In 1988, Douglas and Cynthia Ferguson founded Ferguson Investment Consultants, a financial advisory firm focused on separately managed accounts for individuals and institutions. They based the company on the idea of providing superior asset management services through investment discipline, experience, diligence and close partnership with each client. The company prided itself on its unwavering commitment to proven investment principles and diligent analysis.

Unlike many of the bigger investment houses, they envisioned a company unencumbered by conflicts of interest. The proprietary research that Douglas performed was for the sole benefit of the company's clients. The company derived no profit or commission on trades of any investment vehicle, nor did it have any ancillary businesses that could bias its investment analysis. The company’s singular focus was to help clients achieve their investment objectives.

Douglas also instilled in his company a culture of cost minimization. He understood the importance of the multiple factors that determine investment success. These factors not only include investment selection, but also management fees, trading costs, taxes and asset allocation. The firm’s strategy was uniquely designed to optimize the impact of each of these factors on the performance of clients’ portfolios.

In 2002, Douglas’ and Cynthia's son Jon joined Ferguson Investment Consultants and took responsibility for managing the investment portfolios of the firm’s clients. In 2003, Terrence Emde joined to further strengthen the firm’s compliance, operations, and securities analysis functions. Together, the team continued to build the company based on its fundamental principles. Under Jon’s guidance, the company’s investment performance experienced record highs.

In early 2007, after a long battle with brain cancer, Douglas Ferguson passed away. In addition to leaving an enduring positive impression on the people whose lives he touched, Douglas’ legacy lives on in the foundation of the company that he and his wife began.

The summer and fall of 2007 marked exciting changes for Ferguson Investment Consultants. Several initiatives were conducted in order to fortify and grow an already thriving company. The team grew with the addition of Derek Evans, bringing his strategy and asset management experience to the firm. A complete review of the corporate vision ensued and a strategic plan was formulated to safeguard and enhance the firm’s evolution. The company also executed a complete rebranding, changing its name to FIC Capital, and showcasing its differentiating elements to investors.


REDICAN ASSET MANAGEMENT

Frank Redican had been working in investment management for over 30 years when he decided that the optimal way of serving his clients was to leave Josephthal & Co. and start his own investment management firm with his fellow Josephthal & Co. colleague, and nephew, Larry Waterhouse, III. Like Frank, Larry also had long pedigree in investments, through both his work and family history. When Larry was in his youth, his father founded Waterhouse Securities in 1979, and built it into a very successful public company with 80 offices and about 1500 employees before selling it to Toronto-Dominion Bank in 1997.

Larry worked as a young professional at Waterhouse Securities, but was eager to strike out on his own and forge his own path. When Frank proposed the idea of starting their own company, Larry jumped at the opportunity. Together Frank and Larry opened Redican Asset Management in 2001, and serviced a diverse group of high-net-worth clients through the rest of the decade.


THE COMBINATION

Jonathan knew Frank and Larry for a long time before any discussion started about a business combination. Each family grew up in the Westchester area of New York and spent much time in the summer at Lake George. For over 30 years, and while building their own separate companies, Douglas and Frank exchanged investment ideas and shared perspectives on the market. This informal relationship expanded to include Jonathan and Larry as time progressed.

In 2009, the two firms began to explore the prospect of joining forces in a more formal manner, in what seemed to be a logical next step. Both firms were of similar size and shared a similar and complementary passion for fundamental research and results. Both firms were looking for a way to add valuable resources to service an expanding client base and to effectively diversify client portfolios with attractive investment ideas. Both firms were only interested in entering a formal relationship with an entity and people with whom they could enhance client confidence and trust in order to deliver on a durable track record of fiduciary responsibility.

Finally in 2010, the two firms consummated their relationship through the completion of a merger. Today, the combined entity operates under the FIC Capital name, embodying the core principles of fortitude, integrity, and commitment, and emphasizing a team-oriented approach to servicing client needs over an association with any one individual.