user avatar

John Watson IV

Advisor at Essex Advisory

Updated today

Location

Canyon Lake, CA

Credentials

ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65

Industry experience

8 years

About

John Watson IV is a financial advisor with Essex Advisory in Canyon Lake, CA, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has eight years of industry experience, including prior roles at Northwestern Mutual and Commonwealth Financial Network. Watson also spends part of his time involved in fixed insurance sales. Essex Advisory provides financial planning and fee-based investment advisory services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as businesses and institutional retirement plans. The firm employs tailored investment strategies using asset allocation across mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and derivatives, and offers pension and retirement-plan consulting with ERISA fiduciary services.

Client services

Based on Essex Advisory

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers
Retirement plan consulting including fee comparison, investment options, vendor analysis, etc.

Expertise

Based on Essex Advisory

General retirement planning Cash flow / budgeting Life insurance needs analysis Retirement income strategy

Fee options

Fixed

Fixed fees for financial planning range from $500 to $5,000, generally paid 50% in advance and 50% upon completion.

Percentage

$0 - $1,000,000: Up to 2.00% $1,000,000 - $2,000,000: Up to 1.75% $2,000,000 - $5,000,000: Up to 1.50% $5,000,000 - $10,000,000: Up to 1.25% $10,000,000+: Up to 1.00%

Commissions

Certain representatives are licensed insurance agents and broker-dealers and may receive commissions for insurance or securities products separate from advisory fees.

Project-based

Financial planning hourly fees range from $200 to $400 per hour.

Other

Fee-only: Financial planning fees are charged separately; no commissions for advisory services.

Location

Canyon Lake, CA

Most active in

California

Work history

Essex Securities LLC

2025 - Present (1 year)

Essex Advisory LLC

2025 - Present (1 year)

Self Employed

2023 - 2025 (2 years)

Commonwealth Financial Network

2023 - 2023 (1 year)

C.I.G Private Wealth Management

2023 - 2023 (1 year)

Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company

2018 - 2023 (5 years)

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

2018 - 2023 (5 years)

Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC

2018 - 2023 (5 years)

MML Investors Service LLC

2017 - 2018 (1 year)

Mass Mutual

2017 - 2018 (1 year)

Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC

2014 - 2017 (3 years)

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

2014 - 2017 (3 years)

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

user avatar

Nalin B

Series 63, Series 66

Murrieta, CA

Fireplace Financial Inc

Nalin Bhatt is a financial advisor at Fireplace Financial Inc with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with firms including SA Stone Investment Advisors Inc., Quest Capital Strategies, and Fireplace Financials and INS Services. Outside of advising, he owns and operates a bookkeeping and tax preparation business as a certified public accountant. Fireplace Financial serves individual clients by providing financial planning and access to third-party managed portfolios, combining professional accounting and tax services with licensed insurance activities. The firm typically operates on a non-discretionary basis and uses a multifaceted investment process drawing on behavioral, charting, cyclical, fundamental, and technical analysis.

Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Charitable giving tax strategies Business succession planning General retirement planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Executive Founder/Business Owner
user avatar

Allen D

Series 63, Series 65

Lake Mathews, CA

Royale Investment Advisor LLC

Allen Drake is the sole advisor at Royale Investment Advisor LLC, an independent firm based in Lake Mathews, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 19 years of industry experience. Prior to founding Royale in 2006, he has worked at UPS since 1988. In addition to advisory services, he sells life, health, and disability insurance to support clients' financial plans. Royale Investment Advisor LLC provides asset management, financial planning, and consulting services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a long-term buy-and-hold investment approach while maintaining flexibility for shorter-term trades and manages most assets on a non-discretionary basis, requiring client approval for transactions.

General retirement planning General tax planning Wealth management Active portfolio management
user avatar

Jared F

Series 65

Murrieta, CA

The DR Team

Jared Fenlason is a financial advisor at The DR Team with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Fenlason Financial Services Inc., CAC Planning and Insurance Services, Fenlason Group Inc., and Soberlink Inc. Fenlason Financial Services Inc., doing business as The DR Team, provides financial planning and investment consulting primarily to individuals in medical school, residency, and medical practice. The firm emphasizes a long-term investment approach focused on mutual funds and ETFs and offers educational seminars and workshops tailored to medical programs.

Student loan debt College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General retirement planning Cash flow / budgeting Doctor or Medical Professional
user avatar

Ross H

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Murrieta, CA

RMH Advisors, LLC

Ross Hunt is a CFP® professional with 43 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is affiliated with LPL Financial and has been involved with RMH Advisors, LLC and Ross and Mary Hunt, Inc. since 2003. Hunt's business activities include providing non-variable insurance services through Ross and Mary Hunt, Inc. LPL Financial serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, charities, and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a wide range of advisory and brokerage services supported by an in-house research team and a large network of investment adviser representatives.

General retirement planning General tax planning Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management
user avatar

Roland O

Series 66

Murrieta, CA

Athena Wealth Management

Roland Ortiz is a financial advisor at Athena Wealth Management in Murrieta, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill Lynch and Bank of America and operates as an independent insurance agent offering life, disability, and fixed annuity insurance products. Athena Wealth Management provides financial planning, investment consultation, and management services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on low-cost, diversified allocations using ETFs and index funds, with an emphasis on cost control and tax efficiency.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Charitable giving & philanthropy Cash flow / budgeting
user avatar

Eric A

Series 65

Corona, CA

Aragon Advisors

Eric Aragon is a financial advisor with Aragon Advisors in Corona, CA, holding a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and operates an accounting firm, Aragon Accounting Corp, where he is the founder and a CPA. In addition to his advisory work, he is active in accounting services. Aragon Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, business owners, and entities, providing investment advisory and financial planning services, including retirement-plan consulting. The firm integrates investment advice with affiliated accounting and insurance services, managing most assets on a non-discretionary basis and emphasizing ERISA 3(21) fiduciary support for plan sponsors.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy Tax-loss harvesting Founder/Business Owner Executive
Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through – whether you ultimately need an advisor or not.

Call (201) 292-4557

Warmer provides personalized recommendations and introductions to independent fiduciary advisors. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

Each advisor listed on our site is an independent fiduciary responsible for their own advice. Warmer may receive fees from advisors for participation or referrals; these fees are paid by advisors and do not affect the fees clients pay for advisory services.

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before entering into an advisory relationship.

By using our service, you agree to Warmer's Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement and Privacy Policy. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")