About Patti

A force who started from scratch: Pennsylvania mom and former ICU nurse applies holistic care to manage over $2 Billion* for families nationwide.

She began her career at Pennsylvania’s Lankenau Medical Center before transitioning to finance in 1985 (with only one course from Georgetown University under her belt). Determined to set a new bar for the industry while balancing family life as the mother of four children, she started her own firm, Key Financial Inc. in West Chester, PA. Founded in her laundry room with just a small desk, a phone, and one part-time employee, the company has grown over thirty years to manage over $2 billion in assets for her clients. Patti has been named by Forbes and Barron’s as one of the top advisors in America, She was also admitted to Barron’s Hall of Fame and the CCEDC Hall of Fame, and is the recipient of The Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2023). Over the years, Patti has served many roles in her community as a former board member of Chester County (Penn Medicine) Hospital, Brandywine Valley YMCA and Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC).

When asked, Patti would tell you that her favorite contribution was as a CCD teacher for kindergarteners, where one of her four children served as her “student teacher”. This is where “TrashBall” became her legendary way of reinforcing the lessons of the day and instilling values to 5-year-olds in her community.

Despite her professional success as the CEO of a nationally recognized firm, Patti’s most cherished role is being a mom, community member, and is now proudly answering to the nickname, “P” when one of her three grandchildren reach out to her. Patti has written a letter to her clients every 90 days for over 30 years, putting both her analytical brilliance and her heart at the center of everything she does. Her book - Am I going to Be Okay? (And is “Okay” Enough?) – written as a “labor of love” over six years, spans over three decades of experience in the financial planning industry. It is intended to guide families with a clear process, great ideas and the 15 mistakes people make over and over again. Patti’s goal is to simplify even the most sophisticated concepts so that people can understand what might fit for them and act with confidence. She makes it easy to understand by applying these concepts with humor and stories throughout the book.

Patti has never forgotten her days at the bedside, and advocates for her readers with the same substance and care she had advocating for patients in the ICU.

And if there’s one thing we can say… love is what we cherish most about this book.

Family

Patti’s grassroots story is one that focuses on building wealth (like she and Ed did…in debt and no paycheck), overcoming adversity with strength through family, and preserving legacy.

Fun

While Patti and her team take financial freedom seriously, she believes it is equally as important to be relatable, approachable, and down to earth. “We are all painfully human and understand family dynamics because we’ve been through a lot, too. You’re in the ‘no judgement zone’ here!”

Instead of a polished video of an untouchable person, laugh with us and get to know the Patti Brennan people know and love.

The one thing all
Famous authors, world class
Athletes, business tycoons, singers
Actors, and celebrated achievers
In any field have in common
Is that they all began their journeys
When they were none of these things.

Mike Dooley