[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0001089951
[NAME] ESSEX AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND
[MULTIPLIER] 1000
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE] 6-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] OCT-31-2000
[PERIOD-END] APR-30-2000
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 270359
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 285115
[RECEIVABLES] 14136
[ASSETS-OTHER] 25
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 299276
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 30463
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 724
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 31187
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 258097
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 17758
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] (299)
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] (4465)
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 14756
[NET-ASSETS] 268089
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 84
[INTEREST-INCOME] 672
[OTHER-INCOME] (4)
[EXPENSES-NET] 1051
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] (299)
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] (4465)
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] 14756
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 9992
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 295992
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] 37995
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 0
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 267989
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 955
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 1090
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 200884
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 10.00
[PER-SHARE-NII] (0.02)
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 5.12
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] 0
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] 0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 15.10
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 1.10
</TABLE>
