Ferguson Wellman Capital Management

Overview

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management is a privately owned investment advisory firm that has been serving individuals, families, and institutions for over 50 years. The firm specializes in designing and managing customized investment portfolios for clients' IRAs, trusts, foundations, endowments, corporate retirement, and pension plans. As of December 31, 2025, Ferguson Wellman and its division, West Bearing Investments, manage $10.6 billion for 1,085 clients. The firm's minimum investment for Ferguson Wellman client portfolios is $4 million, while West Bearing clients have a minimum of $1 million. Additionally, their private family office, Octavia Group, provides fee-based services for clients with $10 million managed by the firm. The firm's areas of expertise include investments, wealth management, institutional services, and financial planning, working together as a team to serve all client needs. Their investment principles emphasize understanding the environment, identifying opportunities, managing risk, and focusing on the long term. The firm's core values include exceeding expectations, acting with uncompromising ethics and reliability, advocating innovation and managing change, fostering a collegial environment, and enjoying the journey. The firm's mission is to achieve investment excellence and build lifelong relationships with clients. They are committed to maintaining an employee ownership structure, believing it best serves their clients. The firm's logo features a bronze coin of Marcus Aurelius Antonius, symbolizing wisdom and virtue. The firm's name honors two of its founders, Joe Ferguson and Norb Wellman, who retired in 1998 and 1999, respectively. The firm's investment focus includes fixed income (debt and bonds), private equity, real estate, and venture capital. They invest in various stages, including early stage, growth, late stage, pre-IPO, buyout, turnaround, and distressed. Their geographical focus is primarily on the United States. The industries they invest in include technology, healthcare, real estate, financial services, consumer goods, energy, utilities, materials, telecommunications, media, transportation, industrial goods, consumer services, basic materials, and consumer non-durables. The minimum investment size for Ferguson Wellman client portfolios is $4 million, while West Bearing clients have a minimum of $1 million. The maximum investment size is $10 million. Their description short is: Privately owned investment advisory firm serving individuals, families, and institutions.