Asset Manager

Updated:

Relevant Financial Advisors

Aaron Coates founded fee-only RIA Relevant Financial Advisors in 2015, operating from Elkhart, Indiana with a focus on estate planning and charitable...

Relevant Financial Advisors

Relevant Financial Advisors was founded in 2015 by Aaron Coates, a CFP® professional operating the firm as a partnership in Elkhart, Indiana. The firm positions itself as an objective, fee-only practice, meaning it does not accept commissions or referral fees, a structural choice that aligns the firm's incentives with client outcomes rather than product sales. The practice covers financial planning, investment advisory, estate planning, charitable giving strategies, and legacy and business succession planning. The firm lists financial planning, investment advisory, and estate planning as its core service lines, supplemented by charitable giving and business succession strategies. While it does not disclose specific portfolio holdings, its stated fee-only, objective approach suggests a mix of managed equity and fixed-income allocations typical of comprehensive planning shops, alongside trust and estate services delivered through partner attorneys or an internal planning process. The practice serves clients from its single office at 216 W High Street and does not publicly segment its client base by minimum asset thresholds. The firm operates as a small partnership with one listed employee, Aaron Coates. It maintains a digital footprint through a basic corporate LinkedIn page, where in early 2026 it posted a link to its privacy policy housed on Box.com, reiterating that no mobile information is shared with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes. No additional office locations, alternative investment vehicles, or affiliated foundations are publicly disclosed. Relevant Financial Advisors is distinct in its Northern Indiana base and its explicit public commitment to client data privacy, a posture the firm reinforced through a dedicated policy publication in 2026. This hyperlocal footprint combined with a fee-only model creates a structure where a single CFP® practitioner serves as the sole decision-maker, avoiding the multi-layered committee structures of larger RIA platforms and delivering a directly accountable service model.

General information

Firm type

Asset Manager

Year founded

2015

AUM

Undisclosed

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Elkhart

Corporate office

216 W High St, Elkhart, IN 46516, US

Principals

Aaron Coates

CFP®

Sector focus

Financial Services

Frequently asked questions

How is Relevant Financial Advisors compensated?

The firm states it operates on an 'objective, fee-only' basis, which means it does not earn commissions or referral fees for product recommendations. This model ties the firm's revenue directly to client-paid planning and advisory fees rather than financial product sales or third-party marketing incentives.

What services does Relevant Financial Advisors offer?

The practice lists financial planning, investment advisory, estate planning, charitable giving strategies, and legacy and business succession planning. This suite positions the firm as a comprehensive planning shop rather than a pure investment manager.

Who makes investment decisions at the firm?

Aaron Coates, a CFP® professional and the firm's founder, is the only employee listed on the firm's LinkedIn page, operating the firm as a partnership. Decision-making is centralized with Coates, rather than distributed across an investment committee.

Does the firm maintain any external investment vehicles or funds?

No external funds, alternative investment vehicles, or club-deal structures are publicly disclosed. The firm does not promote access to private equity, venture capital, or hedge fund allocations.

How does the firm handle client data privacy?

In March 2026, Relevant Financial Advisors published an updated privacy policy via Box.com, which explicitly stated that no mobile information would be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. This direct public statement is unusual for a firm of this size and suggests a heightened sensitivity to client data security.

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