Check out our October newsletter!
OCTOBER 2025
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The Pros and Cons of Digital Discovery CLICKS AND COST
Change is the only constant in life.
visited every country on the planet, to get interesting ideas for future trips. Speaking of vloggers, my kids love “Handyman Hal,” who produces videos for his 1.3-million-plus subscribers on everything from sports to chores and the inner workings of a lawn mower. With all this convenience at our fingertips, we have more choices than ever and can find virtually anything in a millisecond. Unfortunately, high volume doesn’t always equal high quality, and having good media literacy is essential to critically assess the source of this information that bombards us. Confirming the credibility of whatever we view today is especially important with the rise of artificial intelligence. Sometimes, an online video of a celebrity or politician speaking is an illusion, a scary thought when this type of media spreads information on health care, financial planning, and other critical matters. And if we’re not careful, our confirmation bias will get the best of us along the way. That’s where Patriot Wealth comes in. To help steer clients and other curious parties toward accurate financial planning-related news and information, our YouTube page (YouTube.com/@ patriotwealth) features over 100 videos that separate fact from fiction in easy-
to-follow ways. Your economic future should never be based on random advice given by anyone with access to a video camera and an
With October here, we’ve transitioned into another season, and the next one will be here before we know it. Time seems to move faster than ever, and the technology that drives our everyday lives is also accelerating. It wasn’t long ago when people had newspapers delivered to their homes to learn about world events, or reached for a phone book to track down someone’s contact information. These days, we can do everything from balancing our accounts to ordering a pizza using a phone that fits in our pocket. That said, the way we consume information is changing rapidly. For people of all ages, reading a social media feed or watching YouTube videos has become a significant way to learn about the world around them. Whether you’re 16 or 60, all it takes is a tap on an app or the click of a computer key to get whatever you need. Need a quick solution to a household repair? There’s likely a how-to video (or 50) on YouTube for that. Need some helpful advice for personal growth? You can go online and track down countless podcasts that offer sound advice. Lately, I’ve been enjoying YouTube travel vlogs, particularly those posted by Drew Binslky, who’s
internet connection, so our channel is there to provide free, dependable insight into the financial and retirement planning spaces presented by real human beings with real experience. Considering how much the world has changed in just the past five years, we’ll likely soon consume media in ways that we can’t imagine today. When it comes to maintaining financial freedom, receiving truthful guidance is no longer a matter of not believing everything you read, you also can’t believe everything you see . No matter what, Patriot Wealth will move alongside whatever changes may come to provide our clients with trustworthy guidance amid the technological fray, whether you find us on YouTube or meet us in the office.
The world keeps changing, but our commitment to you never will.
–Wes White
These articles are designed to provide general information on the subjects covered. They are not, however, intended to provide specific legal or tax advice and cannot be used to avoid tax penalties or to promote, market, or recommend any tax plan or arrangement. Please note that Patriot Wealth and its affiliates do not give legal or tax advice. You are encouraged to consult your tax advisor or attorney.
Investment Advisory Services is offered through Retirement Wealth Advisors (RWA), a Registered Investment Advisor. Patriot Wealth and RWA are not affiliated. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
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Create Memories That Last MEANINGFUL WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS
There’s something very special about the grandchild- grandparent relationship. While parents often must play the role of disciplinarian so their kids stay out of trouble and become the best version of themselves, grandparents get to spoil and pamper the grandchildren. Most grandparents want this relationship to be as strong as possible, but it’s easier said than done, especially if you only see your grandkids a few times each year.
traditions and activities. Once you establish these activities, pay attention to how your grandchildren react. If they enjoy them, do it again next year! PRIORITIZE OUTINGS OVER GIFTS. Take a second to think about the best gift you received during your childhood. Now, imagine the best trip, vacation, or family outing you had as a kid. Which memory is stronger? You likely can’t even remember a specific gift you received, but those memories of trips to the zoo, beach, or mall have remained strong. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on gifts, consider taking your grandchildren out for an evening together. DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. To put it simply, your grandchildren will only get so much enjoyment participating in your favorite activities or regular routine. Figure out what they like and participate in those activities right alongside them. They’ll never forget the day they saw grandma ride
Here are three strategies you can implement to strengthen your relationship with your grandchildren while allowing you to make memories to last for the rest of their lives. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HOLIDAYS. The holiday season is a time for families to get together, participate in time- honored traditions, and share their love for one another. Make sure you set aside time for your grandkids. Show them your favorite holiday movies, encourage them to help cook a few dishes, and involve them in your
around in a go-kart, grandpa win the big prize at the arcade, or their grandparents adding the finishing touches to an art masterpiece!
Open Enrollment Essentials
Medicare Moves and Marketplace Musts
The time to consider your future health care has arrived again.
• Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage (or add or drop drug coverage). • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan (or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare). • Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan if you’re in Original Medicare. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2026. This period enables members already on a Medicare Advantage plan to switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage, or drop the Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. Members will also be able to join a separate Medicare drug plan. Coverage begins on the first of the month after the plan request is received. Although Patriot Wealth doesn’t directly provide health insurance-related services, we would happily refer you to a provider to address your needs or concerns. Please contact us today if we can help.
The Open Enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA)- compliant 2026 health insurance plans purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace runs from Nov. 1, 2025, through Jan. 15, 2026, in most states, including North Carolina. Those looking to make changes to their existing plan should not miss this window of opportunity, or they will need to wait until the next open enrollment period. Confirming your employer’s open enrollment dates is also advisable if they differ from the ACA’s. It’s important to review plan options, networks, and costs as soon as possible to ensure the best coverage for your needs. Many individuals may qualify for financial assistance with Health Insurance Marketplace plans based on income. Additionally, the Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 for policies beginning on Jan. 1, 2026. According to Medicare.gov , this period enables you to do the following:
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Warning Signs of Financial Scams CALLS AND CAUTION
With everything from the holiday season to the Medicare enrollment period hitting this time of year, many people
are busier and more distracted than usual. Unfortunately, the hustle and bustle of the year’s final months increases the opportunities for scammers to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. Here are three standard tactics telephone and online fraudsters use to trick you out of your paycheck or personal data.
TAKE A BREAK CREAMY BRAISED SHORT RIBS
MEDICAL MISREPRESENTATION With Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period
going into effect this month, fraudsters attempting to steal critical medical information are expected to rise. Medicare users are cautioned not to give their Medicare number over the phone or via email/text to anyone claiming to be an official representative or a salesperson offering a quote. Legitimate Medicare entities and representatives should already have your information on file, making any attempts to collect it over the phone an immediate red flag. EMERGENCIES AND EXPLOITATION No one ever wants to receive a call stating that a loved one is in the hospital for an emergency procedure or has run afoul of the law, especially when that caller requests your payment information to help remedy whatever precarious scenario they’ve presented. Unfortunately, thieves prey on the victims’ emotional state upon hearing such statements to prompt them to pay before they can process this information rationally. With the holidays being a time of family gatherings and increased travel, these scams will likely increase over the next few months. Before providing any payment information, ask the requester if you can call them back. This request is often enough for them to end the conversation and alert you to their true intentions. BOGUS TAX BILLS While fraudsters use virtually any reason to rob you of funds, posing as the IRS is one of their most frequent tactics. If you receive a text, email, or phone call that seems legitimate, be aware that thieves are using technology to create email addresses, web links, and caller IDs that closely mimic those of the IRS. Often, these communications threaten the recipient with hefty fines or even deportation if an alleged back payment isn’t made immediately. Before paying this supposed debt, contact the IRS at 800.829-1040 or TTY/ TDD 800.829-4059 to confirm your tax status and report the phony communication.
INGREDIENTS • 5 lbs bone-in short ribs • Ground black pepper • 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced • 6 garlic cloves, chopped • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves • 1 cup white wine or broth DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 325 F.
Inspired by RecipesByJanet.com
• 1/2 cup water • 1 cup heavy cream • 1 cup chopped kale (optional) • 4 tbsp salted butter, divided • 8 fresh sage leaves
2. In a large braiser, season short ribs with black pepper. Scatter onion, garlic, and thyme over ribs. Pour in white wine or broth and 1/2 cup water. 3. Cover the braiser with a lid and roast for 2 1/2–3 hours. 4. Increase temperature to 400 F. Remove the lid, skim excess fat, and stir in heavy cream, kale, and 2 tbsp butter. Roast uncovered for 10–20 minutes. 5. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Melt remaining butter and fry sage leaves until crisp. 6. Serve ribs hot with creamy sauce, garnished with sage.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Tech and Trust PAGE 1
Be the Grandparent They’ll Never Forget PAGE 2
Plan, Pick, and Protect PAGE 2
Creamy Braised Short Ribs PAGE 3
Fraud Over the Phone PAGE 3
Wicked Wanderlust PAGE 4
A HALLOWEEN TRAVEL TRIO Haunted Horizons
If your idea of fun seasonal travel is touring a spooky castle in October rather than hitting a sandy beach in July, here are three vacation ideas that will take your Halloween fun to spine- tingling new heights this year! WHERE WITCHES WANDER When it comes to Halloween-themed adventures, no other place on the East Coast offers more macabre merriment than Salem, Massachusetts. Known for its infamous witch trials of the late 1690s, the city transforms its dark past into a destination that balances historical facts with tongue-in-cheek kitsch. The weeks leading up to Oct. 31 are filled with more magic shows, tours, special events, and Halloween- themed shopping opportunities than you can shake a broom at. If you decide to partake in the area’s devilish fun
this year, visit the Salem Witch Board Museum, which boasts the world’s most extensive Ouija board collection, and the Salem Witch Museum. BOURBON BONE-CHILLERS If you want to add Southern charm to your Halloween chills, a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, is in order. From above-ground cemeteries and ghost tours to ghoulishly adorned shops in the French Quarter (including the must-visit Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo on Bourbon Street) and an annual Halloween parade, The Big Easy will surely put you in touch with your spooky side. DETOUR TO DRACULA’S DEN From the classic 1922 film “Nosferatu” to the Francis Ford Coppola-directed cinematic masterpiece “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” that premiered 70 years later,
our cultural interest in vampires has spanned decades (and, in the case of Transylvania, Romania, centuries) . Anyone with a passport and a desire to catch a glimpse at the real-world aesthetic that helped define the image of Dracula and other distinctive undead characters should visit Bran Castle, an amazing monument of Gothic architecture and the long-rumored residence of infamous 15th century-era prince and mass murderer Vlad the Impaler, widely believed to be the real-life inspiration behind the Dracula character. While many of the legends associated with Transylvania may be more fiction than fact, the locale remains the go-to spot for anyone with an affinity for apparitions.
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