From left to right, Josh Frankel, Charissa Anderson, Dan Whitaker, Chelsea Diamond, Nate Putnam

It seems like yesterday when we created a division of Ferguson Wellman called West Bearing Investments. Our first hire, Josh Frankel, CFP®, brought a passion for helping clients navigate their goals and growing something new at an established investment firm.

As more clients hired West Bearing, the team grew, with our second portfolio manager, Charissa Anderson, CFP®, CDFA, in 2017, followed by Chelsea Diamond in 2018 in a client associate role. One year later, Dan Whitaker joined the team as a client associate and we added our third portfolio manager, Nate Putnam, CFP®, in 2021. Although the career paths that led the team to West Bearing are varied, their shared commitment to investment excellence and lifelong relationships is unified.

Fast forward to 2023, West Bearing manages $595 million for 288 clients who range from individuals and multigenerational families to nonprofits. They reside in 20 states and have grown their assets through a variety of opportunities and circumstances before hiring West Bearing.

The West Bearing team has achieved on average both a 98% client retention over the past five years and 18% annual client growth. Our division has grown primarily through referrals from Ferguson Wellman and West Bearing clients, tax and legal experts, and friends of the firm.

In reflecting upon our journey, we would be remiss to not mention our friend and colleague, Jorge Chavarria, who was hired shortly after Josh, and passed away from chronic lymphoblastic leukemia in 2015. We look forward to the next 10 years with gratitude, hope and enthusiasm. Inspired by the American bison, we will continue to “bear west,” to instinctively face the storm to find a swift path to clear skies for clients during market volatility and life challenges.