# Essex Financial Services, Inc.

> Essex Financial Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm in Essex, CT, registered since 2003, reporting $1 billion to $5 billion in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated August 25, 2026.

- CRD: 127549
- Filed as: ESSEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
- Also doing business as: ESSEX FINANCIAL
- Registration: SEC-registered investment adviser (status as filed: Approved)
- Location: Essex, CT
- Filing period: October 2026
- Form ADV filing dated: August 25, 2026
- SEC record (IAPD): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/127549
- AdvisorCensus page: https://advisorcensus.com/firm/essex-financial-services-inc-essex-ct-127549

## Quick answers

**How is Essex Financial Services, Inc. compensated?**
On its Form ADV (Item 5.E, October 2026), Essex Financial Services, Inc. reports these compensation arrangements: a percentage of assets under its management; hourly charges; fixed fees (other than subscription fees).

**What does Essex Financial Services, Inc.'s brochure say about its fees?**
Its Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated August 25, 2026 states: Asset-based fee: 0.5% to 1.5% a year (a range, as the brochure states it). Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable; the brochure is the complete statement.

**Where is Essex Financial Services, Inc. located?**
Essex Financial Services, Inc.'s principal office is in Essex, CT, according to its Form ADV; the September 2026 filing also lists 3 other offices (Schedule D, Section 1.F).

**Is Essex Financial Services, Inc. registered with the SEC or a state?**
Essex Financial Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 2003. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 127549.

**How much does Essex Financial Services, Inc. manage?**
Essex Financial Services, Inc. reports $4,169,984,114 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated August 25, 2026 (78% discretionary).

**How have Essex Financial Services, Inc.'s assets and staff changed since 2021?**
In the Form ADV data for Essex Financial Services, Inc.: Regulatory assets under management: $2,272,726,892 in the October 2021 data and $4,169,984,114 in the October 2026 data, up 83%. Total employees: 41 in October 2021 and 46 in October 2026. Assets under management move with markets as well as with clients coming and going.

**What types of clients does Essex Financial Services, Inc. serve?**
By number of clients on Form ADV Item 5.D: individuals (other than high net worth individuals) (1,885); high net worth individuals (895); pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans) (108).

**Which custodians does Essex Financial Services, Inc. use?**
Essex Financial Services, Inc.'s most recent Form ADV filing (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)) lists Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and Pershing LLC as custodians holding 10% or more of its separately managed account assets.

**Does Essex Financial Services, Inc. report any disciplinary disclosures?**
Reports 3 disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11: yes answers to 11.C(2) (SEC or CFTC finding of a violation), 11.C(4) (SEC or CFTC order), and 11.C(5) (SEC or CFTC civil money penalty or cease-and-desist order). Each question covers the firm and its advisory affiliates, and one event can produce several yes answers. The detail of any item is on the firm's SEC record: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/127549

**Does Essex Financial Services, Inc. state an account minimum?**
Its Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated August 25, 2026 says: "Essex Financial generally requires a minimum account size of $250,000 to effectively implement its investment process. The account minimum may be waived at the sole discretion of the Advisor."

**What changed in Essex Financial Services, Inc.'s recent Form ADV filings?**
In the September 2026 filing data: Updated its list of owners and control persons (Schedule A).

## From the Form ADV filing

### Compensation (Item 5.E)
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)

### Fees and minimums (Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated August 25, 2026)

- Asset-based fee: 0.5% to 1.5% a year (a range, as the brochure states it)

> Investment advisory fees range from 0.50% to 1.50% annually based on several factors, including: the scope and complexity of the services to be provided; the level of assets to be managed; and the overall relationship with the Advisor.

- Account minimum: $250,000 (the brochure says it may be waived or negotiated)

> Essex Financial generally requires a minimum account size of $250,000 to effectively implement its investment process. The account minimum may be waived at the sole discretion of the Advisor.

As stated in the firm's brochure. Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable.

### Custodians (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3))
- Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
- Pershing LLC

Custodians holding 10% or more of the firm's separately managed account assets, as filed on Form ADV (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)). A custodian holds client assets; it does not endorse or supervise the firm. AdvisorCensus has no relationship with any custodian.

### Regulatory assets under management (Item 5.F)
- Total: $4,169,984,114
- Discretionary: $3,247,330,333
- Non-discretionary: $922,653,781

### Clients (Item 5.D)

| Client type | Clients | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individuals (other than high net worth individuals) | 1,885 | $580,806,775 |
| High net worth individuals | 895 | $2,870,661,046 |
| Pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans) | 108 | $565,276,917 |
| Charitable organizations | 60 | $104,290,493 |
| State or municipal government entities (including government pension plans) | Fewer than 5 | $5,471,894 |
| Corporations or other businesses not listed above | 15 | $43,476,989 |

### Advisory services (Item 5.G)
- Financial planning services
- Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses
- Portfolio management for businesses (other than small businesses) or institutional clients
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)

### Firm details
- Registered since: 2003 (23 years)
- Employees: 46 total, 42 performing advisory functions
- Wrap fee program participation: No
- States registered or notice-filed: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA
- Disclosures (Item 11): Reports 3 disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.

### Item 11 questions answered yes
- 11.C(2): Has the SEC or the CFTC ever found that the firm or an advisory affiliate was involved in a violation of SEC or CFTC regulations or statutes?
- 11.C(4): Has the SEC or the CFTC ever entered an order against the firm or an advisory affiliate in connection with investment-related activity?
- 11.C(5): Has the SEC or the CFTC ever imposed a civil money penalty on the firm or an advisory affiliate, or ordered the firm or an advisory affiliate to cease and desist from an activity?

Each question covers the firm and its advisory affiliates: its current employees other than clerical staff, its officers, partners, and directors, and anyone who controls the firm or is controlled by it. One event can produce yes answers to several questions. SEC-registered advisers and exempt reporting advisers may leave out events more than ten years old, and may answer 11.A(2) and 11.B(2) for pending charges only. The detail of each yes answer is on the firm's SEC record: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/127549

### Other offices (Schedule D, Section 1.F), as of the September 2026 filing
- Farmington, CT
- Madison, CT
- Southport, CT

### Websites listed on Form ADV (Item 1.I)
- essex.financial
- essexfinancialservices.com
- essexfinancialservices.net
- LinkedIn @essex-financial-services-inc

## Assets and staff over time

| Data period | Regulatory assets under management | Employees | Filing dated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| October 2021 | $2,272,726,892 | 41 | September 29, 2021 |
| October 2022 | $3,084,924,290 | 39 | December 26, 2021 |
| October 2023 | $2,771,901,777 | 41 | January 3, 2023 |
| October 2024 | $3,383,035,717 | 41 | August 1, 2024 |
| October 2025 | $3,774,949,288 | 45 | June 2, 2025 |
| October 2026 | $4,169,984,114 | 46 | August 25, 2026 |

Regulatory assets under management: $2,272,726,892 in the October 2021 data and $4,169,984,114 in the October 2026 data, up 83%.
Total employees: 41 in October 2021 and 46 in October 2026.

## Changes in the filing (last 12 months)

### September 2026
- Updated its list of owners and control persons (Schedule A).

### January 2026
- Item 11 disclosure answers changed: 3 yes answers, previously 5 (now no: 11.D(2), 11.D(4)).

### December 2025
- Employees performing advisory functions went from 43 to 42.
- Regulatory assets under management went from $3,774,949,288 to $4,169,984,114 (+10%).

### November 2025
- Updated its list of owners and control persons (Schedule A).

## Source

Form ADV as filed, October 2026. Values appear as filed. Cite as: AdvisorCensus. Essex Financial Services, Inc. (CRD 127549): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.