Diversification is More Than a Numbers Game
Investors commonly believe that a greater number of holdings automatically increases diversification. After all, many have heard the adage, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” While intuitive, this view confuses the number of securities in a portfolio with actual risk control.
The Tortoise and The Hare
This week, capital markets’ behavior continued its recent adoption of a “Tortoise and the Hare”-style dynamic, with fast-moving geopolitical headlines driving short-term volatility, while underlying economic trends evolve more gradually.
Supporting Schools and Nonprofits as They Deliver Financial Education
PORTLAND, Ore.—(Businesswire)—Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, a 50-year-old investment firm with broad employee ownership, is presenting its 2026 Outlook to clients through a 13-city tour in Western states.
Brett Norris on KOIN AM Extra
Crude Signals
Rising oil prices, driven by the war in Iran, have reintroduced a familiar dynamic into financial markets. While the sharp increase in gas prices may be the most visible impact for most Americans, additional adjustments across currencies and interest rates have also been notable. The signal from oil has been clear, but the downstream effects remain much less so.
Simplify Tax Season with a Donor-Advised Fund
Tax season often sends people searching through old emails, letters and statements to find documents for their tax professionals. Amid this administrative clutter, many look for ways to simplify their charitable reporting. For those who are philanthropically inclined, a donor-advised fund (DAF) can simplify both the giving process and the associated tax paperwork.
The Only Constant in Life is Change
Prior to the escalation of conflict in Iran, market attention was firmly focused on inflation, highlighted by two report releases this week: January’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) and February’s Consumer Price Index (CPI).
It Often Rhymes
Mark Twain allegedly coined the phrase, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” No doubt, the Middle East military escalation this past week rhymed with our history in the region. Previous conflicts of this nature have added volatility to markets without a long-term U.S. economic impact. However, since these events have an impact on the price of oil, assessing the impact in the short-term and long-term is key for our economic and portfolio outlook. Such moments validate our ongoing belief in a broad, diversified portfolio for clients.
A Succinct History of Ferguson Wellman's 50 Years
The video we shared at the beginning of our 2026 Outlook events took 26,297,280 minutes of history and streamlined it to around 3.5 minutes. We hope you enjoy this commemorative video as much as we did creating it.
2025 Annual Report
Moving Past Peak Tariffs
Overshadowed by the ongoing selloff in perceived AI-disrupted industries, the legal landscape of U.S. trade policy changed significantly last Friday. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the administration cannot use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unilaterally impose tariffs.
SaaSination or Selective Opportunity?
Over the last several weeks, pressure on software stocks has intensified as investors grapple with what some have dramatically labeled a coming “SaaSPocalypse.”
Deed Theft: Why It's Rising and How to Protect Yourself
In recent years there has been an increase in reports of deed theft, in which the title or deed to a property is fraudulently transferred from the rightful owner of a property to a third-party, whether through forged signatures, impersonations or other means.
A Good Reminder to Diversify
It was an exceptionally busy week for economic data, and by and large, the news this week was very favorable. After a period of weakness in the second half of 2025, the labor market appears to be finding its footing.
Jobs on Hold, Software Sold
It is a common refrain that markets hate uncertainty, and this week has delivered plenty. On both the labor front and in technology, the movers in the capital markets were driven by a combination of delayed data, softening employment signals and a sharp repricing in the stock prices of software and services companies.
2026 Investment Outlook Webinar Video: Mission: Impossible
Annual presentation from Ferguson Wellman sharing our views for the year regarding the global economy and capital markets, as well as a planning update from our wealth management team. The program originally aired on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
Ferguson Wellman Capital Management 2026 Outlook Themes
PORTLAND, Ore.—(Businesswire)—Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, a 50-year-old investment firm with broad employee ownership, is presenting its 2026 Outlook to clients through a 13-city tour in Western states.
Rates on Hold, Leadership in Focus
This week, financial markets were shaped by a convergence of monetary policy continuity and rising attention to Federal Reserve leadership. At its January meeting, the Federal Reserve voted to hold interest rates steady, marking the first pause since it began easing policy in mid-2025.
