Who We Are
A privately owned investment advisory firm serving individuals, families and institutions.
A Lifelong Commitment to Your Goals and Growth
We are dedicated to building relationships that evolve with you. Through thoughtful guidance, disciplined investment management and personalized wealth strategies, we remain committed to helping you pursue your goals with clarity and confidence. Ferguson Wellman and West Bearing serve clients with a minimum investment requirement of $4 million and $1 million, respectively.
1975
The Beginning
Ferguson, Johnson and Wellman opened a new kind of investment firm on December 1, 1975.
1995
$1 Billion
The firm reaches $1 billion in assets under management, while remaining independent.
2013
West Bearing Investments
Launches West Bearing to serve clients with $1 million, expanding our service to more clients.
2021
Octavia Group
The firm launches Octavia Group, a private family office delivering clarity and discretion.
2021
Bellevue, Washington Office
Ferguson Wellman opened an office in Bellevue, Washington, expanding our regional presence.
2025
50th Anniversary
Ferguson Wellman celebrates five decades of growth, service and stability.
2026
Great Northern Acquisition
Vancouver office opens, expanding access to trusted financial guidance for SW Washington clients.
Kristina Ray, Danielle Hart and Missy Brooks
Distinct by Design
We combine disciplined investment management with personalized guidance, delivering clarity and confidence through every market cycle.
Ownership
As an employee-owned firm, our ownership structure fosters a culture of accountability, long-term perspective and shared responsibility for delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.
Individual Stocks and Bonds
Investing in individual securities provides clarity, control and customization within each portfolio—allowing us to align each holding with our clients’ long-term objectives.
Transparent Fee Structure
Our asset-based fee structure reflects our commitment to doing what’s clear, consistent, and in clients’ best interests. By focusing on individual securities, we avoid hidden fees while building transparent, custom portfolios.
A Brand Symbol
Our former CEO, Jim Rudd, selected a bronze coin of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, emperor of Rome from 180 A.D., to represent our brand.
According to historian Edward Gibbon, Marcus Aurelius governed with “an invariable spirit of wisdom and virtue,” during what Gibbon described as the only period in history in which “the happiness of a great people was the sole object of government.
His personal writings, composed during campaigns along the Danube frontier, further reveal a mind marked by humanity and humility.
At Ferguson Wellman, the bronze coin is a symbol of disciplined, long-term thinking and steady stewardship in service of others.
Brad Houle and Mary Lago
Built Around Your Needs
We take a team-based approach tailored to your unique financial life. Our professionals bring specialized expertise in wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and nonprofit and institutional investing to serve the distinct needs of individuals, families, nonprofits, foundations and institutions.
By integrating investment management, tax considerations and legacy goals, our team works collaboratively to deliver personalized strategies aligned with each client’s objectives.
Katie Fairris, Luke Kolln, Naomi Walsh and Andreis Kennedy
Building Confidence Through Clarity
We help clients stay informed, confident and prepared in every market environment through timely insights and clear, thoughtful guidance. Our team provides proactive communication during periods of market volatility and uncertainty, helping clients understand changing conditions and make informed decisions.
Through educational resources and ongoing market commentary, we deepen understanding and support confident decision-making, while maintaining a strong commitment to transparency at every step.
