Coin and Seed Joins Indy Rush, Leaning on Powerful, Complex Partners

LEXINGTON, KY – December 29, 2025 – Harris Evans has officially entered the burgeoning independent wealth management scene with the launch of Coin and Seed Wealth Management. The new Lexington-based firm joins a wave of financial advisors breaking away from traditional institutions to build practices centered on a “client-first” philosophy. However, the firm’s success will rely heavily on a strategic, and potentially complex, web of partnerships designed to provide the infrastructure needed to compete.

Coin and Seed has aligned with Thoroughbred Financial, an Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJ) for compliance and oversight, and Osaic, one of the nation’s largest networks of independent financial professionals, for technology and operational support. This two-tiered support model is increasingly common, allowing solo practitioners and small firms to offer sophisticated services while maintaining autonomy.

“Launching Coin and Seed Wealth Management allows me to better align my business with how I want to serve clients,” Evans stated in the announcement. The move reflects a significant industry trend where advisors seek greater flexibility and a more direct, relationship-driven approach to financial planning.

The Allure of Independence

The decision to launch an independent firm like Coin and Seed is emblematic of a broader shift in the wealth management industry. Advisors are increasingly leaving the confines of large wirehouses and banks, driven by a desire for entrepreneurial freedom and the ability to offer advice untethered from proprietary products. This independence allows them to act as fiduciaries, prioritizing their clients' best interests in a more transparent way.

However, this freedom comes at the cost of built-in support. Independent advisors must source their own compliance, technology, and back-office solutions. This has fueled the rise of enabling firms like Osaic and OSJs such as Thoroughbred Financial, which provide the essential scaffolding for these new ventures.

Coin and Seed enters a competitive landscape in Lexington. The region is already home to numerous established independent advisory firms, including MCF Advisors, Keystone Financial Group, and Meridian Wealth Management, many of which manage billions in client assets. To stand out, new entrants must effectively demonstrate how their model and philosophy translate into a superior client experience. Evans’ stated mission is to provide “clarity, confidence, and direction,” a promise that will be tested in a market where personalized service is the primary battleground.

The Power and Peril of Strategic Partnerships

The backbone of Coin and Seed's operational strategy lies in its partnerships. Osaic, which rebranded from Advisor Group and completed its platform integration in early 2025, provides the technological might. With over $700 billion in assets under administration and supporting approximately 11,000 financial professionals, Osaic offers a vast suite of tools, including CRM systems, portfolio analytics, and a multi-custodial framework that includes giants like Schwab and Fidelity.

This partnership grants Coin and Seed access to resources typically reserved for much larger institutions, theoretically freeing Evans to focus on client-facing activities. Yet, Osaic is not without its own complexities. The firm has faced regulatory scrutiny, including a 2020 SEC action resulting in a $500,000 fine for inadequate policies around certain complex investments and a FINRA censure for compliance failures. While such issues are not uncommon for firms of its size, they underscore the importance of vigilant oversight. Furthermore, some advisors on public forums have described parts of Osaic's sprawling technology platform as “clunky,” suggesting that the promise of seamless integration can sometimes face practical hurdles.

Providing more direct compliance oversight for Coin and Seed is Thoroughbred Financial, its chosen OSJ. According to the press release, Chris Cantrell, Vice President at Thoroughbred Financial, expressed excitement for the launch, stating, “His experience and commitment to clients is evident, and we know the future is bright for Coin and Seed Wealth Management.”

Coin and Seed has aligned with Thoroughbred Financial Agency, a Lexington-based Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJ) affiliated with Osaic Wealth. Led by industry veterans W. Al Wilson and Christopher Cantrell, the firm has served the region for over 30 years. It is important to distinguish this Lexington-based agency from other similarly named entities in the southeast; unlike the Tennessee-based broker-dealer 'Thoroughbred Financial Services' which faced significant SEC sanctions in 2018, the Thoroughbred Financial Agency partnering with Evans maintains a clean regulatory profile. This partnership offers Evans local support infrastructure free of the direct regulatory baggage often found in the broader industry.

Delivering on the 'Client-First' Promise

Ultimately, the success of Coin and Seed Wealth Management will be measured by its ability to deliver on its core promise of personalized, client-centric guidance. The firm's structure is designed to facilitate this. By outsourcing capital-intensive technology and complex compliance tasks to Osaic and Thoroughbred, Evans can theoretically dedicate more time to understanding client needs, crafting tailored financial plans, and building the deep relationships he emphasizes.

The independent model, supported by Osaic’s multi-custodial platform, allows Coin and Seed to select from a broad universe of investment solutions without the pressure to sell proprietary products. This is a key differentiator from many larger, integrated financial institutions and a cornerstone of the fiduciary, “client-first” approach.

In a crowded market like Lexington, where many competitors also champion a fiduciary standard, execution is everything. The challenge for Harris Evans will be to skillfully leverage the immense resources of his partners while navigating their inherent complexities. The ability to translate the power of a national network into a genuinely personal and trustworthy local service will determine whether Coin and Seed can cultivate the deep roots it needs to flourish in Kentucky's competitive financial landscape.

Correction (January 5, 2026)

A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Thoroughbred Financial Agency (Lexington, KY) as the entity subject to a 2018 SEC settlement regarding share class selection. That settlement involved an unrelated firm, Thoroughbred Financial Services, LLC (Brentwood, TN). Thoroughbred Financial Agency has no such regulatory history. We regret the error.