Essex provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, estate planning, and retirement plan services. Financial planning was provided to 600 clients last fiscal year.
Essex reports 608 clients. They include 414 individual clients, 162 high-net-worth individuals, and 31 pension and profit-sharing plans. Of its assets, 95.3% ($619M across 2,275 accounts) are managed with discretion; $30.5M across 19 accounts are not. Of its clients, 1% are outside the U.S. It advised 8 clients without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 68% | 12% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 27% | 82% |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | 5% | 6% |
| Charitable organizations | <1% | <1% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 414 | $75.3M | 11.6% | $182K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 162 | $532M | 81.9% | $3.28M |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | 31 | $37M | 5.7% | $1.19M |
| Charitable organizations | 1 | $5.36M | 0.8% | $5.36M |
| Total | 608 | $649M | 100% | $1.07M |
- Clients
- 414
- Regulatory AUM
- $75.3M
- AUM share
- 11.6%
- Avg. per client
- $182K
- Clients
- 162
- Regulatory AUM
- $532M
- AUM share
- 81.9%
- Avg. per client
- $3.28M
- Clients
- 31
- Regulatory AUM
- $37M
- AUM share
- 5.7%
- Avg. per client
- $1.19M
- Clients
- 1
- Regulatory AUM
- $5.36M
- AUM share
- 0.8%
- Avg. per client
- $5.36M
Total
- Clients
- 608
- Regulatory AUM
- $649M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $1.07M
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 1%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 8
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 600
Essex charges 1.00%–1.75% a year for its Portfolio management service. 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
- Consultations
- Consultations are billed hourly: Partner or Principal $500-750, Senior Consultant $200-300, Consultant $150-200 and Account Supervisor $100-125, billed monthly.
James Hartwell owns 75% or more of Essex. The leadership team of Essex includes President James Hartwell, Chief Operating Officer Benjamin Cairns and Chief Compliance Officer Robert Tutela. It has 9 employees, 7 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
- James HartwellPresident/CEO - Managing Member
- Benjamin CairnsChief Operating Officer - Member
Robert TutelaChief Compliance Officer
Investment adviser representatives
9 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
Staff
- 9 employees
- 7 in advisory functions
- 7 state-registered reps
- 2 soliciting firms
- Owns 75% or more of Essex LLC
James Hartwell
Control person · since January 1991
- Owns 5% to 10% of Essex LLC
Benjamin Cairns
since January 2017
Essex’s regulatory assets grew 1.5× from $420M (March 2021) to $649M (January 2026); clients rose from 422 to 608 and employees from 6 to 9. In 2023, Effert Financial Solutions joined it.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | $649M | 608 | 9 | 3 |
| June 2025 | $563M | 620 | 10 | 2 |
| July 2024 | $474M | 556 | 10 | 1 |
| July 2023 | $392M | 442 | 7 | 1 |
| July 2022 | $440M | 405 | 7 | 1 |
| March 2021 | $420M | 422 | 6 | 1 |
Firms that joined
20231 joined
- Effert Financial SolutionsNo filed AUM
Firms whose SEC withdrawal reports a sale to this firm, and deals reported in the press. Teams that moved without selling a registered firm may not appear.
Besides its headquarters, Essex has 2 offices (2 private residences, listed without an address), with 1 listed address in Illinois.
Illinois · 1 listed address
- 21805 Field Parkway, Suite 340, Deer ParkHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Essex LLC
- Headquarters
- 21805 Field Parkway, Suite 340, Deer Park, IL 60010
- Website
- essexllc.com
- Phone
- 847-777-7800
- @essex-llc
- SEC file
- 801-54274
- Founded
- 1997
- Structure
- Illinois LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
Essex uses Charles Schwab ($639M) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. Essex has custody of $165M in client assets for 346 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · West Lake, TX · $639M100%
At year end, Essex’s separately managed accounts were mostly in stocks (90%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 31 March 2026 total $566M across 175 positions; the largest are J P Morgan Exchange Traded F (6.4%), Vanguard Malvern Fds (6.3%) and Select Sector SPDR TR (6.1%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks90%
- Funds7%
- Bonds2%
- Cash1%
Reported 13F holdings
- $566M
- Reported 13F value
- 175
- Positions
- 46.0%
- In the 10 largest
- —
- Value vs. prior quarter
- J P Morgan Exchange Traded F · Active Bond ETF6.4%
- Vanguard Malvern Fds · Core BD ETF6.3%
- Select Sector SPDR TR · State Street Tec6.1%
- Vanguard Scottsdale Fds · Int-term Corp.5.0%
- Schwab Strategic TR · US Lrg Cap ETF4.2%
- SPDR Series Trust · State Street Spd3.8%
- Nebius Group N.V. · Shs Class A3.8%
- Schwab Strategic TR · US Mid-cap ETF3.6%
- Schwab Strategic TR · Intl Eqty ETF3.5%
- Vanguard Scottsdale Fds · Shrt Trm Corp. BD3.2%
Together, the ten largest are 46.0% of reported value.
How many clients does Essex have?
Essex has 608 clients and manages $649 million for them, as of January 2026. They include 414 individual clients, 162 high-net-worth individuals, and 31 pension and profit-sharing plans.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 29 January 2026
What services does Essex offer?
Essex provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, estate planning, and retirement plan services.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file; Part 2A brochure, Item 4
How much does Essex charge?
Essex charges 1.00%–1.75% a year for its Portfolio management service. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable.
Which custodians does Essex use?
Essex’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (West Lake, TX), with $639M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 29 January 2026
How many financial advisors does Essex have?
Essex has 7 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 9 employees, and 7 perform investment advisory functions. None are registered representatives of a broker-dealer or 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 Essex invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Essex’s separately managed accounts held 90% exchange-traded equities, 7% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 2% U.S. government and agency 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 Essex?
Essex’s direct owners are James Hartwell (75% or more) and Benjamin Cairns (5% to 10%).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 29 January 2026
How does Essex get paid?
Essex 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 Essex registered with the SEC?
Yes, Essex has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 11 April 1997. Its CRD number is 108352 and its SEC file number is 801-54274.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 29 January 2026; IAPD firm record
How do I contact Essex?
Essex’s main office is at 21805 Field Parkway, Suite 340, Deer Park, IL 60010. Its phone number is 847-777-7800. Its website is essexllc.com.