About Us

Michael Zahler, RICP

Senior Vice President - Investment Officer

Michael has been in the financial services industry since 1988 and joined Everen Securities, a predecessor of Wells Fargo Advisors in 1999. As the Registered Principal of his own firm in Seattle for seven years, Michael developed a practice that focuses on fee-based professional portfolio management for individuals and business owners. He is a graduate of Western Washington University and currently holds a Retirement Income Certified Professional®  (RICP®) certification, and eight securities registrations including Registered Options Principal, Registered Commodities Representative and Registered Investment Advisor Representative.

Michael is a seven-year recipient of the Five Star Wealth Manager award (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 2017 and 2018). Less than 7% of wealth managers in the Denver area receive this honor. Recipients are selected from nominations from peers or firms and awards are based on 10 objective criteria including client retention rates, client assets administered, firm review and favorable regulatory and complaint history.

Michael leads the team's investment management and allocation services.

Michael's Qualifications:

• Senior Vice President - Investment Officer
• Retirement Income Certified Professional®     (RICP®)
• Insurance licenses (life, long-term care, fixed and variable annuity)
• CO Insurance License No: RPI00094659
• Securities Registrations (series 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 24, 63, and 65)
• Bachelor's degree in Geology, Western Washington University
• Over 30 years of experience as a financial advisor

To learn more about the Five Star Wealth Manager award, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com 

Caroline Hanzlik, CFP

Financial Advisor

Caroline joined the Zahler Hanzlik Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in early 2015. She previously worked in technical recruiting and digital marketing media sales, where she developed a strong understanding and appreciation of technology. Caroline brings this technical proficiency to her investment planning and uses a data-driven approach in advising clients.

Caroline, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, holds Series 7 and 66 registrations and health and life insurance licenses (with a Long Term Care certification). She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Caroline takes a holistic, goals-based approach to wealth management. She believes that building an investment plan for long-term success starts with a deep understanding of her clients’ priorities. With a focus on multigenerational wealth management, Caroline works closely with families to guide them through the complex process of wealth transfers, gifts and inheritances. In addition, Caroline has a passion for promoting collaboration among female professionals and advising them through their unique financial needs.

Away from the office Caroline serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for The Juvenile Assessment Center, an organization that supports youth safety and community. She also volunteers at Esther House of Open Door Ministries, which provides transitional housing and resources for women escaping the cycle of crisis and homelessness. Though not a Colorado native, Caroline has thoroughly embraced the outdoor lifestyle that the Mile High City has to offer. She runs and hikes with her husband Rob and is steadily making her way through the “Fourteeners” surrounding Denver.

Patty DeLucas, CFP

Associate Vice President - Investment Officer

Patty is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®) and holds a CPA license (currently non-practicing). She has 42 years of professional experience including Manager with a Big Four CPA firm. Through her team at Wells Fargo Advisors and working with clients’ accountants, tax advisors and/or lawyers, she is able to offer integrated wealth strategies specifically tailored to her clients’ financial needs. Patty offers guidance on tax-efficient investing, portfolio management, retirement income planning, and estate investment planning. She is committed to excellence in providing ongoing quality advice in her clients’ best interests, and value for the fees paid.

Dedicated to helping clients attain the financial goals they desire, Patty maintains an approach that centers on proactive planning to keep them on course in the face of uncertain markets and life changes. She focuses on working with business owners to integrate personal and business goals so they can concentrate on running their businesses, and also high net worth individuals and families to transition from asset accumulation, to retirement income that is predictable and sustainable.

Patty is a seven year recipient of the Five Star Wealth Manager award (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018). Less than 7% of wealth managers in the Denver area receive this honor. Recipients are selected from nominations from peers or firms and awards are based on 10 objective criteria including client retention rates, client assets administered, firm review and favorable regulatory and complaint history.

Patty’s outside interests include skiing, biking, cooking and entertaining, and being involved in her church and community. She and her husband Ken have lived in Genesee since 1986, where they raised their two boys.

To learn more about the Five Star Wealth Manager award, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com 

Derek Krebsbach

Registered Client Associate

Derek has been in the financial services industry for over 8 years. He started as a teller with Wells Fargo Bank and worked his way up to a Regional Private Banker for Wells Fargo Bank. He holds Series 7, 63 and 65 registrations as well as state health and life insurance licenses, and is certified in Long Term Care. Derek handles the team’s day-to-day administration of accounts, managing account requests, updates, transfers, and answering client questions regarding statements. 

Originally from Minnesota, Derek moved to Colorado in 2001. He lived in Vail and worked for Vail Resorts for 10 years. Derek met his wife Randi in Breckenridge in 2007, and has been happily married for 9 years. He and his wife now call the Front Range their home and live in Castle Rock with their 5-year-old son Connor and 3 dogs: Jasper the Black Lab, Rocket and Frodo Waggins (both Beagles). In Derek’s free time he enjoys running and has completed 8 half-marathons and one full marathon. He also enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, sports, and spending time with his family.

Cynthia Zahler

Client Associate

Cindy has over 14 years of financial services industry experience ranging from client support to operations and risk management. She previously held six securities registrations. In addition to her experience in financial services, Cindy worked for over 18 years in operations management and consulting in several service provider industries — real estate development, architecture, publishing and accounting. Cindy has a B.S. degree in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University.

Cindy is very happy to call Colorado home. Over the years, she has also lived in Boston, Minneapolis, Silicon Valley, and Seattle. In her spare time, Cindy enjoys hiking, biking, growing orchids, writing, traveling and spending time with her husband Mike and their two adult children.

*Five Star winners do not pay to win or to be considered for the award. Professionals showing up in Featured Results, however, may have paid a fee to appear there. The investment professional award goes to estate planning attorneys, insurance agents and select others in the financial industry. Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed with appropriate state or industry licensures. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Accepting new clients. Evaluation Criteria – Considered: 5. One-year client retention rate. 6. Five-year client retention rate. 7. Number of client households served. 8. Recent personal production and performance (industry specific criteria). 9. Education and professional designations/ industry and board certifications. 10. Pro Bono and community service work. This year, we honored 20 Denver investment professionals with the Five Star Investment Professional award. The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their client’s assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 2,255 Denver area wealth managers were considered for the award; 267 (12 percent of candidates) were named 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2017: 1,716 considered, 287 winners; 2016: 1,552 considered, 515 winners; 2015: 3,008 considered, 517 winners; 2014: 4,385 considered, 528 winners; 2013: 2,083 considered, 607 winners; 2012: 1,965 considered, 611 winners.