Dowling Financial Services provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, and selecting other managers. Financial planning was provided to 1–10 clients last fiscal year.
Dowling Financial Services reports 324 clients. They include 301 individual clients, 20 high-net-worth individuals, and 2 pension and profit-sharing plans. Of its assets, 96.3% ($173M across 421 accounts) are managed with discretion; $6.67M across 9 accounts are not. Of its clients, 1% are outside the U.S. It advised 5 clients without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 93% | 68% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 6% | 25% |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | <1% | 5% |
| State or municipal government entities | <1% | 1% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 301 | $122M | 68.3% | $407K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 20 | $45.2M | 25.2% | $2.26M |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | Fewer than 5 | $9.69M | 5.4% | $4.85M |
| State or municipal government entities | 1 | $1.97M | 1.1% | $1.97M |
| Total | 324 | $179M | 100% | — |
- Clients
- 301
- Regulatory AUM
- $122M
- AUM share
- 68.3%
- Avg. per client
- $407K
- Clients
- 20
- Regulatory AUM
- $45.2M
- AUM share
- 25.2%
- Avg. per client
- $2.26M
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $9.69M
- AUM share
- 5.4%
- Avg. per client
- $4.85M
- Clients
- 1
- Regulatory AUM
- $1.97M
- AUM share
- 1.1%
- Avg. per client
- $1.97M
Total
- Clients
- 324
- Regulatory AUM
- $179M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 1%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 5
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 1–10
Dowling Financial Services charges 0.75%–1.25% a year for its Portfolio Management Services. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable. The brochure also prices one other service, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial Planning Services
- Financial planning is a fixed fee generally from $2,500 to $20,000, or $500 an hour for modular consulting; negotiable.
Sean Dowling owns 75% or more of Dowling Financial Services. The leadership team of Dowling Financial Services includes President Sean Dowling. It has 3 employees, 2 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
Sean DowlingPresident & Chief Compliance Officer
Investment adviser representatives
2 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
Staff
- 3 employees
- 2 in advisory functions
- 2 state-registered reps
- 3 insurance agents
- Owns 75% or more of Dowling Financial Services, Inc
Sean Dowling
Control person · since November 2010
Dowling Financial Services’ regulatory assets grew from $140M (July 2024) to $179M (February 2026); clients rose from 100 to 324 and employees fell from 4 to 3.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | $179M | 324 | 3 | 1 |
| June 2025 | $166M | 99 | 4 | 1 |
| July 2024 | $140M | 100 | 4 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, Dowling Financial Services has 0 offices, with 1 listed address in Connecticut.
Connecticut · 1 listed address
- 1171 E. Putnam Avenue, #1B, GreenwichHQ
Other business names
Dowling Financial Services has reported 2 other business names to the SEC.
- DFS
- The Dowling Group
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Dowling Financial Services, Inc
- Headquarters
- 1171 E. Putnam Avenue, #1B, Greenwich, CT 06878
- Website
- thedowlinggroup.com
- Phone
- 203-967-2231
- SEC file
- 801-130694
- Structure
- Delaware corporation
- Fiscal year end
- December
Dowling Financial Services uses Fidelity ($20.2M) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. Dowling Financial Services does not have custody of client assets.
- FidelityFidelity Brokerage Services LLC · Smithfield, RI · $20.2M100%
At year end, Dowling Financial Services’ separately managed accounts were largely in stocks (40%) and funds (31%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks40%
- Funds31%
- Bonds29%
- Sovereign bonds10%
- Investment grade corporate bonds10%
- State and local bonds9%
- Cash1%
How many clients does Dowling Financial Services have?
Dowling Financial Services has 324 clients and manages $179 million for them, as of February 2026. They include 301 individual clients, 20 high-net-worth individuals, and 2 pension and profit-sharing plans.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 19 February 2026
What services does Dowling Financial Services offer?
Dowling Financial Services provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, and selecting other managers.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
How much does Dowling Financial Services charge?
Dowling Financial Services charges 0.75%–1.25% a year for its Portfolio Management Services. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable.
Which custodians does Dowling Financial Services use?
Dowling Financial Services’ separately managed account assets are held at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (Smithfield, RI), with $20.2M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 19 February 2026
How many financial advisors does Dowling Financial Services have?
Dowling Financial Services has 2 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 3 employees, and 2 perform investment advisory functions. 0 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 3 employees are licensed insurance agents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
What does Dowling Financial Services invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Dowling Financial Services’ separately managed accounts held 40% exchange-traded equities, 31% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 10% sovereign bonds, 10% investment grade corporate bonds, 9% state and local bonds and 1% cash and equivalents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Dowling Financial Services?
Dowling Financial Services’ direct owner is Sean Dowling (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 19 February 2026
How does Dowling Financial Services get paid?
Dowling Financial Services is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges and fixed fees. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Is Dowling Financial Services registered with the SEC?
Yes, Dowling Financial Services has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 23 July 2024. Its CRD number is 155624 and its SEC file number is 801-130694.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 19 February 2026; IAPD firm record
How do I contact Dowling Financial Services?
Dowling Financial Services’ main office is at 1171 E. Putnam Avenue, #1B, Greenwich, CT 06878. Its phone number is 203-967-2231. Its website is thedowlinggroup.com.