Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, an independent investment firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon, has acquired Great Northern Asset Management, expanding its footprint in southwest Washington as it looks to deepen its presence on both sides of the Columbia River.
The transaction took effect January 1, 2026, and Great Northern’s office will remain in downtown Vancouver, Washington. With the addition of the Vancouver location, Ferguson Wellman now operates two offices in Washington, alongside its Bellevue office that opened in 2021.
Firm leaders framed the deal as a strategic move tied to regional growth and the rising need for broader planning resources while maintaining a local, boutique-client experience. Ferguson Wellman said it has served clients in the Vancouver area for more than 40 years, and described the acquisition as the “next logical move” as the region evolves.
Great Northern, founded in 2006, manages $229 million in assets and was established by Managing Principal and President Tami Oglesby and the late John Ritchie. Ferguson Wellman, founded in 1975, said it manages more than $10 billion in assets for more than 1,000 clients, with 67 employees serving clients in over 30 states as of September 30, 2025.
Oglesby said her conversations with Ferguson Wellman focused on ensuring continuity for Great Northern clients while adding access to expanded resources. She pointed to alignment in investment philosophy and an emphasis on personalized service and diversification.
Ferguson Wellman Managing Director Steve Holwerda, CFA, said the firms’ cultural fit and client-service approach made the combination a natural extension of the company’s recent growth efforts. He also tied the move to a broader period of investment at Ferguson Wellman, including its decision to keep its headquarters in downtown Portland while expanding its footprint with a move to the Fox Tower in 2026 to accommodate future employee growth.
Beyond geography, Holwerda highlighted how Ferguson Wellman has been building out planning capabilities, including growing its team of 12 Certified Financial Planners™ and adding an estate planning attorney intended to work alongside portfolio managers and coordinate with clients’ existing tax and estate planning professionals.
Ferguson Wellman said the Vancouver office will continue operating with Oglesby and colleague Sheri Sanders as part of the combined team, aiming to preserve a consistent client experience while expanding the platform available to clients in the region.
The firm also noted that it offers customized investment portfolios and broader wealth planning strategies, with minimums that start at $4 million. Ferguson Wellman said it operates two divisions: West Bearing Investments, focused on clients with $1 million in investable assets, and Octavia Group, a private family office offering for clients with assets starting at $10 million.
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“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.”
Tami Oglesby, Managing Principal and President, Great Northern Asset Management
“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.”
“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.”
“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. 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.”
Steve Holwerda, CFA, Managing Director, Ferguson Wellman Capital Management
