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Updated September 28, 2026. Quick answer: Ferguson Wellman is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser (CRD #104692, confirmed ACTIVE this session via SEC IAPD). Per its own current fee brochure, a $500,000 account would run $4,250 a year under its published fee schedule. Already a client and thinking about leaving? Budget $50 at Schwab. This review covers what its own fee brochure and current SEC registration confirm today; it does not assess fiduciary status or account minimums.
Ferguson Wellman at a glance
| Fact | What Ferguson Wellman’s own pages say |
|---|---|
| Legal entity | Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, Inc. |
| Registration | Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, Inc. is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser (CRD #104692, confirmed ACTIVE this session via SEC IAPD). |
| Fee on a $500,000 account | $4,250 a year, per its own current brochure |
| Minimum to open an account | Not assessed in this review; see Item 5 of its Form ADV Part 2A |
| Cost to leave (exit fee) | $50 at Schwab |
What Ferguson Wellman’s own fee schedule charges
Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, Inc. is the registered adviser, and West Bearing Investments and Octavia Group are divisions described in the same brochure. The priced figure is the standard Equity Only and Balanced schedule for individual and other clients.
“Equity Only and Balanced: 0.85% on the first $5,000,000 0.70% on the next $5,000,000 0.50% above $10,000,000”
Each balance is priced by stacking the bands, with 0.85% on the first $5,000,000, 0.70% on the next $5,000,000 and 0.50% above $10,000,000, as the brochure words it. The brochure discloses no minimum annual dollar fee, so no floor applies. The brochure says fees may be negotiated based on portfolio size and complexity, so the schedule is the published standard rather than a guaranteed charge.
The table below is the firm’s own advisory fee schedule. Fund expenses, custodian charges and any third-party manager or platform fees are generally separate from an advisory fee like this one; Item 5 of the brochure lists what applies to a given account.
| Account balance | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| $250,000 | $2,125 |
| $500,000 | $4,250 |
| $1,000,000 | $8,500 |
| $2,000,000 | $17,000 |
These figures come directly from Ferguson Wellman’s own current fee brochure, cited in Sources below.
Registration
Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, Inc. is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser (CRD #104692, confirmed ACTIVE this session via SEC IAPD).
This is a registration confirmation only, not a fiduciary-standard verdict (a registered investment adviser can still be a dual registrant with a broker-dealer, which changes which standard applies in each capacity).
What it costs to leave
Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, Inc.’s Form ADV Part 2A states “Each party to the advisory agreement may rescind upon a 30-day written notice.” Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, Inc. names exactly one custodian in its brochure: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab Institutional). Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.’s own published fee schedule states “Full transfer (out) of assets”
The general mechanics of switching financial advisors and a dated termination letter apply regardless of firm.
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Source: WiserAdvisor’s service descriptionSources
- Form ADV Part 2A (May 27, 2026): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1047775
- SEC IAPD firm summary (CRD #104692, checked September 28, 2026): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/104692
Methodology. This page was built September 28, 2026, drawing directly on Ferguson Wellman’s own current fee brochure, cited in Sources below, and a fresh SEC IAPD registration check run the same day. Where exit-fee facts are cited, they trace to the named custodian’s own published schedule. Any fact we could not independently confirm is named as an honest gap rather than presented as verified. Nothing here is personalized financial, tax, legal, or investment advice, and it is not a substitute for reading Ferguson Wellman’s own Form ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. We have not used Ferguson Wellman as a client. Ferguson Wellman did not pay for, review, or influence this content. See our Editorial Policy, Corrections, Affiliate Disclosure, and Disclaimer.