PORTLAND, Ore. – January 31, 2019 – Three employees have recently been promoted at Ferguson Wellman in portfolio management, trading and administrative services.
Scott Christianson, CFP® , joined the team shortly after graduating from Oregon State University. Starting as an equity trader, he earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2012 following the completion of the Financial Planning Certificate program at Texas A&M University and exam. As a portfolio manager and member of the wealth management committee, Christianson supports the firm’s wealth planning efforts for clients including wealth forecasting, retirement planning, Social Security claiming and tax-efficient strategies in client portfolios. He works with individual and institutional clients as well as professional partners in the Portland metro area, Willamette Valley and Southern Oregon. At the end of 2019, he was promoted to executive vice president and was invited to purchase more company shares.
Alex Harding, CFA, Kirstin Havnaer and Scott Christianson, CFP®
Alex Harding, CFA, joined Ferguson Wellman in 2017 as an equity trader specializing in portfolio analysis of taxable accounts. In 2019, he achieved his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation upon passing Level III and completing the necessary work requirements. Harding has been promoted to vice president of equity trading and analysis and now serves as an associate analyst for the financials sector.
Kirstin Havnaer joined the firm in 2017 as a client relationship associate, providing administrative support to portfolio managers and clients. Soon after being hired, she assumed additional responsibilities, such as training the relationship associate team on investment education and processes that have improved client service and efficiency. Havnaer was promoted to her position as vice president of administrative services, following Robin Freeman’s retirement after 41 years with the firm. She currently manages a team of 13 associates.
“Promoting talent from within is a management goal that benefits clients and enhances our firm culture,” said Steve Holwerda, CFA, managing director. “We are seeing growth and change across all departments, adding new perspectives to teams that have employees with long tenure who work collaboratively to serve clients.”
Founded in 1975, Ferguson Wellman Capital Management is a privately-owned registered investment advisory firm, established in the Pacific Northwest. The firm manages over $5.96 billion for 848 clients that include individuals and families; Taft-Hartley and corporate retirement plans; and endowments and foundations with portfolios of $3 million or more. West Bearing Investments, a division of Ferguson Wellman, serves clients with assets starting at $750,000. (data as of December 31, 2019).
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