Some people see things just a little sooner than the rest of us. Gary Furukawa, founder of Freestone Capital Management, has built a career and a reputation on spotting trends early, thinking differently, and making bold moves that weren’t always the most popular at the time—but ultimately proved to be ahead of the curve.
From his days on Wall Street to launching Freestone in 1999, Gary has consistently demonstrated an ability to see where the industry is going, rather than where it is. His investment philosophy, focus on deep financial planning, and forward-thinking approach to wealth management have allowed him to thrive in an industry that has undergone massive changes over the past two decades.
"When we started in 1999, the independent Registered Investment Advisor space was nascent and just starting to emerge as an industry," Gary recalls. After 17 years as an investment advisor with large Wall Street firms, he envisioned something different: "The original idea for Freestone was to create a firm where clients’ interests always came first, even if achieving this goal was detrimental to Freestone as a business."
At the time, most financial advisory firms were still closely tied to big brokerage houses, selling commission-based products rather than acting as true fiduciaries. But Gary saw the shift coming early—the future of wealth management, he believed, was in independent advisors who could truly put clients first, offering customized advice free from conflicts of interest.
"When we started, we managed stock and bond portfolios and did a little financial planning," Gary explains. "Today we manage a variety of investment strategies, including direct real estate, private equity, and energy. Heavy-duty financial and estate planning has become the most important service we offer."
As an investor, Gary has always taken a thoughtful, long-term approach, with an eye on both opportunities and risks that others may overlook.
"We have a unique set of issues facing us today," he warns. "High valuations, geopolitical unrest, and new technologies like Artificial Intelligence that hold great promise—but also the potential to ruin society. We think now is a good time to be more careful than normal with risk levels."
Even though Freestone has grown into one of the leading independent advisory firms, Gary acknowledges that not every decision was made at the right time.
"We were kind of slow to emphasize heavy-duty financial and estate planning," he admits. "In hindsight, we should have done it earlier. I feel like we've caught up now and even gotten ahead of the curve—and clients really value this type of life-changing advice."
Gary credits Mercer Island with shaping much of his professional and personal worldview.
"We lived on Mercer Island from 1992 to 2008, and most of our four kids' lives were spent on the island," Gary reflects warmly. "I have fond memories of coaching baseball and meeting so many great parents. We really loved the family-oriented atmosphere of Mercer Island and met almost all of our current good friends at the Mercer Island Country Club playing tennis."
That sense of community has endured. In June 2024, Gary and longtime friend Mike Hartmann won the Mercer Island Country Club Pickleball Tournament. The celebratory photo, showing Gary alongside Chris Pavlin, Gerald Chew, and Hartmann, captures the kind of camaraderie that makes the Island so special. "All Mercer Island residents," Gary notes with a smile.
Another snapshot of this enduring bond is from a 2023 Backroads biking trip through Tuscany, where Gary joined a group of current and former Mercer Island residents. The photo speaks to a life rich with friendships, shared experiences, and the active lifestyle that so many Islanders cherish.
Gary Furukawa’s story resonates because it’s about more than financial success—it's about having the courage and clarity to trust one’s vision, even when it’s unpopular. It's about foresight, integrity, and putting people first—principles that Islanders deeply appreciate. Indeed, the Mercer Island community has been fortunate to call Gary one of their own.
And as the world of investing continues to change, one thing is clear: Gary will be paying attention to what’s next, long before the rest of us catch on.
“We have a unique set of issues facing us today. High valuations, geopolitical unrest, and new technologies like Artificial Intelligence—which hold great promise but also the potential to ruin society.” - Gary Furukawa