poverty, and financial literacy, while also supporting employee matching and volunteer initiatives.
“Giving back is central to who we are. Our employees dive in — through donations and hands-on volunteering — and often say it’s among the most rewarding aspects of being part of Bailard,” said Sonya Mughal, CFA, Chief Executive Officer of Bailard. “The Foundation channels that passion into real impact here in the Bay Area, and we’re honored that work has been recognized on a global stage.”
In addition, Bailard was recognized once again among Financial Advisor Magazine’s Top RIAs, marking the firm’s fifth consecutive year in the Top 100. The annual survey ranks independent registered investment advisors by assets under management as of December 31, 2024.
“Being named among the Top RIAs is a credit to our team and to the clients who put their trust in us,” said Mike Faust, CFA, President of Wealth Management at Bailard. “It’s their partnership that makes this recognition possible.”
Together, these recognitions honor what Bailard has done for decades: caring for clients while staying true to the firm’s values. With more than $7 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2025, Bailard continues to combine independent wealth and asset management with a commitment to community and responsibility.
More on the Bailard Foundation’s work can be found at bailard.com/bailard-foundation.
About Bailard, Inc.
Founded in 1969, Bailard is an independent, values-driven firm serving individuals, families, and institutions with comprehensive wealth management and investment strategies across public and private markets. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, the woman-led, majority employee-owned firm manages over $7 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. A Certified B Corporation™ and signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investing, Bailard combines deep expertise with a long-standing commitment to putting clients first.
About these recognitions
These achievements 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. The 2025 WealthBriefing Wealth for Good Awards were given in June 2025 by ClearView Financial Media. This annual award gives an opportunity in the global wealth management industry to demonstrate their commitment to and pre-eminence in the crucially important areas of ESG, Impact, Diversity and Inclusion. The Judges Panel consisted of asset managers, banks, trust companies, law firms, family offices and independent consultants, each of whom has in-depth knowledge and experience with ESG, Impact, Diversity and Inclusion in the wealth management space. The Bailard Foundation has a board of directors that is led by chairwoman Terri Bailard, widow of firm co-founder Tom Bailard, and features both friends of Bailard, Inc. and its employees. The Financial Advisor Top RIAs ranking is published each July, and compiled through an annual survey that brings together independent RIAs across the country. To be eligible, firms must be independent registered investment advisors and file their own ADV statement with the SEC, and provide financial planning and related services to individual clients. Firms were recognized by their assets under management as of December 31, 2024; Bailard ranked #87 of 366 firms represented in the 2025 list. Bailard ranked #84 of 431 firms in 2024; #91 of 521 firms in 2023; #94 of 534 firms in 2022; #97 out of 607 in 2021; and #100 of 715 in 2020. Past performance is no indication of future results. All investments have the risk of loss.
The Bailard Foundation Distributes $1M in its First Five Years
Through the Foundation and volunteer events, Bailard, Inc. continues to prioritize and support community impact
SAN FRANCISCO – July 17, 2024 – Bailard, Inc., an independent wealth and asset management firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, proudly announces that its Bailard Foundation reached $1 million in grants and donations distributed in just its first five years. As of June 30, 2024, the Bailard Foundation has distributed $1,008,037 since its inception in June 2019, over 90% of which has directly benefited the local Bay Area community.
“Reaching the $1 million mark is such a momentous milestone for the Foundation and the firm,” said Sonya Mughal, CEO of Bailard. “Through the Foundation, we’ve been able to make a real impact on the local community through causes that are dear to the hearts of our firm and employees. Bailard, for decades, has been devoted to bettering the community around us and giving back to those less fortunate, and the Foundation serves as a pillar of that commitment. I’m thrilled to see the good that it has already accomplished and look forward to all that it will accomplish in the future.”
The Bailard Foundation focuses on three core areas—affordable housing, homelessness & poverty, and financial literacy— which, to date, the Foundation has given $617,185. Beyond this focus, the Foundation offers an employee charitable matching program and continues to support long-standing community partnerships that pre-date its creation. Bailard also organizes frequent employee volunteer opportunities in the community, a practice that also pre-dates the Foundation’s creation.
Bailard launched the Foundation to formalize the firm’s decades-long dedication to giving back and to correspond with the 50th anniversary of the company’s founding in 2019.
“During my nearly 30 years at Bailard, I’ve seen how important giving back has been to the firm and its employees,” said Kim Aquino, CFP®, a Senior Vice President with Bailard and a member of the Foundation’s board of directors. “Launching the Foundation was such a natural step for Bailard and its values-driven, compassionate culture. Achieving the $1M mark shows how deeply Bailard and our employees care, not just about one another and our clients, but also the greater community. It’s been a real honor to serve on the board and act as a catalyst on behalf of the firm.”
Earlier this year, Bailard, Inc. announced its certification as a B Corporation™. Bailard, Inc. has also been named a Top 100 Corporate Bay Area Corporate Philanthropist by the San Francisco Business Times each of the last four years, from 2021 – 2024.
About Bailard, Inc.
Founded in 1969, Bailard is an independent, value-driven asset and wealth management firm serving individuals, families, and institutions alike. Bailard has built a long-term asset management track record across domestic and international equities, fixed income, and private real estate, as well as robust, in-house sustainable, responsible, and impact investing expertise. Through it all, Bailard works with clients to align their financial goals with their values. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area with over $6.2 billion in assets under management as of 6/30/2024, Bailard is a majority employee-owned and women-led firm, a Certified B Corporation™, and a Principles of Responsible Investing signatory.
On the Foundation board of directors are friends of Bailard—including chairwoman Terri Bailard, widow of firm co-founder Tom Bailard—and current employees.
About the Corporate Philanthropy Awards: For 24 years, the San Francisco Business Times has published the Corporate Philanthropists List. The list features 100 top corporate philanthropists in the Bay Area ranked by local cash giving. It includes for-profit companies and nonprofit health care organizations that made contributions to Bay Area-based charitable organizations in the following counties: San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma. The Corporate Philanthropy Awards program was founded in partnership with Northern California Grantmakers. A portion of the proceeds goes to NCG to fund the Corporate Philanthropy Institute, with the mission to educate more companies about effective giving and best philanthropy practices. The aim is to honor those who give the most and in doing so to help raise the bar and inspire more giving. This achievement does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of Bailard’s future performance. The San Francisco Business Times Top 100 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists is an annual award, given to Bailard, Inc. by the San Francisco Business Times in July 2023, July 2022, and July 2021. Each year, 100 firms appeared in the San Francisco Business Times list. Bailard ranked #79 in 2023; #82 in 2022; and #89 in 2021. The 2024 rankings list has not yet been announced but will be announced by the publication later this month. There was no fee to enter. Bailard, Inc. received this award; almost all donations from Bailard are given through the Bailard Foundation, except for 4% in 2023; 2% in 2022; and 4% in 2021.
All investments have the risk of loss. This is not a recommendation of, or an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy any particular security, strategy, or investment product.
The Bailard Foundation Annual Update 2023
The Bailard Foundation continues to be a bright spot of the Bailard community. In the last year, the Foundation donated over $197,200 to 22 charities and held seven successful volunteer events. The Bailard Foundation highlights the best of Bailard in a genuine way by putting its community first, showing compassion to those in need, and always going the extra mile for others.
The focus areas of giving for the Foundation remain affordable housing, homelessness and poverty, and financial literacy. In its four years since inception, the Foundation has made over $454,700 in impact grants. This giving is a combination of support from Bailard, its clients, employees, and friends of the Firm.
In this fourth year, the members of the Board worked to increase community engagement with additional volunteer opportunities. In-person engagement became easier as COVID subsided across the country and the Bailard team took full advantage of the ability to be in person. Volunteer opportunities included teaching financial literacy to high school students, volunteering twice with Bay Area food banks, physical labor with Habitat for Humanity of Greater San Francisco, and co-hosting two Pride celebrations for a homeless shelter network in San Francisco alongside Bailard’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.
The Foundation also worked to establish routine donations for ten charities to provide consistent financial support, while maintaining a portion of its annual funds to be used for just-in-time donations. This allows the charities to rely on funding as part of their annual budgets and helps disseminate the funds in a reliable way, while preserving our ability to react to real-time needs as they arise. In the coming year, the Foundation will continue to evaluate new charities and offer new volunteer events.
Volunteer Events
The Foundation held its largest volunteer event in April with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco: 33 Bailard colleagues participated, representing over half of the Firm’s locally-based employees. In what is also a treasured opportunity to work together, the group designed and constructed three playhouses, which were donated to Mission Neighborhood Center and also provided funds to help build eight permanently affordable homes in the Bay Area.
The Foundation’s most recent volunteer event was held in late June in conjunction with Bailard’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee in celebration of Pride Month. Bailard teammates helped to bring a celebration of the Month to A Woman’s Place. A Woman’s Place provides the only 24-hour supportive residential services in San Francisco, providing emergency shelter and long-term treatment to all women, regardless of their special needs.
Bailard has collectively donated more than 240 volunteer hours since it began hosting employee events one year ago in June 2022.
The Bailard Foundation supports initiatives that the Firm, its employees, and its clients value, as we seek to collectively improve the communities in which we live, work, and engage. The Bailard Foundation has a board of directors that is led by chairwoman Terri Bailard, widow of Firm co-founder Tom Bailard, and features both select friends of Bailard, Inc. and employees.
Bailard Wins Corporate Philanthropy Award
Bailard Ranks in Top 100 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists
Foster City, CA — August 10, 2022 – Bailard announced today that it has been ranked in the San Francisco Business Times’ 2022 Top 100 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists List. The Corporate Philanthropy program celebrates the Bay Area’s most generous corporate citizens and recognizes those companies that also give their time, talent, and resources to their community.
Bailard’s ranking among the top corporate philanthropists—joining firms like Google and Genentech—is yet another proof point for the firm’s robust approach to corporate governance and responsibility. Bailard is values-driven, and fiercely committed to its core tenets of accountability, compassion, courage, excellence, fairness, and independence. These values relate not only to client service but also to the firm’s fundamental business practices, employee experience, and its commitment to the community.
“Bailard’s generosity helps to raise the bar on corporate philanthropy and inspires more giving,” said Mary Huss, Publisher of the San Francisco Business Times. “Their participation in this program helps challenge others to do more.”
The annual list from the San Francisco Business Times recognizes the 100 top corporate philanthropists ranked by local cash giving. It includes for-profit companies and nonprofit health care organizations that made contributions to Bay Area-based charitable organizations in the following counties: San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.
“In my role, I am consistently in awe of our team’s commitment to supporting our community, and their ability to find ways to give back to those in need,” said Chief Executive Officer, Sonya Mughal, CFA. “In addition to monetary contributions, our team also has a passion for volunteering as well as supporting our clients’ philanthropic goals.”
This recognition builds on the firm’s commitment to the Bailard Foundation, which recently released its annual update reporting on the Foundation’s service to Bailard’s community and its values.
About Bailard, Inc.
Founded in 1969, Bailard is an independent asset and wealth management firm serving individuals, families, and institutions alike. Bailard has built a long‐term asset management track record across domestic and international equities, fixed income, and private real estate, as well as robust, in‐house ESG expertise. Through it all—and in line with its core principles and strong ESG mindset—Bailard works with clients to align their financial goals with their values. With $5.0 billion in assets under management as of 6/30/2022, Bailard is a majority employee‐owned and women‐led firm, and a Principles of Responsible Investing (PRI) signatory. A values‐driven firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bailard has its own private charitable foundation and is deeply committed to its core values of accountability, compassion, courage, excellence, fairness, and independence.
About the Corporate Philanthropy Awards
For 22 years the San Francisco Business Times has published the Corporate Philanthropists List. The list features 100 top corporate philanthropists in the Bay Area ranked by local cash giving. Each year the list is unveiled at the San Francisco Business Times’ Corporate Philanthropy Awards event. The Corporate Philanthropy Awards program was founded in partnership with Northern California Grantmakers. A portion of the proceeds goes to NCG to fund the Corporate Philanthropy Institute, with the mission to educate more companies about effective giving and best philanthropy practices. The aim is to honor those who give the most and in doing so to help raise the bar and inspire more giving. This achievement does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of Bailard’s future performance. All for-profit companies – whether public or private – along with nonprofit health care organizations were eligible. Companies were required to provide a detailed breakdown of philanthropic contributions. This list ranks companies by dollar value of cash contributions made to Bay Area-based charities in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma. 100 firms appeared in the San Francisco Business Times list. Bailard ranked #82. There was no fee to enter. To see the ranking list, visit: https://bizj.us/1qg0z9
The Bailard Foundation Annual Update 2022
June 30, 2022
The Bailard Foundation celebrated its third anniversary in May. Bailard’s values shine through in many ways at the firm and the Foundation has quickly become another way for Bailard to exemplify its values of compassion, courage, and fairness. The Foundation channels Bailard’s strong commitment to the community through three focus areas: affordable housing, homelessness and poverty, and financial literacy. Since inception, the Foundation has donated $257,490 to grantees and remains appreciative of the incredible support receivedn by clients, employees, and friends of the firm during several challenging years. As we look to the future, the Foundation remains committed to building out additional in-person employee volunteer opportunities and expanding our grantee partnerships.
Giving Highlights
Employee Drives: The Foundation has conducted seven employee fundraising drives over the past three years, raising nearly $50,000 between employee contributions and the Foundation’s match. Our most successful drive to date was in March 2022 to support the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and highlights our employees’ commitment and generosity. In December 2021, we also held our Annual Holiday Drive, where employees received a match for contributions to their local food bank.
Volunteer Events: The Foundation held its inaugural in-person volunteer day on June 30 at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. Fourteen Bailard employees gathered to sort 6,000 pounds of food for those facing food insecurity in the Bay Area. The Foundation looks forward to many future volunteer events around the Bay Area, underscoring our ultimate goal to build material relationships with our grantees by going beyond financial support and giving our direct time and effort. The next employee event will be at the SF-Marin Food Bank later in the summer.
Grantee Highlight – St. Francis Center
Mission: St. Francis Center provides opportunity for families living in Redwood City and the surrounding communities to live with dignity and build self-sufficient livelihoods.
Services: In addition to supplying food, housing, clothing and other essential services, the thriving community-based center seeks to reduce the cycle of poverty through skill building courses, mentorship programs and social services.
Grantee Highlight – World Central Kitchen
Mission: World Central Kitchen (WCK) works to provide food to global communities during crises, by being at the frontlines providing meals and by helping build resilient food systems in areas with chronic food system challenges.
Services: Founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, WCK is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises while working to build resilient food systems with locally led solutions. WCK has served more than 100 million fresh meals to people impacted by natural disasters and other crises around the world. WCK’s Resilience Programs strengthen food and nutrition security by training chefs and school cooks; advancing clean cooking practices; and awarding grants to farms, fisheries, and small food businesses while also providing educational and networking opportunities.
The Bailard Foundation supports initiatives that the firm, its employees, and its clients value, as we seek to collectively improve the communities in which we live, work, and engage. The Bailard Foundation has a board of directors that is led by chairwoman Terri Bailard, widow of firm co-founder Tom Bailard, and features both select friends of Bailard, Inc. and employees.
Photo credit: World Central Kitchen/WCK.org.
Bailard Recognized as A Top Firm by Two Industry Awards
Bailard is recognized as both a Top Corporate Philanthropist by San Francisco Business Times and a top 100 RIA by Financial Advisor
Bailard is honored to announce its recognition as a top firm and leader, with two recent prestigious publication award wins by the San Francisco Business Times and Financial Advisor magazine. Bailard ranked on the San Francisco Business Times’ 2021 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists List, which celebrates the San Francisco Bay Area’s most generous corporate citizens and recognizes those companies that also give their time, talent, and resources. In Financial Advisor’s 2021 list, Bailard again ranked as a top RIA firm, placing at #97 out of the over 600 eligible firms.
Together, these accolades serve as proof of Bailard’s commitment to the values of excellence and compassion, both in our community and in our industry at large. The San Francisco Business Times recognizes 100 top corporate philanthropists ranked by local cash giving. It includes for-profit companies and nonprofit health care organizations that made contributions to Bay Area charitable organizations in the following counties: San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.
In the Financial Advisor RIA Survey & Ranking for 2021, Bailard was named #97 of the 607 firms included on the list. The Financial Advisor ranking is based on assets under management and is compiled through an annual survey that brings together independent RIAs across the country. Notably, Bailard has maintained its prominence in the RIA landscape after also being named in the top 100 in FA’s 2020 list.
“Through these two awards, we are honored to be recognized as a firm that is one of the top 100 independent wealth and investment management firms in the nation, and we are especially proud to also be distinguished as a strong philanthropic member of the Bay Area community,” said CEO Sonya Mughal.
“Bailard’s generosity helps to raise the bar on corporate philanthropy and inspires more giving,” said Mary Huss, Publisher of the San Francisco Business Times. “Their participation in this program helps challenge others to do more.”
This recognition as a corporate philanthropist also builds on Bailard’s commitment to the Bailard Foundation, which released its annual update celebrating its second year of serving our community and living to Bailard’s values. Read it here: The Bailard Foundation Annual Update.
* All investments involve the risk of loss. The Bailard Foundation has a board of directors that is led by chairwoman Terri Bailard, widow of firm co-founder Tom Bailard, and features both friends of Bailard, Inc. and employees.
About Bailard, Inc.
Founded in 1969, Bailard is an independent wealth and investment management firm that offers proprietary and innovative investment strategies that drive success for clients. For individuals and institutions alike, Bailard proudly serves as a trusted partner focused on achieving long-term results aligned with client values and goals. Throughout its 50+ years, Bailard has remained independent and fiercely committed to the highest ethical standards and best-in-class fiduciary principles. With over $5 billion of AUM as of June 30, 2021, Bailard’s high-touch client service and proven track record are grounded in the firm’s core values including accountability, compassion, and excellence.
About the San Francisco Business Times Corporate Philanthropy Awards
For 21 years the San Francisco Business Times has published the Corporate Philanthropists List. The list features 100 top corporate philanthropists in the Bay Area ranked by local cash giving. Each year the list is unveiled at the San Francisco Business Times’ Corporate Philanthropy Awards event. The Corporate Philanthropy Awards program was founded in partnership with Northern California Grantmakers. A portion of the proceeds goes to NCG to fund the Corporate Philanthropy Institute, with the mission to educate more companies about effective giving and best philanthropy practices. The aim is to honor those who give the most and in doing so to help raise the bar and inspire more giving. This achievement does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of Bailard’s future performance. All for-profit companies – whether public or private – along with nonprofit health care organizations were eligible. Companies were required to provide a detailed breakdown of philanthropic contributions in fiscal year 2020. This list ranks companies by dollar value of cash contributions made to Bay Area-based charities in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma. 100 firms appeared in the San Francisco Business Times list. Bailard ranked #89. There was no fee to enter. To see the ranking list, visit: https://bizj.us/1qb83q
About Financial Advisor
Reaching 80,000 qualified readers each month, Financial Advisor delivers essential market information and strategies that advisors need to succeed in their increasingly complex environment. FA focuses on sophisticated planning and investment strategies to help advisors better serve their affluent clients, as well as practice management ideas to help advisors build their firms. FA goes in-depth to challenge traditional planning wisdom by introducing readers to new approaches to help them better counsel clients. To achieve these goals, FA continuously seeks to bring together the best team of editors and contributing writers to provide the most compelling publication for the top decision-makers in the financial advisory field. The Financial Advisor list is compiled through an annual survey that brings together independent RIAs across the country. To be eligible for the ranking, firms must be independent registered investment advisors and file their own ADV statement with the SEC, and provide financial planning and related services to individual clients. Firms were recognized by their assets under management as of December 31, 2020. For the list published in 2021, Bailard ranked #97 out of 607 firms represented. For the list published in 2020, Bailard ranked #100 out of 715 firms represented. This achievement does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of Bailard’s future performance. There was no fee to enter. To see the full list, please visit.
The Bailard Foundation Annual Update 2021
June 30, 2021
Serving the community in which we live has long been ingrained in the values of Bailard and the mindset of its employees. The desire and effort of helping our communities was foundational for the company, but there had never before been a formal channel to organize or amplify Bailard’s service. To solidify the company’s commitment to our communities and increase the impact of what Bailard, its employees, and clients support, the Bailard Foundation was created in May of 2019 in tandem with the Firm’s 50th Anniversary. The Bailard Foundation supports initiatives that the Firm, its employees, and its clients value, as we seek to collectively improve the communities in which we live, work, and engage. The four focus donation areas of the Bailard Foundation are Affordable Housing, Homelessness & Poverty, Financial Literacy, and International Impact projects. Since inception, the Foundation has donated $126,508 to various grantees and remains appreciative of the incredible support received by clients, employees, and friends of the Firm.
Giving Highlights
Pandemic Relief: The pandemic drove a number of the Bailard Foundation’s charitable strategies over the past year. Given exceptional economic need, the Foundation focused on accelerating grant giving within its core values of Homelessness & Poverty and Affordable Housing. The jeopardizing of basic human needs such as shelter and food steered the Foundation’s giving to a number of food banks including SF-Marin Food Bank, Second Harvest Silicon Valley, Alameda County Community Food Bank, and the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano Counties. The Foundation also gave to a several San Francisco Bay Area grantees addressing homelessness, including First Place for Youth, Glide Foundation, and Larkin Street Youth.
Black Lives Matter Movement: In regards to the Black Lives Matter movement, the Foundation implemented a number of initiatives beginning in the summer of 2020, starting with a $500 match on any employee gift to an organization that seeks to address and end systematic racism and oppression of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Additionally, the Foundation gave new contributions in support of Larkin Street Youth Services, Hope SF, and the San Francisco Bay Area chapters of 100 Black Men and 100 Black Women. Through both campaigns, nine organizations received close to $19,000 in grants.
New Grantees: The Bailard Foundation’s new grantees over the past year spanned all four focus areas of Financial Literacy, Affordable Housing, Homelessness & Poverty, and International Impact. A notable new grantee within the Homelessness & Poverty focus area includes First Place for Youth, which helps Bay Area foster youth transition to responsible adulthood. In regards to International Impact, the Foundation granted $5,000 to Raising the Village, which partners with rural communities in Uganda on economic self-sufficiency initiatives, helping lift villages out of poverty. On the Financial Literacy front, the Foundation made a new $5,000 grant to Able Works, which supplies youths and young families with financial education and life skills to help overcome economic hardship.
Grantee Highlight – First Place for Youth
Mission: First Place for Youth helps foster youth build the skills they need to make a successful transition to self-sufficiency and responsible adulthood.
Services: Each year, more than 25,000 young people “age out” of the foster care system and face the prospect of independent living. First Place for Youth steps in to support young people coming of age in the foster care system whose families can’t be there for them. Beginning with safe places to live, program participants are then matched with mentors, housing and employment specialists and youth advocates who help them to persist and succeed in school, build life and job skills, and work toward careers in high-growth fields.
Grantee Highlight – The Samburu Project
Mission: To provide access to clean water and continue to support well communities with initiatives that promote health, education, women’s empowerment and general well-being.
Bailard’s Involvement: In 2020, The Samburu Project drilled seven new wells that now provide clean water to communities in Samburu, Kenya. One of these wells was co-funded by the Bailard Foundation, and will support the 670 people of the Pasinae Self Help Group of Lechur Village.
The Bailard Foundation supports initiatives that the firm, its employees, and its clients value, as we seek to collectively improve the communities in which we live, work, and engage. The Bailard Foundation has a board of directors that is led by chairwoman Terri Bailard, widow of firm co-founder Tom Bailard, and features both select friends of Bailard, Inc. and employees.
Providing Clean Water to Samburu, Kenya
Clean water is a basic need for human life, yet access to it is far from equitable. According to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), 785 million people lacked access to clean drinking water, with more than half of those individuals living in sub-Saharan Africa as of 2017. The Samburu Project is helping change that.
The Samburu Project not only provides access to clean water to communities in the Samburu region of Kenya by building wells, but the organization also provides ongoing support to these communities through initiatives promoting education, health, women’s empowerment, and overall well-being. The Samburu Project preaches that water is “health, education, community, empowerment, dignity, hope and life”. The Samburu Project works in accordance with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6 to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”
Clean water allows advancement for women and girls
Providing easier access to clean water for communities like Samburu has the greatest impact on the region’s women and girls. Since the responsibility of gathering water for the community typically falls on women and girls – who must walk up to 12 miles a day to collect it – women often cannot work nor can girls attend school. With the help of The Samburu Project’s well-drilling in these communities, women and girls can pursue both education and income-generating activities. The organization also partners with schools in the community that teach the importance of hygiene, sanitation, and education. The newly-empowered women uncover that they have the autonomy to choose education and the ability to provide for themselves and their families in new ways such as through brick making businesses, beading, and successful agriculture businesses.
Providing the Pasinae Self Help Group of Lechur Village clean water
One of many groups in need was the Pasinae Self Help Group of Lechur Village, located 14 km east of Wamba in central Kenya. According to the Samburu Project, 670 people, 2,000 cows, 10,000 goats, 50 donkeys, and 200 camels call this place home and were in desperate need of clean water.
The Bailard Foundation has had the honor of being able to participate in bringing water to the Samburu community. Despite all the hardships that the year 2020 brought to the world, the Bailard Foundation, through the hard work of The Samburu Project, was able to co-fund the cost of drilling a well for the Pasinae Self Help Group. You may also learn more in a video from The Circle World Water Day Virtual Event hosted by The Samburu Project on their efforts in Kenya.
Bailard’s values-driven culture is present not only in the office but embedded in our dedication to community involvement. To formalize this passion, the Bailard Foundation was founded in 2019 in tandem with Bailard’s 50th Anniversary. The Foundation supports initiatives important to the Bailard family, employees, and clients alike, and strives to improve the communities that we engage with. The four main focus areas the Foundation targets are affordable housing, homelessness & poverty, financial literacy, and international impact projects. The Bailard Foundation has a board of directors that is led by chairwoman Terri Bailard, widow of firm co-founder Tom Bailard, and features both friends of Bailard, Inc. and employees.