Baird Trust Wealth and Family Office has appointed Jeremy Gerch as senior vice president in Louisville, strengthening its ability to advise high-net-worth individuals, families and business owners on complex estate planning and trust matters.
Gerch will work closely with clients and their outside legal, tax and financial advisors to address sophisticated estate planning, wealth transfer and trust administration needs.
His appointment expands the multidisciplinary expertise available through Baird Trust’s Wealth and Family Office team, which provides customized wealth management and trust solutions for clients with significant and often multigenerational assets.
Gerch joins Baird Trust after working as a partner at Dentons, where he advised individuals and families on wealth transfer, fiduciary and tax strategies.
His background as an estate planning attorney gives him experience helping clients structure the transfer of assets, establish trusts, manage tax considerations and navigate the legal responsibilities associated with preserving wealth across generations.
At Baird Trust, Gerch will apply that experience from within an integrated wealth management platform rather than solely through a traditional law firm role.
This structure is intended to improve coordination among estate planning professionals, trust administrators, investment teams and clients’ outside advisors.
High-net-worth families often need several specialists to address related issues involving investments, taxes, business ownership, charitable giving, trusts and inheritance planning.
Bringing these capabilities together can help families develop a more consistent strategy while reducing the risk that important decisions are made independently of one another.
Gerch has worked with members of the Baird Trust team for more than a decade, providing him with familiarity with the organization’s approach and client service model.
Baird said his longstanding relationship with the team should support a smooth transition and allow him to begin contributing quickly to complex client engagements.
The appointment also represents a continued investment in Baird Trust’s Louisville operations.
Baird Trust is headquartered in Louisville and maintains additional offices in Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
The company has expanded significantly since becoming part of Baird in 2019, supported by increased wealth creation and growing demand for generational planning.
Client assets have nearly tripled from approximately $11 billion to more than $30 billion as of December 31, 2025.
This growth has increased the need for professionals who can help families manage complicated ownership structures and prepare for significant transfers of wealth.
Estate planning can involve far more than determining how assets will be distributed after a person’s death.
For wealthy families and business owners, planning may include establishing trusts, transferring ownership interests, preparing future generations for financial responsibilities and coordinating strategies involving income, estate and gift taxes.
Business owners may also need to align their personal estate plans with succession arrangements for privately held companies.
A poorly coordinated transition can create tax costs, ownership disputes or operational uncertainty for the business and the family.
Gerch’s experience with fiduciary matters can also support clients selecting trustees and determining how trusts should be governed and administered over time.
Trustees may be responsible for managing investments, making distributions, maintaining records and carrying out the terms established by the person who created the trust.
These responsibilities can become more complicated when a trust holds business interests, real estate or other assets that are difficult to value or manage.
Baird Trust provides professional trust administration and estate settlement services alongside investment management.
Its Wealth and Family Office team is designed for clients whose financial affairs require highly customized advice and regular coordination among several professionals.
The team works with wealthy individuals, families and entrepreneurs who may have assets distributed across businesses, investment portfolios, trusts, charitable entities and multiple generations.
Baird believes Gerch’s legal and tax planning experience will enhance its ability to design and implement solutions for those relationships.
His appointment also reflects the broader growth of the family office market as wealthy families seek centralized support for increasingly complex financial and administrative needs.
A family office model can combine investment oversight with estate planning coordination, trust services, reporting, risk management and family governance.
The objective is to help clients manage their wealth as an integrated enterprise rather than as a collection of unrelated accounts and legal structures.
Baird Trust has provided asset management, estate settlement and trust administration services for more than 40 years.
Its team includes estate planners, trust and estate administrators and investment professionals.
The company is among the largest state-chartered trust companies in the United States, with more than $30 billion in client assets.
Gerch’s arrival gives Baird Trust another experienced professional as it expands its capabilities and client base in Louisville and across its broader regional footprint.
KEY QUOTES:
“Jeremy is very highly regarded in Louisville and brings a combination of deep estate and tax planning expertise and practical experience that enhances our ability to serve clients with complex needs. His background enhances the Wealth and Family Office team’s ability to deliver thoughtful, highly customized solutions and further strengthens the collaborative approach that defines Baird Trust.”
Yano Touma, Managing Director of Wealth and Family Office at Baird Trust
“I am excited to join the Wealth and Family Office at Baird Trust, where I will be able to utilize my experience and expertise in a new capacity. Having worked closely with this team for well over a decade, I know it’s a great fit and look forward to contributing to their continued success while servicing clients at a very high level.”
Jeremy Gerch, Senior Vice President at Baird Trust Wealth and Family Office
“Jeremy’s decision to join Baird Trust reflects both the strength of our platform and our continued investment in the Louisville community. We are committed to growing our presence in this market by attracting exceptional talent and expanding the capabilities we offer to clients and families across the region.”
Jim Allen, CFA, Vice Chair of Baird
