April Browne is a financial educator and retirement planning professional dedicated to helping individuals and families build clarity around their money and prepare for a secure future. With experience in the financial services industry and a strong foundation in public service, April focuses on Social Security education, retirement income strategies, and teaching people how to intentionally build a retirement paycheck they can rely on.
Meet April Browne
Founder, Zelken Financial Services
In nearly 30 years of public service, April Browne did not simply advance through the ranks of the Durham Police Department in North Carolina—she distinguished herself, ultimately serving as a Captain. Throughout her career, she approached every challenge with discipline, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to those she served.
As retirement approached, April encountered a challenge familiar to many high-performing professionals: understanding how to turn years of hard work, a pension, and a 401(k) into a sustainable retirement income. Like so many others, she was inundated with conflicting information and sales-driven advice that made it difficult to see how all the pieces fit together.
Her turning point came when she connected with a firm focused on wealth building, tax analysis, and credit strategies. For the first time, April gained clarity around the difference between simply accumulating assets and intentionally managing wealth. More importantly, she began to understand how taxes—what she now refers to as the “tax umbrella”—impact nearly every financial decision, including how her pension and retirement accounts would ultimately pay her.
That education was eye-opening. Without proper planning, a significant portion of her retirement income could have been lost to taxation, making even basic expenses more difficult to manage. Through strategic tax optimization, asset protection, and income planning, April was able to structure a retirement paycheck designed to provide reliable, guaranteed income—regardless of market volatility.
Inspired by what she learned, April recognized that she could bring this same level of clarity and confidence to others. She pursued professional training and transitioned into financial services with a clear mission: to help individuals and families understand their money, protect what they have worked so hard to build, and create a retirement income they can depend on.
Today, April combines her leadership experience, educator’s mindset, and real-world retirement planning knowledge to help her community make informed financial decisions. Retirement planning does not have to be confusing or overwhelming—with the right strategy, it can be secure, intentional, and empowering.
...build a retirement paycheck you can rely on...
Saving lives by day, saving money by night—retirement planning for first responders and LEOs!
Everything in business is learnable, fixable, and figureoutable.
You don't have to be a workaholic
to be successful. Really.
My motto:
My Mission
Inspire:
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My goal is to inspire clients to take action for their finances. With everything going on today most are overwhelmed when it comes to finances and how to make the best choice for their financial needs.
Community Outreach:
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Organize financial literacy events for individuals and communities to raise awareness about the importance of retirement planning and intentionally building a reliable Retirement Paycheck. These events provide practical guidance on understanding income sources, managing finances today, and creating a sustainable income stream for the future.
One-on-One Consultations:
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Had she stuck with the default pension plan, Uncle Sam would have taken such a hefty cut that covering basic expenses might have become a tightrope walk.
Thanks to some smart financial maneuvers and asset protection strategies, April secured a guaranteed income for her golden years, immune to economic turbulence. Renovating Retirement was such a game-changer that April decided to get trained in it herself, aiming to offer the same financial security to her community.
Now, Zelken Financial Services and the Renovating Retirement process are here to ensure that all law enforcement officers can achieve the same peace of mind that April did. Retirement planning just got a lot less confusing and a whole lot more secure.
Offer personalized consultations to help individuals review their current retirement strategies, understand how their income sources fit together, and explore ways to build a dependable Retirement Paycheck for the future.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
S.W.A.T (Something with Taste)-
"Very Informative for me since I am a new business owner. I am grateful for the Profit First information piece and how to plan for my retirement in the future."
I am grateful for the Profit First information piece
Wildflower Hair Care
"Incredibly impressed with what I've seen so far, this bootcamp has helped me with my salon business in a wonderful way worth the money, time, and April and Bobby are great!"
worth the money, time, and April and Bobby are great!
Book a Call with April
Roger Kubitz
"The detail and complexities for businesses trying to get the edge in their said fields, were explained in great detail leaving you with a plethora of excitement for your individual and businesses future. Along with April's expertise and her speakers, everyone would gain knowledge from her seminars. Do yourself and your business a great favor by scheduling a personalized meeting. Thank you April!"
Do yourself and your business a great favor by scheduling a personalized meeting.
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