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News Worth Noting

Narancich quoted in ABA Trust & Investments cover story

Shawn Narancich, CFA, weighs in on the important topic of ethics in wealth management sales and servicing in the July/August 2012 issue of ABA Trust & Investments. Regarding account closure fees, Narancich said, “When a client leaves, we do not charge any account closure fees and we also conduct an exit interview with the client because we want to make sure we have serviced them properly right up to the end of the relationship.” Author Thomas Bright, CTFA, stated, “I can’t say that I have heard of doing this, but it certainly seems like a brilliant idea. In this manner, we can learn what worked and may not have worked in a client relationship while also trying to wrap up the relationship in a positive fashion.” From serving ‘smaller clients’ to dealing with proprietary stock, this article provides a meaningful starting point for important discussions around client service.

Hosfield discusses the impact of the Greek election

Northwest NewsChannel 8’s Joe Smith discusses recent news in Greece with Ferguson Wellman’s Chief Investment Officer George Hosfield, CFA, and Associate Professor Brian Adams from University of Portland. In addition to the election results, they comment on the magnitude of the debt crisis in Greece and its effect on U.S. and European economies. Click here to view. Disclosures

Cole Quoted by Bloomberg News about Wells Fargo

Bloomberg reporter Dakin Campbell interviewed Senior Vice President Ralph Cole, CFA, about Wells Fargo’s mortgage strategy. Cole said, “I’ve never been a big believer of market share for market share’s sake. If their underwriting standards are dropping to achieve it, that’s what would worry us as investors.” *This journal entry includes links that take readers to content that is not managed by Ferguson Wellman. We can not confirm that the information is current nor accurate.

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Ferguson Wellman ranked “RIA Titan”

Industry publication InvestmentNews recently released their top 50 registered investment advisers (RIAs) in the U.S. based on assets under management. Ferguson Wellman was ranked 32 nationally.* Of the 33 RIAs listed in Oregon, Ferguson Wellman was ranked number one by discretionary assets under management. The results are from the RIA Data Center.** **Methodology: InvestmentNews qualified 2,322 firms headquartered in the United States based on data reported on Form ADV to the Securities and Exchange Commission as of May 1, 2012. To qualify, firms must have met the following criteria: (1) Provided investment advisory services to clients in the latest completed fiscal year. (2) No more than 25% of client assets is attributable to pension and profit-sharing plans. (3) No more than 50% of client assets is attributable to pooled investment vehicles. (4) No more than 25% of client assets is attributable to corporations or other businesses. (5) Is not compensated for advisory services by commissions. (6) Offers financial planning services. (7) Does business neither as a broker-dealer nor as a registered representative of a broker-dealer. (8) Does not have both a related person who is a broker-dealer and a related person who is an insurance company or agency.

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SnowCap Community Charities expresses appreciation for time and donation

Each spring, Ferguson Wellman organizes a company retreat that encompasses some volunteer work and team-building activities. This year’s retreat-planning committee included Tim Carkin, Mark Kralj, Chad Long, Shawn Narancich and Lynelle Tarter. The group took our employees east of Portland to Gresham—a community steeped in history dating back pioneer days. The day started at SnowCap Community Charities*, a nonprofit that has provided providing food, clothing and advocacy to 1.4 million people in the past 40 years. Ferguson Wellman employees sorted donated items for their store, prepared soup, assembled boxes and learned more about the organization. Prior to leaving, Ferguson Wellman presented Executive Director Judy Alley with a new printer and microwave.

At the end of the day, the firm had dinner together at Sayler’s Old Country Kitchen.* For more than 65 years, this third-generation family business has served dinners and is well known for their 72-ounce steak challenge.

*This journal entry includes links that take readers to content that is not managed by Ferguson Wellman. We can not confirm that the information is current nor accurate.

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CEO Jim Rudd pays homage to Bishop Dagwell at Arlington Club dinner

On May 17, our CEO Jim Rudd spoke at the thirteenth annual Bishop Dagwell dinner at Arlington Club in Portland. The Club was founded in 1867 by 35 businessmen seeking, “ … to provide a meeting place for discussing their own and Portland’s destiny.” Some of the notable names who founded Arlington Club included William S. Ladd, Henry Failing and Captain J.C. Ainsworth. Bishop Dagwell was in residence at Arlington Club for 27 years and died just steps away from the club in 1963. He had just finished delivering Sunday evening service, drove himself home and collapsed getting out of his car. Included in Rudd’s remarks about Bishop Dagwell’s passing were his observation of other news that made the headlines that week.

“Reading a paper* that covered Bishop Dagwell’s passing were two other articles prominently featured—mere coincidence but I found their timing fascinating. One day later on June 3 the leader of my Church, Pope John XXIII, died of heart failure and there’s a story about his legacy with numerous quotes from President Kennedy. Equally interesting is an article between the pictures of Bishop Dagwell and the Pope with the headline, ‘Judge delays ruling on Governor Wallace.’ As you know, Bishop Dagwell was an outspoken critic of racial discrimination and a supporter of civil liberties—not an easy mantle to carry in the first 50 years of the 20th century.”

Rudd served as president of Arlington Club in 2002 and has been a member since 1987. Other Ferguson Wellman professionals who have served as Arlington Club President include Co-Founder Joe Ferguson and Senior Vice President Helena Lankton.

*This journal entry includes a link that take readers to content that is not managed by Ferguson Wellman. We can not confirm that the information is current nor accurate.

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Ferguson Wellman co-founder Norb Wellman honored by Oregon State

Although Norb Wellman was honored almost year ago with the Martin Chaves Lifetime Achievement Award from Oregon State Athletics, we recently discovered this video and are delighted to post it on our online journal. In addition to conveying Wellman’s accomplishments in athletics, business and philanthropy, the video highlights our CEO Jim Rudd, who shares his personal relationship with him and some history about Ferguson Wellman. Oregon State also honored Wellman in 2007 by making him a lifetime trustee of their foundation. His leadership, management and generosity are grounded in Ferguson Wellman’s goals of achieving Investment Excellence and earning Lifelong Relationships.

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Nineteen children spend the afternoon at Ferguson Wellman

In celebration of the Nineteenth Annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work® Program, Robin Freeman led a team of seven Ferguson Wellman employees that created a meaningful and memorable day for children ranging from ages 3 to 13. This national day is designed to provide a hands-on, interactive day that connects children with their parents’ work and helps them start to articulate and envision what their own path may be in the future. Even at a very young age, children have dreams and aspirations. It was very rewarding for Ferguson Wellman employees to get a glimpse of the future by spending time with them in a work environment.

Rather than having each child “shadow” and adult, Robin and the team gave them a productive agenda to follow. Starting with a presentation led by Jason Norris, the kids learned about the many ways they could spend, save or invest their income using characters from the movie “Monsters, Inc.” as examples. The kids then moved to various stations in the office for activities that included trading with gum and candy, creating personalized business cards with titles, assembling quarterly reports and learning more about technology by touring our serve closet. The day ended with a viewing of “Monsters, Inc.” in the boardroom.

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Lynelle Tarter celebrates five years with Ferguson Wellman

Today our firm celebrates Lynelle Tarter’s five-year anniversary with the firm, signifying the opportunity for her to become a shareholder. Lynelle joined the firm in 2007 and serves as audit administrator, responsible for reconciling individual portfolios and custodian statements on a monthly basis. “When Lynelle joined our firm, she didn’t have any prior experience in our industry,” said Kerrie Young, chief compliance officer. “What’s exciting about her becoming a shareholder is that she learned about our operations quickly and showed her perseverance. We reward employees for their commitment to their work through ownership.” Becoming a shareholder is an important milestone at Ferguson Wellman. This month, Tarter joins Tracie Maslen as the newest shareholders, bringing the collective group that has ownership in the firm to 82 percent. Ferguson Wellman believes that ownership fosters continuity and longevity—attributes that directly benefit the clients we serve.

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Beth Brown Craven joins the Ferguson Wellman team

Today we welcomed a new addition to our firm. Beth Brown Craven has assumed responsibilities of serving as executive assistant to Principal and CEO Jim Rudd. With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Brown Craven brings a deep understanding of client service and knowledge of transaction requests, reporting and the technology used to manage accounts. Craven was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and completed her B.S. from the University of Santa Clara. She has two teenage daughters, enjoys tennis and fine merlot.

Lori Ferraro served as Rudd’s assistant for eight years. She continues to be employed at the firm, serving in a support role to the executive assistant team. She is working part-time to spend more of her week with her two young sons.

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Tracie Maslen celebrates five years with Ferguson Wellman

Today our firm celebrated Tracie Maslen’s five-year anniversary with the firm, signifying the opportunity for her to become a shareholder. Tracie joined the firm in 2007 and serves as executive assistant to Lori Flexer, CFA. “Tracie’s energy, disposition and ability to multi-task has been very beneficial to our clients,” said Lori Flexer. “Not a week goes by when I don’t receive an unsolicited word of praise for her excellent client service.” Becoming a shareholder is an important milestone at Ferguson Wellman. With Maslen joining the ranks of shareholder, she brings the collective group that has ownership in the firm to 79 percent. Ferguson Wellman believes that ownership fosters continuity and longevity—attributes that directly benefit the clients we serve.

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