Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Acquires Vancouver-Based Great Northern Asset Management, Expanding its Regional Reach

VANCOUVER, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, an independent investment firm based in Portland, Oregon, has announced the acquisition of Great Northern Asset Management as of January 1, 2026. The Great Northern office will remain in downtown Vancouver, Washington. This will be Ferguson Wellman’s second office in Washington.

Ferguson Wellman has served clients in the Vancouver area for more than 40 years. This announcement follows the news last summer that the firm’s headquarters is staying in downtown Portland and expanding its square footage for future employee growth by moving to the Fox Tower in 2026. Ferguson Wellman opened their office in Bellevue, Washington, in 2021.

Tami Oglesby, managing principal and president of Great Northern Asset Management, spoke about her engagement with Ferguson Wellman leading up to the acquisition. “In looking to the future, it was clear in conversations with Ferguson Wellman that our clients would benefit from expanded resources through this partnership. Our companies share the same values—from our investment philosophy to personalized approach to client service. Growing client assets through quality investments and diversification is very much aligned with how we structure our client portfolios.”

Ferguson Wellman’s managing director, Steve Holwerda, CFA, echoed that the partnership is a mutually beneficial strategic match. “As the region evolves, so too do our growth goals. Having a physical presence now on both sides of the Columbia River and occupying two offices in Washington is the next logical move. We were fortunate our first acquisition had such natural alignment with our respective teams and clients. Having Tami Oglesby join our team and remain in Vancouver will create a consistent client experience that will continue to evolve.”

Great Northern Asset Management, which manages $229 million in assets, was founded in 2006 by Tami Oglesby and the late John Ritchie. The firm’s name harkens back to John’s father’s early connections to the railroad industry. Ferguson Wellman, founded in 1975 by Joe Ferguson, Norb Wellman and Monte Johnson, serves more than 1,000 clients and manages over $10 billion in assets, serving multigenerational family clients, as well as institutional and nonprofit clients. They have 67 employees and serve clients in more than 30 states (data as of September 30, 2025).

Reflecting on the firm’s recent 50th anniversary on December 1, 2025, Holwerda noted, “Many of Ferguson Wellman’s founding values still ring true today: focusing on our clients first, honoring our commitment to excellence and transparency, and supporting our employees through a team approach. We’ve evolved to meet our clients’ changing needs over years by expanding our service offerings and building a team of 12 Certified Financial Planners. This year, we added an estate planning attorney who supports our portfolio managers to better align client investments with their estate planning goals in concert with clients’ own tax and estate planning professionals. What’s made Ferguson Wellman unique and distinctive in terms of our own independent investment approach will serve Vancouver area clients well for years to come.”

Oglesby added, “Our client philosophy of maintaining a boutique firm approach has always focused on building wealth and preserving it. As our region’s needs evolve, it’s important that our clients can count on the same high level of service they’ve grown to expect. The longevity and experience of the Ferguson Wellman team will be valuable to our business and our clients going forward.”

“As we look to the future in terms of regional growth and how our region and our client’s needs are changing, this partnership and acquisition made good business sense for both firms,” Holwerda noted. “We’re in growth mode and excited about what the future holds in Vancouver and the surrounding region. We look forward to continued success with serving Vancouver area clients together with Tami and her colleague, Sheri Sanders.”

About Ferguson Wellman Capital Management

Ferguson Wellman is an employee-owned investment advisory firm founded in 1975. The firm manages $10.3 billion for 1,071 individual and institutional clients, offering customized investment portfolios and holistic wealth planning strategies starting at $4 million. Ferguson Wellman has two divisions: West Bearing Investments for clients with $1 million investable assets and our private family office, Octavia Group, for clients with assets starting at $10 million. For more information, visit fergusonwellman.com (data as of September 30, 2025).

Ferguson Wellman was recognized in 2025 by:

• CNBC “Financial Advisor 100” ranking. #12 of 100 companies (April 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025)
• Barron’s “Top 100 RIA Firms” ranking. #75 of 100 companies (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025)
• Forbes “Top RIA Firms” ranking. #43 of 250 companies (January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024)

Visit https://www.fergusonwellman.com/awards for our awards and rankings disclosures. 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 may pay a licensing fee to use their corporate logos on marketing materials.

Contacts

Primary Media Contact:

Laura Bernards

Kean Communications

laura@keancommunications.com
(503) 317-9214

Secondary Media Contact:

Mary Faulkner

Ferguson Wellman

mary.faulkner@fergwell.com
(503) 789-5887