Ian Gates, MA

Financial Adviser and Paraplanner

Since mid-2024, Ian has been providing white-glove customer service by executing trades, updating records, troubleshooting IT systems, scheduling meetings, and other tasks as necessary to optimize each client’s outcomes and experience with Bastion. Ian also writes educational and marketing content on behalf of the firm.

Ian holds a Master’s Degree in Hispanic Studies from Villanova University (2018) and an MA in Applied Linguistics from Old Dominion University (2014). Fluent in Spanish, Ian previously taught ESL and Spanish before transitioning into finance. He has passed the Series 65 exam and is now preparing to sit for the CFP® exam.

From 2014 to 2022, Ian served as an intelligence officer in the Maryland Army National Guard, including four years of active duty. His military background has shaped his approach to optimizing research and decision-making in financial services.

Ian also hosts the #BLUFFbooks podcast and blog, with 25 episodes and 50 book reviews since 2023. He enjoys CrossFit, traveling, and serving on the missions committee at his church. Originally from Nyack, NY, Ian now lives in Beaumont, Texas, with his wife, Kim, a U.S. Coast Guard prevention officer, and their two children.