Patten Financial Group

06/18/2026

Halfway through 2026 already! ☀️ Before summer gets away from you, it’s worth a quick gut-check on your finances.

Our latest blog walks through 5 simple mid-year moves to keep your plan on track:

✅ Are you capturing your full 401(k) match?
✅ Any tax-planning opportunities to act on now (not in December)?
✅ Has the market pulled your portfolio off-target?
✅ Are your beneficiary designations actually current? (This one takes 10 minutes and is almost always overlooked.)
✅ Is your estate and long-term care foundation still solid?

Thirty focused minutes now can save you a stressful year-end — and keep your long-term plan pointed in the right direction.

📖 Read the full mid-year checkup here 👉 https://www.pattenfinancial.com/pfg-blog/mid-year-financial-checkup-2026

📞 Questions? Call us at (219) 312-4128 or schedule a quick conversation.

06/11/2026

70% of Americans will need long-term care at some point.

Does your retirement plan account for that?

Here are 5 signs it’s time to take a closer look.
https://www.pattenfinancial.com/pfg-blog/5-signs-you-may-need-a-long-term-care-plan

06/05/2026

The 3 conversations every pre-retiree needs to have before age 65 — and most people skip at least one.

Long-term care. Estate planning. Retirement income.

These aren’t just “nice to have” discussions. They’re the foundation of a retirement plan that are critical for you and your family.

At Patten Financial Group, we help Northwest Indiana families have all three — before it’s too late to act.

👇 Read the full article here— https://www.pattenfinancial.com/pfg-blog/3-conversations-pre-retiree-before-65

📞 Schedule your complimentary Retirement Income Review today.

06/02/2026

🚀 Weekly Market Insights – June 1st, 2026 🚀

📊 Fresh trends, market moves, and clear-eyed analysis delivered straight to you.

💡 Stay sharp. Stay strategic. Stay ahead of the market. 💡

05/29/2026

📚 Term of the Week: RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions)

Once you turn a certain age(Age 73 as of right now), the IRS requires you to start taking money out of your tax-deferred retirement accounts — whether you need it or not.

Without a plan, RMDs can mean higher taxes, increased Medicare premiums, and less left for your heirs.

The good news? With the right strategy, you can get ahead of them.

💡 Curious how RMDs fit into your retirement income plan? Let’s talk.

🔗 https://link.agent-crm.com/widget/bookings/patten-financial-aaron-patten

05/28/2026

Two retirees. Same savings. Same retirement year.

One ran out of money at 79.
One never touched principal and still had a growing balance at 88.

The difference wasn’t luck. It wasn’t even returns.

It was structure.

One had an income floor. The other didn’t.

If you’re within 10 years of retirement, this week’s article is worth five minutes of your time. Link below.

https://www.pattenfinancial.com/pfg-blog/retirement-income-floor-fixed-solutions

05/25/2026

To the fallen heroes who gave their lives in service to this country — and to the families of Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland who carry that loss — we honor you today.

Freedom is the foundation everything else is built on. We don’t take that lightly.

From our family at Patten Financial Group, thank you. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

The 4% Rule: A simple retirement guideline that says you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one, adjust for inflation each year after, and historically not outlive your money over 30 years.

It’s a great starting point — but every retirement is different and your plan should be tailored to your personal financial situation — NOT a general assumption!

Want a personalized income strategy? Let’s talk. 📞

05/21/2026

Most people don’t think about RMDs until they have to take one.

By then, the best planning opportunities are gone.

Required Minimum Distributions begin at age 73 — and they’re taxable income. For many retirees, they’re the single biggest surprise in retirement.

What most people don’t realize:
→ RMDs can bump you into a higher tax bracket
→ Higher income in retirement can trigger Medicare IRMAA surcharges
→ More of your Social Security may become taxable
→ Miss your RMD deadline and the IRS keeps 25%

The window to plan is before 73 — not after.

We work with pre-retirees across Northwest Indiana and the Greater Chicagoland area to build tax-efficient retirement income strategies that account for RMDs from day one.

Read this week’s article to learn how RMDs are calculated, which accounts are affected, and the strategies that can reduce their tax impact.

🔗https://www.pattenfinancial.com/pfg-blog/required-minimum-distributions-what-you-need-to-know-before-age-73

📩 Ready to review your situation? A complimentary retirement income review is just one message away.

If you’ve spent decades diligently saving in a traditional IRA or 401(k), you may be surprised to learn the IRS eventually requires you to start taking money out — whether you need it or not. These mandatory withdrawals are called Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs, and for most people, the...

05/15/2026

Did you know that certain inherited assets may get a tax reset?

The step-up in basis eliminates capital gains tax on a lifetime of growth — one of the most powerful (and overlooked) benefits in estate planning.

Want to know how this applies to your plan? Let’s talk. 📞