Our History
Penn Davis McFarland, Inc. (PDM) was founded in 1977 by Fred M. Penn, John H. Davis, and
John S. McFarland. We offer asset management services through separately managed accounts.
Our typical account owners are individuals, retirement and pension plans, trusts, and limited
partnerships.
PDM has full discretionary investment authority over the vast majority of its client accounts.
See Item 16 - Investment Discretion below.
PDM invests its client’s assets primarily in publicly traded stocks and bonds; however, we may
occasionally purchase and sell other assets for your account, including but not limited to those
described below in Item 8-Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss. We
generally seek to make investments that provide, in our judgment, a reasonable expected rate of
return relative to the risk of loss. We use primarily fundamental analysis when assessing the
merits of investment opportunities. As part of our due diligence process to vet potential
investments, we review regulatory filings, sell side research reports, newspapers, and other trade
journals, as well as rely on our own experiences and conversations with individuals engaged in
the particular business we are evaluating, including a company’s customers, suppliers, and
competitors. Once we have identified what we deem to be an attractive investment, we then
consider each client’s risk tolerances, cash needs, and any other criteria our clients have asked
us to consider when determining whether or not that particular investment is appropriate for
that specific client.
Each client account is managed on the basis of that client’s individual financial situation,
investment objectives and instructions. In other words, we tailor our advisory services to the
individual needs of our clients, and we allow clients to impose restrictions on investing in
certain securities or types of securities.
As of January 31, 2024, our discretionary assets under management were $838,444,165. Our
total discretionary and non-discretionary assets under management including non-discretionary
infrequently priced assets some of our clients hold and we advise them on (such as investments
in private partnerships) were $843,202,523.
Our Principals
R. Van Ogden - Principal - has been with the firm since 1986 and became a partner in 1993.
He is a CFA charterholder* and holds a Masters in Business Administration from Southern
Methodist University. Prior to joining the firm, Van served as a personal trust officer with a
large Dallas Bank, now a part of Bank of America. While at the bank, he gained extensive
experience in managing trust, real property, and financial assets, as well as estate and tax
planning. Van is President of PDM, and his primary responsibilities are portfolio management,
client relations and managing operational aspects of the firm. He is a member of our
Investment Committee.
Jeffrey (Jeff) W. Helfrich - Principal - joined the firm in May 2010 and became a partner
in 2020. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with an A.B. in Economics
and is a CFA charterholder*. He has been an equity research analyst with the Janus Capital
Group. Prior to joining Penn Davis McFarland, Inc. Jeff was a research analyst for Perot
Investments, the private investment company for the Perot family in Dallas. (October 2008 –
May 2010). Jeff also worked as a Managing Director at Matador Funds L. P. in Dallas (May
2008 – September 2008) and was a Principal and Senior Research Analyst at Independence
Capital Asset Partners, LLC in Denver (August 2005 – March 2008). Jeff is Senior Vice
President of PDM, and his primary responsibility is investment research and portfolio
management. He is a member of our Investment Committee.
Our People
Robert E. Felty joined the firm in November 2012. Prior to joining Penn Davis McFarland,
Robert worked for over 30 years with Bank of America, serving as a U.S. Trust client
relationship manager. He has extensive trust, estate, private foundation, investment, and
banking experience. He also held trust department management positions with the bank. He
holds both BBA and MBA degrees from Midwestern State University. Robert is Vice President
and Chief Compliance Officer of PDM and his primary responsibilities for the firm are client
relations and new business development.
Charles L. Norton joined the firm in May 2015. Previously, Charles managed multi-asset
class portfolios as a senior portfolio manager at Wells Fargo Private Bank, where he also served
as a senior analyst on the national equity research team covering consumer stocks. For 11 years
prior, Charles was a founding principal of a long/short equity investment management firm,
where he was responsible for portfolio management and investment research for all of the
company’s managed assets. Previously, he was an analyst at a NYC-based hedge fund firm and a
health care investment banker
at Smith Barney. Charles is a CFA charterholder* and has a BSM
degree from Tulane University's A.B. Freeman School of Business. Charles’ primary
responsibility is investment research and portfolio management and is a member of our
Investment Committee.
Hope W. Robinson joined the firm in September 2022. Prior to joining Penn Davis
McFarland, Hope was a senior financial planner at RGT Wealth Advisors. There, she served
affluent individuals and families in various aspects of their financial lives. Before RGT, she
worked as a senior associate in the assurance practice at Ernst & Young. Hope graduated magna
cum laude from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of
Accountancy. She was also a member of the Baylor women’s volleyball team. She is both a
Certified Public Accountant and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Hope’s
primary responsibility for the firm is client relations.
Kenni L. Hamilton joined the firm in March 2005. Prior to joining Penn Davis McFarland,
Inc., Kenni was a portfolio administrator for a Dallas investment firm for 9 years. Her primary
duties include the ongoing accounting for client portfolios, firm receptionist, administrative
support for the principals and client relations.
Frances (Fran) D. Jenkins joined the firm in 2004. Fran is a native Dallasite. Prior to
joining Penn Davis McFarland, Inc., she was a licensed agency trader for a brokerage firm for
seventeen years. Fran’s primary responsibilities include the ongoing accounting for client
portfolios.
Stacy L. Wulf joined the firm in February 2007. Prior to joining Penn Davis McFarland, Inc.,
Stacy was the accountant for a family-owned business and worked with special needs children in
the Mesquite Independent School District. Stacy oversees the daily accounting needs of the
firm’s clients who utilize our “Family Office” services and provides administrative and
accounting support for the firm.
Arlina Lara joined the firm in November 2023. Prior to joining Penn Davis McFarland, Inc.,
Arlina led a general merchandise team for Target. She was previously an accounting and
financial analyst for a consumer bank. She is a graduate of University of Texas at Arlington with
a BBA in Finance and is pursuing her MBA. Arlina’s primary responsibilities include the
ongoing accounting for client portfolios.
Our Retired Founders
Fred M. Penn - Founder – (In Memoriam) was a native Dallasite with a life-long interest
in finance and the stock market. Fred graduated from Southern Methodist University where he
majored in Banking and Finance. After 17 years at the First National Bank in Dallas, he became
one of the founders of Penn Davis McFarland, Inc. In addition to being a retired Commander in
the U.S. Naval Reserve, Fred was past President of the Boys and Girls Club of Dallas, the Dallas
Summer Musicals, the American Heart Association (Dallas Chapter), and participated in many
other civic aspects of the community. Fred passed away in August 2020. He is missed.
John H. Davis - Founder - graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts
and Sciences degree in Economics and English. He was subsequently employed by the First
National Bank in Dallas, where he served as portfolio manager for a variety of trusts, as well as
manager of two pooled equity funds. In 1973, John was a founder of Southland Trust Company
and became Head of Investments. He left Southland Trust to form Penn Davis McFarland, Inc.
in 1977. John retired January 31, 2020.
John S. McFarland - Founder - graduated from Southern Methodist University with a
Bachelor of Arts and Business Administration degree. John became a Securities Broker with
Goodbody & Co. From there he was a founder of Southland Trust Company and later, Penn
Davis McFarland, Inc. John is a lifelong Dallasite and has served on many civic boards,
including Bryan’s House, Dallas Mental Health Association, President of the Boys and Girls
Clubs of Dallas, the Board of Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University, and
was co-chairman of The SMU Meadows School Capital Campaign. John is a member of Saint
Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. He focused on client relations and operational
aspects of the firm. John retired September 30, 2022.
*To become a Charted Financial Analyst® (CFA) charterholder, a candidate must satisfy the
following requirements:
Complete the CFA Program (mastery of the current CFA curriculum and passing three six-hour
examinations).
Possess a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution. Have four years of
qualified work experience (or a combination of education and work experience acceptable by the
CFA Institute).
Become a member of the CFA Institute and apply for membership to a local CFA member society.
Adhere to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
Independent of any other requirements for becoming a charterholder, the CFA Program takes an
average of four years for candidates to complete.