{"url":"https://nivawealth.com/firms/first-financial-advisory-services-105031","iapdUrl":"https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/105031","regulatoryAum":278038908,"crd":"105031","adviserRoster":{"asOf":"2026-10-09","items":[{"crd":"1093600","suffix":null,"lastName":"CUNNINGHAM","firstName":"GERALDINE","middleName":"BUTERA"},{"crd":"5298864","suffix":null,"lastName":"CUNNINGHAM","firstName":"MATTHEW","middleName":"JOSEPH"},{"crd":"6153017","suffix":null,"lastName":"ROBINSON","firstName":"PETER","middleName":"BRIAN"}],"total":3,"loadedAt":"2026-10-10T00:20:19.761928+00:00","sourceUrl":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/CompilationReports/IA_INDVL_Feed_10_09_2026.xml.zip"},"history":[{"filedOn":"2021-03-31","regulatoryAum":208627048,"clients":600,"employees":6,"offices":2},{"filedOn":"2022-06-07","regulatoryAum":244662912,"clients":608,"employees":6,"offices":2},{"filedOn":"2023-03-31","regulatoryAum":198000900,"clients":439,"employees":6,"offices":2},{"filedOn":"2024-03-29","regulatoryAum":224998015,"clients":560,"employees":6,"offices":2},{"filedOn":"2025-03-19","regulatoryAum":250037412,"clients":533,"employees":6,"offices":2},{"filedOn":"2026-04-21","regulatoryAum":278038908,"clients":521,"employees":7,"offices":3}],"acquisitions":[{"date":"2025-07-31","datePrecision":"day","name":"Lighthouse Financial Management","crd":"127748","source":"adv_w","dealType":"acquisition","sellerAum":184117678,"sellerAumDate":"2025-02-26","sourceUrl":"https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/127748"}],"secFileNumber":"801-20623","legalName":"First Financial Advisory Services Inc","displayName":"First Financial Advisory Services","slug":"first-financial-advisory-services-105031","website":"https://firstfinancialadvisory.com/","classification":{"segment":"individuals","segmentLabel":"Wealth management","type":"independent_wealth_manager","typeLabel":"RIA","feeDisclosure":"full"},"founded":null,"organization":"Delaware corporation","fiscalYearEnd":"December","headquarters":{"street":"85 Beach Street","city":"Westerly","state":"RI","stateName":"Rhode Island","country":"United States","postalCode":"02891"},"tradeNames":["Far Flung Change"],"registration":{"secApproved":"24 January 1984","noticeFilings":null,"latestNoticeFiling":null},"wealthAumPerClient":535594.8333333334,"staff":{"employees":7,"advisory":7,"brokerDealerReps":3,"insuranceAgents":4,"promoters":0},"aum":{"regulatory":278038908,"discretionary":0,"discretionaryAccounts":0,"nonDiscretionary":278038908,"nonDiscretionaryAccounts":1071,"wrapProgram":null,"nonUsClientsPct":0,"nonAumClients":0},"clientTypes":[{"label":"Individuals (other than HNW)","clients":440,"regulatoryAum":117577030},{"label":"High-net-worth individuals","clients":76,"regulatoryAum":158789904},{"label":"Charitable organizations","clients":5,"regulatoryAum":1671974}],"feePrograms":[{"role":"main","program":"Fee-Based Portfolio Management Services","feeBasis":"range","fee_tiers":null,"sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1042223","versionId":1042223,"ratePeriod":"annual","fee_billing":"advance","submittedOn":"2026-04-21","documentName":"FFAS ADV PART 2A","fee_rate_low":1,"fee_rate_high":1.5,"fee_negotiable":true,"minimum_account":25000,"feeMinimumPeriod":null,"fee_minimum_annual":null},{"role":"other","program":"Financial planning","summary":"Broad-based financial planning is a fixed fee of up to $5,000 a year, or $150 an hour for specific services; monthly and annual planning fees are negotiable.","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1042223","versionId":1042223,"submittedOn":"2026-04-21","documentName":"FFAS ADV PART 2A"}],"brochureCoverage":{"scope":"sec_inventory","status":"reviewed","checkedAt":"2026-10-22T08:08:06.082461+00:00","documents":[{"name":"FFAS ADV PART 2A","status":"read","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1042223","versionId":1042223,"submittedOn":"2026-04-21"}]},"custodians":[{"name":"Pershing LLC","shortName":"Pershing","location":"Jersey City, NJ","smaAssets":271671457}],"custodyNote":"First Financial Advisory Services has custody of $29.9M in client assets for 76 clients.","leadership":[{"name":"Geraldine Cunningham","title":"President, Treasurer","crd":"1093600"},{"name":"Peter Robinson","title":"Vice-President","crd":"6153017"},{"name":"Matthew Cunningham","title":"Chief Compliance Officer, Secretary","crd":"5298864"}],"ownership":[{"label":"Geraldine Cunningham","detail":"President, treasurer in the 75% or more ownership band and a control person, since January 2012."}],"filedOffices":{"otherThanPrincipal":2,"privateResidences":2},"listedOfficeAddresses":1,"foreignOffices":[],"officesByState":[{"state":"Rhode Island","offices":1,"addresses":[{"street":"85 Beach Street","city":"Westerly","headquarters":true}]}],"advFacts":{"source":{"file":"ia100226.zip","asOf":"2 October 2026"},"telephone":"401-596-0193","stateRegisteredReps":3,"otherAdviserReps":3,"compensation":["A percentage of assets under management","Hourly charges","Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)","Commissions"],"activities":["Financial planning services","Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses","Educational seminars/workshops"],"financialPlanningClients":"26-50","assetMix":[{"label":"Exchange-traded equity securities","percent":54},{"label":"Sovereign bonds","percent":1},{"label":"Securities issued by registered investment companies or business development companies","percent":20},{"label":"Securities issued by pooled investment vehicles (other than registered investment companies)","percent":12},{"label":"Cash and cash equivalents","percent":8},{"label":"Other","percent":5,"detail":"Fixed, Variable, and Indexed Annuities and Real-Estate Investment Trusts"}],"privateFunds":0},"sources":{"adv1FilingDate":"21 April 2026","adv1Url":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/105031/PDF/105031.pdf","brochureDate":"21 April 2026","brochureUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1042223","iapdCompiledDate":null,"retrievedDate":"15 October 2026","retrievedOn":"2026-10-15","updatedOn":"2026-10-22","holdingsUpdatedOn":"2026-10-21","adv1Pages":{},"brochurePages":{}},"otherBusiness":[],"faq":[{"question":"How many clients does First Financial Advisory Services have?","answer":"First Financial Advisory Services has 521 clients and manages $278 million for them, as of April 2026. They include 440 individual clients, 76 high-net-worth individuals and 5 charitable organizations.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 21 April 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What services does First Financial Advisory Services offer?","answer":"First Financial Advisory Services provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, and educational seminars.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"How much does First Financial Advisory Services charge?","answer":"First Financial Advisory Services charges 1.00%–1.50% a year for its Fee-Based Portfolio Management Services. The fee is billed in advance, is negotiable and requires an account of at least $25,000.","source":"FFAS ADV PART 2A, filed 21 April 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"brochure","section":"fees"}},{"question":"Which custodians does First Financial Advisory Services use?","answer":"First Financial Advisory Services’ separately managed account assets are held at Pershing LLC (Jersey City, NJ), with $272M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 21 April 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"custodians"}},{"question":"How many financial advisors does First Financial Advisory Services have?","answer":"First Financial Advisory Services has 3 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 7 employees, and 7 perform investment advisory functions. 3 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 4 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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What does First Financial Advisory Services invest in?","answer":"At the end of its last fiscal year, First Financial Advisory Services’ separately managed accounts held 54% exchange-traded equities, 20% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 12% pooled vehicles (private funds and similar), 8% cash and equivalents, 5% other and 1% sovereign bonds. The 5% other category is described as: Fixed, Variable, and Indexed Annuities and Real-Estate Investment Trusts.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Does First Financial Advisory Services have a minimum investment?","answer":"Yes, First Financial Advisory Services’ minimum account size for its Fee-Based Portfolio Management Services is $25K.","source":"FFAS ADV PART 2A, filed 21 April 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"brochure","section":"fees"}},{"question":"Who owns First Financial Advisory Services?","answer":"First Financial Advisory Services’ direct owner is Geraldine Cunningham (75% or more).","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 21 April 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"scheduleA"}},{"question":"How does First Financial Advisory Services get paid?","answer":"First Financial Advisory Services is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges, fixed fees and commissions. Its Form ADV lists no 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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Is First Financial Advisory Services registered with the SEC?","answer":"Yes, First Financial Advisory Services has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 24 January 1984. Its CRD number is 105031 and its SEC file number is 801-20623.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 21 April 2026; IAPD firm record","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"identity"}},{"question":"How do I contact First Financial Advisory Services?","answer":"First Financial Advisory Services’ main office is at 85 Beach Street, Westerly, RI 02891. Its phone number is 401-596-0193. Its website is firstfinancialadvisory.com.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1.F, filed 21 April 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"offices"}}],"holdings":null,"notice":"Compiled from public SEC Form ADV filings on the dates in `sources`. Facts as filed; not a rating, ranking, or recommendation. Niva is not affiliated with this firm. Disciplinary history is deliberately not included here or on the page; the SEC publishes the complete record at the `iapdUrl` above."}