Meet Sarah Cuddy | Financial Advisor, Robert W. Baird & Co

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Cuddy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, do you have a budget? how do you think about personal finances?
I love this question! Yes, I do have a budget that I keep in an Excel spreadsheet. And I use that budget to make spending decisions all the time.

I use my budget to help decide how much I can afford to spend on my annual vacation, if I can move forward on my next home improvement project, my target monthly savings rate, and what if anything I can spend on the “extras” that make life a little sweeter.

Personal finance is just that, it’s personal. My priorities look different from your priorities and our budgets will look different. I save, invest, and spend according to my values which is what we all should be doing.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Ok, I’ll try to be succinct, but I really get charged up about what I do, so that’s going to be hard.
I became a Financial Advisor in 2010 which was right about the time that we, as an industry, were starting to realize that offering just investments management wasn’t going to be enough to stay competitive. Clients were starting to demand Financial Planning. And I feel really lucky that I found myself as a young, impressionable advisor, being carried toward a practice based around Financial Planning instead of the more old-fashioned idea of an investment centric practice.
When you are focused on a client’s plan, you can really start to understand not just their goals but their purpose. A purpose driven plan is a plan I know a client will stick to even in tough times. Having a plan and sticking to it is one of the most important factors in a client’s success.
A purpose driven plan guides all the decisions we go on to make around savings, investing, spending, insurance, tax planning, and estate planning. It’s much easier to do the hard things when doing those hard things align with your goals, your values, and your ultimate purpose. And when a client acts to move closer to achieving their purpose, we almost always make a meaningful and positive impact on their lives and the lives of the people they love.
Along the way, I’ve learned that technical expertise is important but that most people don’t care how much technical expertise you have until they know you’ve heard them and understood the problem that they need you to solve, and that you care about solving that problem.
I’m in the problem solving and legacy building business. The money part is just a means to those ends.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One thing you must do in Houston is eat! We are spoiled for choice in every conceivable category of food.
I love a good dive so I would be sending my friends to my favorite taco spot on Long Point, Casa de Leon. Texas is known for barbecue but for barbecue with a twist, LORO on 11th is the way to go. I haven’t had a bad plate there yet.
If you’re feeling Mediterranean and you’re feeling casual, hit up AL Quick Stop. If you love a good buffet, Fadi’s is the undisputed king of Mediterranean buffets here in Houston.
Want bahn mi? Cali Sandwich & Pho on Travis is the spot. The chargrilled pork is always perfect, bread is on point, and they never skimp on the veggies.
If you want to get fancy, Tony’s on Richmond Avenue is a classic where you’ll be pampered from the moment you walk in the door. If you’re feeling spicier but still fancy Xochi on Walker is worth going into downtown for. Get the mole sampler! It’s their signature dish.
And I can’t forget one of my favorite comfort foot spots, Collina’s Italian Café. The pizza is always perfect and its BYOB so you can bring that special bottle to enjoy.
For foodies, a visit to Phoenicia Specialty Foods on Westheimer is a must. It’s a food lover’s paradise with candies, spices, breads, meats, cheeses, wines, and all manner of treats you can’t find anywhere else. Perfect if you want to bring home some rare treats, provisions to keep on hand at your hotel, or if you want to cook a meal while you’re here.
The “big” Spec’s on Smith Street is worth a visit too. You’ll find beer, wine, and spirits there that you can’t find elsewhere. And they have a great deli and grocery to boot so you can get cheese to go with your wine. Plus, their staff are experts so if you have question, there’s someone on hand to answer it.
As for what to do in between eating and drinking, you can spend several days in on museums alone. The Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, The Menil Collection and the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences are all worthy of a visit.
Then, if it’s not too hot, we have tons of opportunities to get outside in spots like the Houston Zoo, Hermann Park, Memorial Park, and the Houston Arboretum. Those are some of my favorite Houston green spaces.
And if that’s not enough to keep you entertained you can take in a show at the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Theater Under the Stars, The Alley Theater, A. D. Players, Stages Houston, or any of Houston’s array of performing arts companies.
Still have spare time? Stroll the art galleries on Colquitt or spend an afternoon at Sawyer Yards for their Second Saturday gallery open house. There’s so much to see and do here!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow! It would take the entire article to list everyone who has helped me get to where I am.

But since I just got back from the Baird Women Advisors (BWA) Summit I’ll give a shoutout to Baird and the BWA. One big reason I’m where I am today is because someone at Baird saw potential in me and recruited me. And one big reason I chose to come to Baird was BWA and the BWA Mentoring program.

So, I have to give thanks and credit to my manager Patricia Sparks who coordinated my recruitment and then went on to cultivate me as a younger advisor. She’s been a constant and steady presence. The bond of trust we have is one I never expected to have in the workplace and it’s special.

And I must give thanks to the Baird Women Advisors Counsel who take time from their busy practices to provide a whole host of opportunities, education, mentoring, and peer-to-peer sharing and to all the other BWA members that have played a key role in my success here at Baird. Baird has made a commitment to cultivating women Financial Advisors and the BWA is a big part of living out that commitment.

Website: https://SarahCuddy.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcuddy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahFromBaird

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