⬤ USA Today
2023 Best Financial Advisory Firms
usa today best financial advisory firms 2023 logo for wellspring financial

Award based on independent survey carried out by USA TODAY and Statista. Firms need to be nominated by a participant in the survey. No prior registration is required, and no costs are involved for the nomination. The recommendations for each firm are summarized and evaluated anonymously. 
In addition to the survey results, additional metrics (e.g., data in relation to assets under management (AUM)) will be included in the final analysis.

● USA Today
2023 Best Financial Advisory Firms
usa today best financial advisory firms 2023 logo for wellspring financial

Award based on independent survey carried out by USA TODAY and Statista. Firms need to be nominated by a participant in the survey. No prior registration is required, and no costs are involved for the nomination. The recommendations for each firm are summarized and evaluated anonymously. 
In addition to the survey results, additional metrics (e.g., data in relation to assets under management (AUM)) will be included in the final analysis.

Meet Our Team

Meet Our Team

Patrick Zumbusch,
CFP®, Founder/CEO

Patrick Zumbusch is the founder and CEO of Wellspring Financial Partners. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, he brings a wealth of both experience and values to Wellspring. Pat started this company to introduce comprehensive, relevant financial knowledge to clients, helping them gain mastery over all areas of their financial lives. He believes that a true and personal relationship with each client, built on trust, is the beating heart of his firm. Pat has a strong passion for the best interests of each Wellspring client, and works daily developing comprehensive financial plans, tailored to each client within their own uniqueness and individuality. It is Pat’s belief that financial planning and wealth management are not a one size fits all matter, nor should they be. Because of Patrick’s initiative, Wellspring Financial Partners is not controlled by Wall Street, but rather, is an ever-present and reliable, unbiased source to empower clients to achieve financial success, nationwide. ​

Deirdre Kochanski,
Director of Plan Services

As the Director of Plan Services, Deirdre Kochanski oversees Wellspring’s ERISA corporate plan business advising 403(b), 401(k), profit-sharing plans across the country. With over 30 years of experience working in the retirement plan industry, Deirdre understands that the number one savings vehicle in America is the company retirement plan and is committed to helping Plan Sponsors offer a dignified path to retirement for their employees. Her depth of experience includes investment policy, fee benchmarking and negotiations, fiduciary compliance, and employee engagement. Deirdre also serves as Wellspring’s Chief Compliance Officer.

Elias Young, CFP®,
Financial Advisor

Elias Young is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and has an extensive finance and financial planning background. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Sacramento State’s Financial Planning program and has continued to grow as an experienced advisor since. Elias takes pleasure in utilizing his education and experience to help Wellspring’s clients identify and achieve their personal financial goals. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, exploring the outdoors, BBQing, and tinkering with things around the house.

Jake Lingard,
CFP®, Financial Advisor

Jake Lingard is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®). He has over 14 years of experience working as a fiduciary and providing objective, comprehensive financial advice. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and holds an MBA from Weber State University. Jake’s favorite part of his position is working personally with clients at all stages of their lives and helping them reach both their financial and personal goals. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, coaching his kids’ soccer teams, and exploring the outdoors.

Tim Fleshman,
Associate Financial Planner

Tim Fleshman has a robust background in sports and project management. He’s worked with everything from sales marketing and in-game coordination & fan engagement, to logistics, analysis, and customer service. He brings this expertise to Wellspring, where he enters a new chapter of his career in Financial Planning. Working with clients, Tim appreciates that this career allows him to simultaneously put clients in the best possible financial position for themselves, while better understanding his own financial goals. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their two dachshunds, hiking, rooting for the Wildcats, and trying out new restaurants in town.

Nathan Pawlak,
Associate Financial Planner

Nathan Pawlak is a skilled financial planner, in the final months of attaining his Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona. He brings precise education and experience, having studied within the university’s Personal and Family Financial Planning Program. Nathan’s favorite part of working with Wellspring is getting to know clients and forming relationships based on trust, as he strives to help them reach their goals and plans for their future. Outside of work, he likes spending time outdoors, staying active, and enjoying music in his free time.

John Patrick “JP” Sentner,
Client Services Specialist

JP Sentner is an Investment Advisor Representative with the firm holding the Series 65 Securities License. He currently attends Purdue University, earning his Master of Science in Economics. An alumnus of Gonzaga University, JP has two BAs in Economics and Philosophy. He brings his education and experience to Wellspring, where he takes joy and passion in interacting with clients each day, as he strives to learn more about how he can assist each person reach their individual and unique financial goals. Outside of work, JP enjoys going for walks with his wife and daughter, trying out new recipes together, and playing golf.

Jake Edwards,
Client Support Specialist

Jake Edwards began his career as an investment advisor in commercial real estate and has since made the switch to wealth management. He received his BS in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis and recently completed his executive certificate in financial planning from Santa Clara University. He will be sitting for the national CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Exam in November 2023 and is currently studying for the series 65 Securities license. At Wellspring, Jake enjoys helping clients with all of the administrative aspects of managing accounts and ensuring client satisfaction within the firm. Outside of work, Jake enjoys all things outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and working on projects in the garage.

Amber Couch,
Operations Manager

Amber Couch is responsible for maintaining and increasing the efficiency of Wellspring’s internal operations. She excels administratively in numerous areas. Amber holds a secretary certificate, as well as an Art and Computer Science associate degree from Riverside Community College. Her favorite part of her position is being able to help people and she appreciates that she’s able to keep busy daily with such a task. Outside of work, Amber is an active volunteer with Project Linus where she knits and crochets blankets for children. She enjoys spending her free time doing tap dance and listening to or playing music.

Laura Brandlen,
Accounting Manager

Laura Brandlen brings advanced knowledge to Wellspring as the Accounting Manager, with over 25 years of experience in accounting at various small businesses in Arizona. She is also self-employed as the Owner of LMB Accounting Services. Outside of work, Laura enjoys volunteering at Sister Jose’ Women’s Center and the Mission Gardens. On the weekend she and her husband enjoy working on their small “get-a-way” in Williams, Arizona.

Pilar Dougall, Administrative
Assistant and Advisor Support

Pilar Dougall is an experienced Administrative Assistant, with over 15 years work in various office environments. She is a native Tucsonan and an alumna of the University of Arizona with a BA in Religious Studies. As a wife and mother of four, she brings consistency, diligence, flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor to Wellspring. Pilar values the opportunity to work as a team with Wellspring’s Advisors and Planners to ensure clients receive the best of care and service they deserve. She loves Tucson’s summer monsoon season and its short-lived thunderstorms. In her free time, she enjoys reading and quilting for family, friends, and charity.