About Karen Patel
Karen has advocated for business owners in construction, manufacturing, professional services, and technology for several decades. Her Midwest roots in a family-owned business are the foundation of her “it’s not how much you make, but how much you keep” strategies. She focuses on relationship-based, comprehensive financial planning strategies for closely-held middle-market business and family clients.
Karen believes in maintaining a high degree of integrity by putting her client’s needs first and providing personalized solutions for their unique situations and obstacles.
Professional areas of specialty
Karen works with a team of high-quality internal and external client-centric resources who play a pivotal role in executing strategies. This is critical for clients seeking a personal and professional relationship that pertains to their unique financial situation while holding them accountable for their actions.
Karen’s areas of focus include:
- LTC/Extended Care Planning
- Exit and transition solutions for business owners
- Company-sponsored retirement plans
- Comprehensive fee-based financial planning
- Estate planning*
- Retirement strategies
- Risk management
- Tax-efficient investment strategies*
Karen is very proactive with current and prospective clients, holding educational events such as business owner symposiums, webinars, and workshops covering financial topics for business owners.
Education, licenses, and achievements
Karen’s has a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and management from St. Norbert College. She completed her post-graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma-Economic Development Institute. She is an Investment Fiduciary Advisor, Certified Family Business Specialist and Certified in Long-Term Care, and she holds her Series 7, 6, 63, and 65 registrations and Life & Health licenses.
Karen is a dedicated community leader and a member of various business organizations. She also has held governmental and nonprofit positions in metropolitan areas throughout the country.
Personal
Outside of her practice, Karen enjoys cooking and baking, gardening, rooting for her favorite NFL teams (Bears, Broncos, and Rams), working on eclectic arts and crafts, wine tasting, golfing, and traveling internationally. She has been married for over 25 years and has three marvelous children who keep the family laughing and active.
3132279/DOFU 6-2020
Resource team
Aside from the knowledge and experience you will receive from your advisor, North Star provides a team of experts within their specialties dedicated to helping your advisor choose well-suited products or services for you.
Chase Brakke
Vice President, Disability Insurance and Property and Casualty Operations
612.617.6008 | chase.brakke@northstarfinancial.com
Chris Sitek
Vice President, Life Insurance and Long-Term Care
612.617.6109 | chris.sitek@northstarfinancial.com
Jeff Landt
Vice President and Director of Investments
612.617.6116 | jeff.landt@northstarfinancial.com
Carrie Hancock
Vice President, Financial Planning Resource Center
612.617.6137 | carrie.hancock@northstarfinancial.com
Denver
1801 Broadway Ste 1050Denver, CO 80202
San Diego
4445 Eastgate Mall Road, Ste 200San Diego, CA
Chicago
203 N. LaSalle StreetSuite 2174
Chicago, IL 60601