Versant Capital Management, Inc., an independent wealth management and registered investment advisory firm (RIA), announced a transition in ownership and expansion into the Dallas market. Founder and Chief Investment Officer Thomas J. Connelly, CFA, CFP, has successfully transitioned his majority ownership to longtime business partner Elizabeth Shabaker, CFP, CDC, and Royce Ramey, CFA, who together will serve as the firm’s Co-Chief Executive Officers.
Most Influential Women: Liz Shabaker, Versant Capital Management
Founder Thomas J. Connelly expressed his excitement about the transition, stating, “One of the greatest joys of my life has been to help families manage their investment portfolios, preserving and growing their financial nest eggs and legacies through market cycles. I will continue to fill that role with Versant as the Chief Investment Officer and part of the Executive Leadership Team.”
With over thirteen years of executive leadership at Versant, Elizabeth Shabaker — recognized as one of the country’s accomplished wealth management practitioners — has played a crucial role in the firm’s growth and practice management. Her expertise and experience in family governance, next-generation planning, and helping women become financially confident and independent are key to the firm’s continued growth.
Before joining Versant, Royce Ramey held the positions of Managing Director and Chief Experience Officer at Tolleson Wealth Management in Dallas, Texas, a privately-owned family office for wealthy individuals and their families. There, he served as a senior advisor and the primary client contact and coordinator for all private wealth management services. Royce provided clients with comprehensive financial planning and oversight by identifying, implementing, and monitoring strategies that help meet their investment, financial, charitable, family legacy, and wealth-transfer goals.
While Versant has been serving clients throughout Texas for many years, this strategic expansion into Dallas underscores the firm’s commitment to delivering wealth management and investment services with a local face to high-net-worth families in the area. The growing demand for sophisticated financial advisory services in the region drives the decision to establish a physical presence in Dallas. With this expansion, Versant Capital Management will provide an even more tailored approach to meet the unique needs of its families in the area. Royce explains, “By establishing a local presence, we aim to strengthen our relationships with clients, foster deeper connections and provide the level of personalized service that our clients expect and deserve.”
“Liz and I are committed to enhancing Versant’s client experience by leveraging our talented team, investment platform, technology, and breadth of services to seamlessly serve people’s financial needs,” Royce added. Liz expounded, “As we approach our 20th anniversary next year, Royce and I are excited to build upon Versant’s mission to provide holistic wealth management and investment strategies grounded in sound financial advice, objective research, integrity, and a commitment to service beyond expectation that has defined Versant for nearly two decades as we expand our services into new markets.”
