DRIVE WEALTH - Key Persons
Alec Ferguson - Chief Investment Officer
Alec is responsible for directing the firm's investment activity. He oversees investment operations, trading, and execution as well as underwriting and manager selection.
Prior to Drive Wealth Advisers, Alec was an investment director in Morgan Stanley's Private Wealth division and oversaw multi-asset strategy functions. Alec was also a portfolio manager at Merrill Lynch, an analyst at JP Morgan's Silicon Valley office in the Venture Group, and spent time as a global macro analyst and alternative investment analyst from 2011 to 2014. He graduated with a bachelor's of Japanese humanities from BYU and is a CFA charter holder.
Alec serves on the board of the Red Canyon Powwow Committee, an indigenous-led cultural organization focused on powwow gatherings in the Four Corners region. He is an art enthusiast, avid reader, former competitive mixed martial artist, and proud father to twin boys.
Avereigh Clarke Adviser × As an Adviser at Drive Wealth, Avereigh's primary focus is on simplifying and optimizing our clients' financial lives. Drawing on his background in ultra-high net worth financial advisory and portfolio management, he plays a key role on our Investment Committee and in our clients' personal financial strategies. Prior to Drive Wealth, Avereigh worked for Merrill Lynch in Provo, UT, where he managed approx. $500M in discretionary client assets. He also spent time at ICONIQ Capital and EPIQ Capital Group in San Francisco, CA, where he focused on advising a select group of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and executives. Avereigh holds a bachelor's degree in Finance with an emphasis in Asset Management from Brigham Young University. In addition to global financial markets and investing, Avereigh has a passion for music and enjoys playing soccer, skiing, and spending time with his young family.
Job Titles:
- Barbara Dayton Client Associate
Ben has been an investment adviser in the Salt Lake area since 2012. He specializes in helping retirees and young professionals understand and maximize their investment portfolios. Ben is a small-town Utah native and graduated from Southern Utah University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He holds a Series 65 license and is a fiduciary.
Brent is a practicing estate planning attorney who has had a blended law and financial planning practice since 2001. He enjoys the planning and drafting process and making sure that all the moving parts of the family trust and the investment / financial plans are properly coordinated.
Brent's clients look to him for retirement planning, maintaining and growing income during retirement, goal-oriented investment strategies, volatility reduction, tax reduction strategies and estate distribution mostly using different trust strategies. Brent has a wealth of experience that comes from having led clients through some of the most turbulent markets in history - 9/11 and the accounting scandals of the early 2000s; the Great Financial Crisis of 2008-2009 and subsequent European Debt Crisis / Brexit; the Energy market issues of the last decade; the COVID-19 crisis and now the inflation/rising rates upheaval. During this same time period, our country's estate planning laws have changed dramatically and promise to continue to do so. Brent enjoys staying up-to-date on these areas and making sure his clients remain optimally positioned.
Brent has been married to his wife Karen since 1992. He has four children and two grandchildren. He loves living in Utah and spends his downtime hiking, fly-fishing, gardening and traveling.
Craig Davis co-manages the firm's fixed income and equity-based separately managed accounts utilized for both high net worth families and institutional investors.
Prior to joining Drive Wealth, Craig was the Senior Portfolio Manager and Director of Research at Financial Insights in Tacoma, Washington. He also was earlier employed as a private and institutional trader at the Davis Funds.
Craig has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2017. Craig is based in Gig Harbor, Washington.
Daniel specializes in investor relations, helping clients understand what portfolios and strategies would be most appropriate. He enjoys taking complex situations and simplifying them in order for clients to understand the key points and make the best decision. Daniel graduated with a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University. While there he competed on the Men's golf team and still loves playing today. Daniel is a Certified Financial Planner®
Jeff has in-depth knowledge of personal financial opportunities and challenges that come from over three decades of experience. His credentials include a B.S from Brigham Young University, Emphasis: Family Financial Planning and Counseling. Designations/Certifications: Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®)
from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Certificate in Fiduciary Governance - Thunderbird School of Global Management, Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC®) - American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) fi360. Jeff is an author and contributor to several professional associations.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Liberty Walton Client Associate
Liberty Walton is a Client Associate, she specializes in preparing and finalizing client paperwork as well as acting as a front for customer contact, answering questions, and requesting information.
She is a former student-athlete, playing soccer for the University of Utah. She received a soccer scholarship to pay for her schooling so she could earn a Bachelor's degree in strategic communications. She was awarded a spot on the Dean's list all 4 years and was recently added to the Drive Wealth team. Her outgoing personality allows easy communication with customers and a personable experience leading to a comfortable environment for customers to talk about their financial goals.
Job Titles:
- Lowell Crabb, CFP®Founder and Principal
Lowell employs his successful entrepreneurial experience to advise clients in critical financial planning matters, such as cash flow forecasting, investment and real estate analysis, deal terms, business and estate structuring, income tax, executive compensation and business ownership succession. Before forming Drive Wealth, Lowell was a partner at Links Consulting and a financial consultant at Beneficial Financial Group. He serves as a board member of United Energy Workers and the Kidnected World Foundation.
Lowell earned a Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University. He holds the series 65 and is a Certified Financial Planner®.
Matt Pendleton joined Drive Wealth Advisers in 2022 and will be helping the firm with compliance. Prior to joining Drive, Matt was with another advisory firm for seven years where he acted as the President and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to that, he spent two years with Goldman Sachs in their Private Wealth Management division in Salt Lake City. Matt earned his Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University.
Matt loves spending time with his family and friends enjoying the great outdoors. During the winter months, you can find them up on the Salt Lake City slopes, skiing the greatest snow on earth. All other times of the year you will find them exploring the mountain trails on their dirt bikes.
Job Titles:
- Mike Walsh Senior Adviser
- Senior Financial Adviser With
Mike Walsh is a Senior Financial Adviser with Drive Wealth Advisers. Based in the Salt Lake City area, Mike helps successful individuals, families, and businesses grow and preserve their wealth. Through a long-term investment approach, Mike helps clients develop and implement strategies for building wealth and realizing their goals. By focusing on each investor's specific needs, Mike provides objective and timely financial advice and develops strategies that help clients reach their financial goals.
Before joining Drive Wealth Advisers in November of 2021, Mike was with Wells Fargo Advisors from March 2017 to November 2021. Mike was with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management from July of 2013 to March of 2017. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he was with Goldman Sachs from 2005 to 2013. He supported many businesses during his time at Goldman Sachs including the Institutional client business, Prime Brokerage, and Private Wealth Management. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Mike earned a B.S. in Economics from the University of Utah, and an M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.
Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and playing with his five children. If he's not attending one of their basketball or volleyball activities, he most likely is playing with them in the backyard. He enjoys playing volleyball with family and friends and is working on his golf game. He volunteers with the youth of the church he attends and is on various committees with MountainWest Capital Network.
Job Titles:
- Client Associate
- Natalie Ford Client Associate
Natalie Ford is a Client Associate experienced in operations in the financial industry. She assists the financial advisors at Drive with client communication, onboarding, & executing requests.
She is a licensed life and health insurance agent in the state of Utah and was the operations manager at her previous wealth management firm. She plans on becoming a licensed financial advisor further in her career.
When she's not in the office, Natalie loves spending time with her friends and family, being active, playing the piano, & having dance parties with her two little nieces.
Richard "Rick" Baird oversees and co-manages the firm's fixed income and equity based separately managed accounts utilized for both high net worth families and institutional investors.
Prior to joining Drive Wealth, Rick founded Wind River Advisors. During his career, he was Chief Investment Officer of Zions Bank's wealth management division. Rick also received national recognition for his management of several public municipal bond mutual funds.
Rick has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Brigham Young University and attended the University of Colorado for post-graduate studies. He earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1986.
Job Titles:
- Ryken Harris Director of Operations
Ryken Harris oversees the operations of the firm. He also serves on the firm's investment committee. He started his career at Drive Wealth as an intern and has since climbed the ranks serving in multiple positions within the company.
Ryken obtained a Bachelor of Science in personal financial planning from Utah Valley University and a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Utah. Ryken has passed level one of the Chartered Financial Analyst® exam. While still a student he also co-founded a startup, Aptitude.
Job Titles:
- Sarah Barrett Client Associate
Job Titles:
- Adviser
- Adviser With Drive
Taylor Vowles is an adviser at Drive Wealth Advisers. He currently works with high-net worth families and individuals regarding their planning and investment needs.
Taylor has been an adviser with Drive since January 2018. Before Drive Wealth, Taylor was a managing director at Crewe Capital. Taylor has also held positions at Fidelity Investments, Russell Investments, and Lone Peak Valuation Group in addition to running his own consulting firm.
Taylor received his Bachelor of Arts in accounting from the University of Utah, MBA in international finance from the University of South Carolina and Diploma in Financial Strategy from the University of Oxford. His final paper at Oxford, focusing on growth aspects of the wealth management industry, was one of four papers in his class to pass with distinction. He holds an active CPA license and has passed level one of the CFA exam. He is fluent in Hmong and has lived in China and Spain. Taylor also serves as a vice-chair for the Eccles Alumni Board at the University of Utah.