PORTLAND, Ore., — February 1, 2024 — Mary Lago, CFP®, CTFA, and Samantha Pahlow, CTFA, AWMA, have been promoted to new leadership roles in wealth management at Ferguson Wellman to address the growing needs of clients and the changing industry landscape.
Mary Lago, CFP®, CTFA, has been named chief wealth strategist, a new position created to recognize her expertise and role in structuring and expanding wealth management at Ferguson Wellman. This offering has significantly enhanced the discipline and breadth of the holistic financial guidance we are able to deliver to clients. This new role will further harness Lago’s unique trust, charitable planning and tax-efficient investing expertise to provide tactical architecture and execution of detailed wealth planning strategies. Over her career, Lago has become adept at collaborating with clients and other professional advisors in managing investments, facilitating complex estate and philanthropic planning strategies, preparing for and managing liquidity events for ultra-high-net-worth clients.
Samantha Pahlow, CTFA, AWMA, has been promoted to wealth management chair. Over the years, she has become an integral part of the team, bringing her significant expertise in tax and wealth planning. In her role, Pahlow will lead the department's efforts, including establishing best practices, producing resources and content and continuing to provide wealth planning guidance and analysis for clients. In addition to her expertise in wealth management, our firm has benefited from Pahlow’s management skills in special projects that include our summer intern program, client education platform and the creation of our private family office.
“We are fortunate to have both Mary and Samantha’s formidable industry experience, outstanding client service and steady leadership skills,” says Steve Holwerda, CFA, managing director. “We have seen how much value they bring to the table for our clients, and we know this reorganization of their time and talent will result in exciting new developments for the firm.”
Ferguson Wellman’s eight wealth management disciplines include tax-efficient investing, wealth planning, retirement, trusts and estates, education planning and funding, risk management, philanthropic strategies and life events.
Founded in 1975, Ferguson Wellman is a privately owned registered investment advisor established in the Pacific Northwest. As of December 31, 2023, the firm manages more than $8.4 billion for 990 clients that include individuals and families, Taft-Hartley and corporate retirement plans, and foundations and endowments with portfolios of $4 million or more. West Bearing Investments, a division of Ferguson Wellman, serves clients with assets starting at $1 million. Octavia Group provides fee-based personal financial services for Ferguson Wellman and West Bearing clients with assets starting at $10 million. Ferguson Wellman’s offices are located in Portland and Bellevue. Over the past year, Ferguson Wellman has been recognized through awards and rankings by Barron’s, CNBC/FA 100, Portland Business Journal, Puget Sound Business Journal and Oregon Business Magazine.*
*Sources: Dow Jones & Company (awarded 9/18/23, data compiled by Barron’s Advisor 6/30/22-6/30/23); CNBC and Financial Advisor (awarded 9/12/23, data compiled 1/1/22-1/1/23); Puget Sound Business Journal (awarded 6/2/23, data compiled 1/1/22-1/1/23); Portland Business Journal (awarded 12/14/23, data compiled 8/7/23-7/30/23), Oregon Business (awarded 1/19/24, data compiled 9/30/22-9/30/23)
These rankings may not be representative of any one client’s experience, are not endorsements and are not indicative of Ferguson Wellman’s future performance. Ferguson Wellman did not pay a fee to participate, but the firm did pay a licensing fee to use their corporate logos on marketing materials.
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