First Financial Services, LLC

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Client assets under management

$100,073,070

Clients

42% high-net worth

Advisors

of 5 employees

Firm type

Supported

1-3 advisors or $200M+ in AUM

Clients per advisor

Low

Average account size

$1,137,194

About

First Financial Services, LLC is a small advisory firm with a three-advisor team that manages approximately $103 million for about 88 clients, serving individuals, high‑net‑worth clients, families, trusts, retirement plans, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning and retirement planning, and offers insurance products and reviews as part of its planning process.

The firm emphasizes long‑term growth with an emphasis on risk management and implements investment plans on a discretionary basis, using a broad mix of equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, options, third‑party managers (including private funds), and hedging strategies. Financial planning is integrated into portfolio management and covers estate, business and buy/sell issues, key person situations, college and charitable planning; all managed accounts are enrolled in the firm’s Schwab‑sponsored wrap program and are regularly monitored for allocation and third‑party manager alignment.

Two features that distinguish the firm from many peers are its role as a wrap fee program sponsor through Schwab and its material insurance affiliations: several partners act as insurance brokers with an unaffiliated agency and some representatives are dually registered with a broker‑dealer and may receive commissions for certain insurance and annuity sales. The brochure discloses related conflicts of interest and mitigating policies (for example, clients will not be charged both a commission and an advisory fee on the same assets), and the firm also receives custodial and practice‑support benefits from its custodian, which it discloses as a potential source of indirect conflicts.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management

Expertise

Options & derivatives strategies Wealth management Annuities

Occupation focus

Founder/Business Owner Retired

Fee options

Percentage

1.00% to 1.60% (case-by-case basis, negotiated)

Commissions

Commissions on insurance products and securities through M.S. Howells and ReUnion Associates Inc.

Main office location

First Financial Services, LLC

1509 Mart Drive, Suite B

Little Rock AR 72202, United States

Number of offices

Most active in

Arkansas · Nebraska · Oklahoma · Texas

Disclosures

Business activities & affiliations

Is active or affiliated with:

Insurance agent

They sell insurance products and may earn commissions on those sales.

Is not active or affiliated with:

Broker-dealer / trader

They provide brokerage services and may earn transaction-based compensation in addition to advisory fees.

Bank

They're affiliated with a bank that may offer its own financial products and services.

Trust company

They provide trust and estate administration services, typically for separate fees.

Fund sponsor

They manage or sponsor investment funds and may earn management or performance-based fees if clients invest in them.

Accountant / CPA / tax prep

They offer tax and accounting services, typically for separate fees.

Lawyer

They provide legal services, typically billed separately.

Real estate agent

They facilitate real estate transactions and may earn commissions.

Other specialized services

They may provide services such as pension consulting or municipal advisory work, typically for separate fees.

Forms ADV

Form ADV Part 2: Client Brochure Form ADV Part 3: Client Relationship

Quick links

Website 501-666-0302

Advisors at this firm

Stephen S

Series 63, Series 66

Little Rock, AR

First Financial Services, LLC

Stephen Sanders is a financial advisor with First Financial Services, LLC in Little Rock, AR, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 29 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at M.S. Howells & Co, Sowell Financial Services, LLC, and Cambridge Investment Research. Outside of advising, he serves as co-trustee of a family trust and manages a farm operation. First Financial Services, LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning for individuals, families, retirement plans, and businesses. The firm emphasizes long-term growth with risk management, implementing broad financial plans and managing client accounts through a wrap fee program using diverse investment instruments.

Options & derivatives strategies Wealth management Annuities Founder/Business Owner Retired

Thomas S

Series 63, Series 65

Little Rock, AR

First Financial Services, LLC

Thomas Sanders is a financial advisor with First Financial Services, LLC in Little Rock, AR, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at M.S. Howells & Co., Sowell Financial Services, Cambridge Investment Research, and Consolidated Agents, Inc. He serves as a board member of the Spring Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. First Financial Services, LLC provides discretionary portfolio management, financial and retirement planning, and insurance services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and corporations. The firm manages approximately $100.8 million in discretionary assets through a wrap fee program, emphasizing long-term growth with risk management and comprehensive wealth planning.

Options & derivatives strategies Wealth management Annuities Founder/Business Owner Retired

Donald B

ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65

Little Rock, AR

First Financial Services, LLC

Donald Baker is a financial advisor with First Financial Services, LLC in Little Rock, AR. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 51 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at M.S. Howells & Co., Sowell Financial Services, and Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Outside of advisory work, he has been involved with B Fair Auto Wholesalers LLC. First Financial Services, LLC serves a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, retirement plans, trusts, estates, businesses, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial and retirement planning, and insurance product services, emphasizing long-term growth and risk management through a wrap fee program and a broad range of investment instruments.

Options & derivatives strategies Wealth management Annuities Founder/Business Owner Retired

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