Top Financial Advisors in Oregon

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Ferguson Wellman Capital Management is the top-rated financial advisory firm in the state of Oregon. Ferguson Wellman also tops SmartAsset’s list of the best financial advisor firms in Portland.

This fee-only firm requires a minimum investment amount of $4 million to open an account. However, those with less to invest can open an account through West Bearing, a division of Ferguson Wellman that requires $1 million. The firm works mainly with high-net-worth individuals. Non-high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, pensions, profit-sharing plans and businesses make up the rest of this firm’s typical clientele. The firm charges fees that are based on a client's assets under management (AUM). 

Ferguson Wellman features plenty of certifications on its staff. The advisory team comprises chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified financial planners (CFPs), investment adviser certified compliance professionals (IACCPs), among other certifications.

As a fee-only firm, Ferguson Wellman makes money solely from the fees that clients pay for advisory services. Advisors do not collect commissions for selling financial products or insurance. 

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Background

Ferguson Wellman is owned by employees and has a board of directors comprising Ralph W. Cole, Steven J. Holwerda, and George W. Hosfield. The firm was established in 1975, giving it one of the longest track records of any firm in Oregon. West Bearing Investments, meanwhile, was established in 2013. 

Beyond investment management, Ferguson Wellman works with clients on estate planning, risk management, tax guidance, charitable giving planning, retirement planning and education funding.

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Investment Strategy

Rather than conform to popular investment philosophies like modern portfolio theory, Ferguson Wellman relies much more on its own collective wisdom to build investment plans. The firm’s strategies vary in level of risk tolerance, and they typically revolve around large-cap domestic equities, fixed-income and international equities in developed and emerging markets.

However, the one thing that remains constant at this firm is its active management of investments and portfolios. Other areas of focus for Ferguson Wellman include tax and cost efficiency.

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Northwest Capital Management is a large fee-only firm located in Lake Oswego with an office in Seattle, as well. The firm, which does not require a specific asset total to become a client, is rated No. 1 on our list of the top advisors in Lake Oswego.

The advisory staff at Northwest Capital Management features certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), qualified 401(k) administrators (QKAs) and an accredited asset management specialist (AAMS). These advisors typically manage the portfolios of individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, profit-sharing plans, government entities, charitable organizations and businesses. It also works with one sovereign Native American tribe.

Fees are charged as a percentage of your assets under management, as a fixed dollar amount and/or on an hourly basis.

Northwest Capital Management Background

Chairman and chief compliance officer Frederick Payne Jr. opened Northwest Capital Management in 1998 after having been involved in the financial services industry for 13 years. President Brent Petty, who joined the firm in 2005, became its majority owner in 2020.

As far as individual services are go, Northwest Capital Management offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, as well as financial planning. The latter may include estate planning, tax management, asset allocation creation and more. 

Northwest Capital Management Investment Strategy

Northwest Capital Management explicitly states in its SEC-filed paperwork that "We believe that when you need to spend your money determines how you should invest your money." This notion that your time horizon dictates how your portfolio should be built is not commonly seen, as most similar firms will consider your risk tolerance first and foremost. However, being that a client's risk level is often determined by when they'll need their investment earnings, this ideology inherently takes risk into account.

Northwest Capital Management has historically managed “fund of fund” portfolios, investing in various mutual funds that offer exposure to different asset classes and management styles. As an alternative to mutual funds, Northwest Capital Management purchases exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or collective trusts. The firm can also incorporate alternative investments like real estate, private equity, private debt and limited partnerships.

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Aldrich Wealth is a fee-based financial advisor firm located in Lake Oswego. It has additional offices in Oregon and California. The firm has an large number of advisory certifications that most notably include the certified public accountant (CPA), certified financial planner (CFP) and personal finance specialist (PFS) designations.  

Most of Aldrich Wealth's client base is made up of individuals both with and without a high net worth. The firm also commonly serves retirement plans, charitable organizations, other investment advisors, corporations and businesses. Account minimums are negotiable and dependent upon several factors that go into the firm's client acceptance process.

However, as a fee-based practice, advisors can earn commissions on the sale of securities, which is a conflict of interest. Aldrich Weath is a fiduciary, though, which requires the firm to act in your best interest. 

Aldrich Wealth Background

Aldrich Wealth is a partnership under the principal ownership of AKT Services, LLP, a financial holding company. AKT Services is owned by a group of over 30 individuals. Aldrich Wealth was founded in 1998.

Like Northwest Capital Management, Aldrich Wealth is also among the top-rated firms in Lake Oswego.

Financial planning, investment management, estate planning, tax services and insurance consulting are the core offerings of Aldrich Wealth. These services are divided into multiple subsections depending on your exact needs.

Aldrich Wealth Investment Strategy

New clients of Aldrich Wealth will be paired with one of the firm's several asset allocation models. Factors included in this matching process are your risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs. These models are split between aggressive and conservative and they are each diversified across different markets and investment types. 

"Aldrich Wealth LP believes long-term historical data combined with an informed outlook for the current market environment are the most reliable sources for framing clients’ expectations regarding future investment performance," the firm states in its Form ADV brochure.  

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Becker Capital Management, the fourth-rated firm in Oregon, is also on SmartAsset’s list of the top financial advisor firms in Portland. It is a fee-only firm with a wide range of typical clients. This firm works with individuals (including those with a high net worth), investment companies, insurance companies, pooled investment vehicles, government entities, pensions, profit sharing plans, charities and other businesses.

The account minimum at Becker varies depending on which type of account you want to open. You need at least $1 million for individual investment management, while institutional portfolio management calls for a $3 million minimum. Clients pay an asset-based fee for portfolio management, while certain financial planning and consulting services may be provided for a fixed hourly fee. 

The advisory team at this firm has a handful of certifications. There are chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified financial planners (CFPs), one enrolled agent (EA) and one certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) on staff at Becker Capital. 

Becker Capital Management Background

Becker Capital Management was established in 1976. It is an employee-owned firm, with chief executive officer/president Patrick Becker Jr., board member Janeen McAninch, chief financial officer Blake Howells and chief technology officer John Becker holding the largest shares.

Individual and institutional clients of Becker aren’t squeezed into premade advisory services when they join the firm. Instead, Becker Capital Management pairs clients with the appropriate services after analyzing their financial needs. Individual clients may receive financial planning, asset allocation determination, portfolio implementation and monitoring for taxable portfolios and retirement funds.

In addition to its headquarters in Portland, the firm has offices in Seattle and Bend, Oregon.

Becker Capital Management Investment Strategy

Becker Capital Management designs individual portfolios to meet clients' current income, risk tolerance and long-term growth needs. The firm invests client assets in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, and on occasion, alternative investments like real estate, private equity or hedge funds.

"Our firm focuses on underlying asset quality and pays close attention to valuation, irrespective of asset class," the firm states in its Form ADV brochure. "The research team merges a bottom-up asset selection process with a top-down portfolio construction process to maximize risk-adjusted returns within the constraints of clients’ circumstances."

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Vista Capital Partners offers one of the simplest fee schedules on this list, as its advisory fees are based solely on a percentage of assets under management (AUM). The only firm with a truly comparable fee schedule is Ferguson Wellman Capital Management. Most of the firms on this list also charge some combination of fixed fees and hourly rates, in addition to asset-based fees.

Vista Capital Partners serves both non-high-net-worth individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations and businesses. The firm reserves the right to waive its $3 million stated account minimum.

Vista is also on SmartAsset’s list of the top 10 financial advisor firms in Portland. It is a fee-only firm with a staff that features certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and one certified public accountant (CPA).

Vista Capital Partners Background

Established in 2001, Vista Capital Partners is an employee-owned firm.  Michael J. O’Reilly, Douglas E. Johanson and Dougal Williams are the principal owners of Vista, owning 24%, 18% and 18%, respectively. John Convery owns 10%, while Robert D. Greenman, Lindsey W. Williams, Douglas L. Post, Tana Thomson, Julia Tierney, Andrew Darkins and Jonathon Gannonall all own smaller stakes. 

Should you become a client of this firm, the following services will be made available to you:

• Investment management
• Retirement planning
• College savings plans
• Philanthropic giving

Vista Capital Partners Investment Strategy

Vista Capital Partners says that it strives to become the “financial quarterback” of its clients’ lives. It attempts to do this by first getting to know your personal financial needs and goals. To determine these important pieces of information, your advisor will speak with you specifically about your risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs.

The firm wants clients to know that although there may be short-term dips in value, its portfolios are built for long-term success. This is largely because of the investments that the firm typically uses in client portfolios, which include stocks, bonds, global real estate investment trusts (REITs), cash, cash equivalents and index funds. The firm doesn't engage in stock picking or market timing and instead focuses its energy on the source of returns while minimizing taxes and costs. 

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CGC Financial Services is a fee-based advisory firm located in Lake Oswego. CGC works with over 3,000 clients, including individuals and high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, as well as charitable organizations. The firm is also open to working with trusts, estates, corporations and other business entities. 

While clients generally need to maintain a minimum account balance of $100,000, the firm may accept clients with smaller accounts based on certain criteria. CGC also charges a minimum annual fee of $400 for asset management and a minimum fee of $500 for a financial plan.

As a fee-based practice, some advisors can earn commissions when selling securities or insurance in their separate capacities as broker-dealer representatives or insurance agents. While this represents a conflict of interest, the firm is legally required to act in your best interest as a fiduciary.   

CGC Financial Services Background

CGC was founded in 2006 by Glen Clemans, who remains the firm’s sole owner and oversees its day-to-day operations. 

This firm offers a range of services to meet the financial needs of its clients. These services include financial planning, educational workshops and classes, investment and non-investment-related advice, retirement planning and estate planning.

CGC Financial Services Investment Strategy

The firm employs a tactical allocation strategy as its overarching investment strategy. This approach allows CGC to actively adjust its clients' portfolios based on market conditions and investment opportunities. The firm takes various factors into account when investing clients’ assets, including their financial goals, needs, objectives, tax situations and overall risk tolerances. From there, the firm aims to create customized investment plans that align with clients' circumstances.

CGC’s investment philosophy is grounded in various methods of analysis, including technical analysis, fundamental analysis and charting. CGC may engage in either long-term and short-term purchases as part of its portfolio management style. 

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Portland-based Arnerich Massena is the No. 7-ranked firm in the state of Oregon and among the top firms in Portland. The Arnerich Massena team features various certified financial professionals, including chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified financial planners (CFPs), a chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA) and a certified private wealth advisor (CPWA), among others.

Arnerich Massena has a client base composed of individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold, as well as charitable organizations, pensions and profit-sharing plans. The firm requires a $3 million account minimum for individuals and families, and a $5 million minimum for nonprofit organizations. 

As a fee-only firm, Arnerich Massena advisors do not earn commissions or sell financial products. Instead, it generates revenue solely from client fees.

Arnerich Massena Background

Arnerich Massena has been in business since 1991 when Anthony "Tony" Arnerich founded it. Today, the business is under the ownership of co-CEOs Reegan Rae and Bryan Shipley. The firm's director of business development Ryland Moore also owns a stake. The firm offers investment management on both a discretionary and non-discretionary basis, among other services like financial planning and family office services.  

Arnerich Massena Investment Strategy

Unlike some other financial advisor firms, Arnerich Massena looks to build asset allocations for both the long- and short-term. "We believe that asset allocation, when properly supported by effective implementation, manager selection and discipline, is the most critical factor in determining long-term and near-term investment performance," the firm states in its Form ADV brochure. 

This is done to help clients reach their retirement and other distant goals, while still maintaining strong liquidity. By creating an asset allocation that takes into account each of these considerations, the firm will look to simultaneously maximize your return potential and mitigate volatility.

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Eighth place Deschutes Investment Consulting calls for a minimum investment of $250,000 to become a client. The firm, which may charge a minimum annual fee of $3,000, works with individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold. Deschutes also works with many corporate pension and profit-sharing plans and businesses.

The firm team of advisors has a handful of advisory certifications, including the certified financial planner (CFP), certified investment management analyst (CIMA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and chartered financial analyst (CFA) designations, among others.  Some of the advisors at this fee-based firm can earn commissions from the sale of insurance products. Despite the potential conflict of interest this creates, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in clients' best interests at all times.

Deschutes Investment Consulting Background

MacGregor Hall founded Deschutes Investment Consulting in 2011. Hall has more than 35 years of experience managing the assets of individuals and corporations.

This firm spends most of its time dealing with wealth management for individual clients, as well as retirement plan consulting for companies and other similar institutions. To do this, Deschutes offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment management. Individuals who require more than the management of a portfolio can take advantage of a few financial planning services, which include tax strategies and complex cash-flow modeling. 

Deschutes Investment Consulting Investment Strategy

In a nutshell, Deschutes Investment Consulting looks to manage assets for the long-term, achieving capital preservation and safe, consistent growth. Because of this, Deschutes invests almost entirely in mutual funds, ETFs and separately managed accounts (SMAs). The firm believes that these investment types offer many benefits, such as low management fees, legally required diversification, daily liquidity and more. Note that just because the firm doesn't usually invest in stocks and bonds directly, it can do so indirectly through the aforementioned trio of investments.

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Human Investing, a fee-only firm located in Lake Oswego, primarily works with non-high-net-worth individuals. However, the practice also has pension and profit-sharing plans as clients, as well as charitable organizations and high-net-worth individuals. 

Human Investing does not impose a minimum account size. The firm charges a minimum annual fee of $6,250 for its combined investment management and financial planning services. 

As a fee-only firm, Human Investing and its advisors do not earn commissions for recommending financial products or insurance. Instead, the firm is compensated solely through the fees that clients pay for advisory services. The Human Investing team features certified financial planners (CFPs), certified public accountants (CPAs), a chartered financial analyst (CFA), a qualified 401(k) administrator (QKA) and one chartered financial consultant (ChFC). 

Human Investing Background

CEO Peter Fisher founded Human Investing in 2004 and remains its principal owner. He is also the author of the book, "Becoming a 401(k) Millionaire."

Human Investing offers a range of services that include:

• Cash flow plan creation and management
• Tax mitigation and strategy
• Asset growth and wealth management
• Asset protection and risk management
• Asset distribution, estate and wealth transfer

The firm also partners with Nike, helping company executives maximize their benefit elections and protect their wealth. 

Human Investing Investment Strategy

Human Investing builds customized investment portfolios based on the client's financial plan and risk tolerance. The firm typically uses a diversified mix of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, individual stocks and bonds, cash and cash equivalents when constructing a portfolio. The firm's investment strategy is informed by fundamental analysis, asset allocation and mutual fund/ETF analysis. 

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Phillips & Company Advisors, a fee-based firm located in Portland, rounds out our list of the top firms in Oregon. Its client base is primarily composed of individuals who do not have a high net worth, although the firm also works with high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charities and business entities. Phillips & Company does not have a minimum account requirement. 

The firm has a number of employees who hold FINRA licenses or are licensed to sell insurance. Phillips & Company Advisors also has one certified plan fiduciary advisor (CPFA) on staff. 

As a fee-based firm, Phillips & Company advisors can earn commissions on the sale of certain securities or insurance products. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary and must act in its clients' best interests. 

Phillips & Company Advisors Background

Founded in 2004, the firm initially conducted its advisory business as Phillips & Company Securities. It has been registered as an investment advisor with the SEC since 2011. Timothy C. Phillips, who serves as the firm's CEO and majority owner, ran for Congress in in 2004 and was once appointed by the governor of Oregon to help manage a fund that invests on the state's behalf. 

Phillips & Company offers a variety of asset management options, including portfolios through Lockwood Capital Management. The firm also offers clients pension consulting services, endowment and foundation consulting, and help selecting other advisors, including private fund managers. 

Phillips & Company Advisors Investment Strategy

Phillips & Company may employ several different investment strategies when managing client portfolios, including the use of long-term purchases, short-term purchases, frequent trading and margin transactions.

The firm offers advice on a myriad of investments, including mutual funds, ETFs, exchange-listed securities, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities, foreign issues, warrants, corporate debt, among others. Phillips & Company may also invest client assets in partnerships that invest in real estate, oil and gas interests or hedge funds.