Thomas Connelly, CFA®, CFP®
Chief Investment Officer
Thomas Connelly, CFA®, CFP®, is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Versant Capital Management, where he formulates the investment policy and oversees portfolio management. Known for his transparent and collaborative approach, Tom works closely with clients to explain and align the firm’s investment philosophy with their goals.
With over 40 years of experience, Tom earned a Geology degree from the University of St. Thomas, an MBA in Finance from Arizona State University, and a Master of Science in Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning. Before launching Versant in 2004, he co-founded Keats, Connelly & Associates in 1990 and served as its President and Chief Investment Officer, managing wealth for high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients.
Tom has been recognized multiple times by Worth Magazine’s “Top Financial Advisors in the U.S.” He is a sought-after speaker at professional conferences and has been featured in numerous financial publications. His leadership extends to the community, through board and investment committee service for organizations including the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona, the Arizona Community Foundation, and the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Tom was the inaugural member of the Financial Planning Degree Board at the W. P. Carey School of Business, where he continues to serve, and was named to the 2018 Arizona State University Sun Devil 100.
From 2006 to 2016, Tom served on the Arizona State Retirement System Board of Trustees, chairing the Investment Committee for nine years. He has also held advisory board roles with TIAA-CREF and Rydex Funds and is a member of the Institute for Preparing Heirs.
A long-standing member of the CFA Institute and the Financial Planning Association, Tom holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Chartered Financial Analyst® designations. He has successfully guided clients through major economic disruptions — including the 1987 market crash, the Great Financial Crisis of 2007 -2009, and the COVID-19 pandemic — helping them preserve and grow their financial legacies.
