In a world where economic uncertainty continues to test individual resilience and financial preparedness, one investment firm is choosing to mark its milestone not with opulence, but with impact. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, the employee-owned investment powerhouse celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, is making headlines—not for record profits or flashy acquisitions, but for something profoundly transformative: a bold new initiative to strengthen financial literacy across generations, especially among those often left behind.
As National Financial Literacy Month kicks off in April, Ferguson Wellman has stepped forward with a vision that transcends profit. The firm is launching its DollarSense Financial Education Program, a freely accessible series of 12 microlearning videos, aimed at demystifying the basics of money management, saving, investing, and long-term financial planning.
A Crisis of Financial Understanding
According to the World Economic Forum, financial literacy among U.S. adults has stagnated around 50% for the last eight years, with a troubling 2% drop over the past two years. The gender gap is just as concerning: women consistently lag behind men in financial knowledge. The generational gap is even wider. Gen Z, despite growing up in the most connected digital age, fares the worst—answering only 38% of the P-Fin index questions correctly. This index measures how well people understand financial concepts necessary for sound decision-making.
These sobering statistics are what inspired Ferguson Wellman to act.
“As April begins National Financial Literacy Month, one important way we bring value to our community is through facilitating a better understanding of investments and an individual’s values around money management,” says Steve Holwerda, CFA, managing director at Ferguson Wellman.
The message he echoes is simple yet powerful: “It’s not what you make—it’s what you keep that fosters growth.”
Introducing DollarSense: Making Money Make Sense
The DollarSense initiative is a collection of 12 easy-to-digest, six-minute videos covering a spectrum of essential topics:
- Setting Financial Goals & Calculating Net Worth
- Budgeting & Planning for Future Milestones
- Debt Management & Understanding Income Taxes
- Insurance, Risk Tolerance, and Behavioral Finance
- Retirement Planning
- Market Dynamics & Asset Allocation
- The Time Value of Money
- How Stocks and Bonds Function
- Portfolio Reviews & Adjustments
Originally created as an exclusive client resource, Ferguson Wellman is now releasing the full program to the public for free in April 2025. Each module empowers viewers to take control of their finances—whether they’re college students, working professionals, or retirees looking to better manage their savings.
Partnering With Purpose: $50,000 Toward Community Empowerment
In true CSR spirit, Ferguson Wellman is not stopping at educational content. The firm is committing $50,000 in funding to strengthen the reach of trusted financial literacy organizations, with an immediate focus on Financial Beginnings and Junior Achievement—two nonprofits known for collaborating with schools to empower students with essential money skills.
This financial push is especially timely. Both Oregon Senate Bill 3 and Washington House Bill 1285 now mandate financial literacy education in schools, and Ferguson Wellman’s support will help bring expert content into classrooms statewide.
“Our founders stayed engaged with the schools they attended throughout their careers. It’s fitting in our 50th year that we honor their legacy through promoting free financial education,” shares George Hosfield, CFA, Chief Investment Officer at Ferguson Wellman.
The initiative honors a core company tradition: community engagement through volunteerism and service. Employees of Ferguson Wellman have long played active roles in nonprofit boards and charitable outreach. This financial literacy campaign merely formalizes a culture of service that’s existed at the heart of the company for five decades.
More Than a CSR Campaign — It’s a Legacy
What sets Ferguson Wellman’s initiative apart is its emphasis on empowerment over charity. It’s about giving people the tools to build better lives, not just through donations, but by cultivating knowledge, confidence, and long-term financial independence.
In today’s complex economic environment, financial literacy is not just a life skill—it’s a form of resilience. When people understand their financial options, they make better choices, avoid predatory pitfalls, and position themselves to thrive—not just survive.
A Model for Other Corporations
In celebrating its 50th anniversary with such a deeply rooted community initiative, Ferguson Wellman offers a powerful blueprint for what Corporate Social Responsibility should look like in the modern era:
- Strategic and Purposeful Giving: Backed by data, driven by community needs
- Accessible Education Tools: Free, digestible, and tailored to all generations
- True Partnerships: Supporting trusted institutions that are already making a difference
- Sustained Engagement: Employees serve on boards, volunteer, and continue the mission beyond the press release
Final Thoughts: A Golden Jubilee Worth Celebrating
As Ferguson Wellman turns 50, it isn’t just marking the passage of time—it’s reaffirming a legacy built on trust, stewardship, and a deep belief in the power of informed communities. Their commitment to financial literacy is not just a “nice-to-have,” but a necessity—especially for underserved groups such as young adults, women, and first-generation savers.
This CSR story reminds us all: the most enduring legacies are not carved in stone but sown in lives transformed.
Want to experience the DollarSense videos for yourself or share them with your school or organization? Visit Ferguson Wellman to learn more.
Let’s make financial literacy a right, not a privilege.
Thank you for reading!
