Our first hire, Josh Frankel, CFP®, was tasked with building our new division. With an opportunity to work with clients with assets starting at $750,000, we quietly launched primarily through a word-of-mouth strategy. Shortly after he was hired, Josh brought his former colleague, Jorge Chavarria, to join the team.

Together, they built the brand and welcomed new clients, ending their first year with $50 million assets under management.

Jorge was working for West Bearing until 2015, when he lost his battle with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia. Charissa Anderson, CFP®, CDFA®, joined the team in 2017, followed by Chelsea Diamond and Lexi Carpenter as client relationship associates.

To maintain a high level of service and manage growth, West Bearing raised its minimum to $1 million for new clients at the beginning of 2021. Later that year, Nate Putnam was hired as our third portfolio manager at West Bearing.

In 2022, the West Bearing team reached a milestone: $500 million assets under management for more than 200 individuals and institutions.

There have been many milestones reached by West Bearing since 2013. Working with the Ferguson Wellman team, the division continues to grow, providing investment management, wealth planning and other strategies to help clients reach their goals.