Meet the Team

Chris Vernier

President

P: (612) 661-3787

E: chris.vernier@marquettewm.com

Chris is the President of Marquette Wealth Management where he is responsible for the firm’s overall strategic growth and development. Prior to being named President, Chris served as Managing Director at the company where he was responsible for client relationships, investments, and trading. Chris is one of the founding members of the company.

Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of St. Thomas and completed the Certified Public Accountant certification requirements.

Before joining Marquette, Chris spent several years with a local fund manager, Knelman Asset Management Group LLC, where he played a key role in the overall operations of the firm. Prior to Knelman, Chris held various roles in the financial services industry with increasing responsibilities.

Chris lives in Chanhassen with his wife Tina and three children Lily, Benjamin, and Hayden. When not running kids to activities he and his wife enjoy traveling and trying new restaurants and wine.

Abbey Spoo, CFP®

Chief Investment Officer

P: (612) 661-3764

E: abbey.spoo@marquettewm.com

With more than 23 years of experience in the financial services industry, Abbey leads the investment team at Marquette and focuses on designing and implementing goal-based, tax-efficient investment strategies to help clients achieve their unique goals. 

Abbey earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph Minnesota. Abbey also earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation to further her professional development and help her serve clients in a comprehensive manner.

Previously, Abbey had been a Senior Investment Consultant at Allodium Investment Consultants and a Portfolio Manager at the Somerset Group, LLC both local Registered Investment Advisors.

Abbey is an aviation enthusiast who also enjoys running, biking, and spending time at her family’s cabin in northern Wisconsin with her dog Pippen.

Valerie Thomas, CTFA^® 

Managing Director and chief client experience officer 

P: (612) 661-3727

E: valerie.thomas@marquettewm.com

Valerie is a Managing Director and the Chief Client Experience Officer of Marquette Wealth Management. As a member of the firm’s management team, she collaborates on a variety of strategic initiatives. Her primary management responsibility is to focus on monitoring, assessing, and elevating our client experience. 

She partners with clients and their professional advisors to provide investment management, retirement modeling, estate, tax, philanthropic, and education planning. She focuses on designing and implementing customized investment and planning strategies to help clients achieve their unique goals. Her expertise also includes family office services and trust and estate administration oversight. She enjoys walking along side clients on their financial journey and finds the relationships she develops with clients and their families to be the most rewarding part of her work. 

Val has more than 25 years of experience in serving and caring for clients. She has been a valued colleague at Lowry Hill (a former subsidiary of Wells Fargo), CliftonLarsonAllen and Carlson Capital Management. She was one of the original founding members who rejoined Marquette in 2021. 

Val holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, where she graduated with highest honors. She is also a Trust School graduate of Cannon Financial Institute in Athens, Georgia. In addition, she has attained the Certified Trust Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) designation.

Valerie is a Minnesota native, growing up partly in the Twin Cities and partly in a small rural town in the lake country near Alexandria. She currently lives in Falcon Heights with her high school sweetheart husband, Stacy, and their two sons. Some of her hobbies and interests include travel, SCUBA diving, downhill skiing, attending live music events, and watching all sports.

Mary Olson

Vice President

P: (612) 661-3722

E: mary.olson@marquettewm.com

As Vice President of Trading and Investment Operations, Mary manages client reporting, portfolio management functions and is responsible for trading and ensuring the accuracy of investment and financial transactions engaged in for our clients. Mary works on the Investment team and works closely with the Client Services and Compliance teams. Before joining the firm in 2006, Mary was a senior client service manager with Atlantic Trust, a boutique advisory firm in Boston.

Additionally, Mary has several years of wealth management experience with Scudder Private Investment Counsel and with Mellon Private Asset Management in Boston. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, cum laude, from Boston University.

Mary lives in Andover with her husband Jeremy, their two children Maeve and Emmet and their dog Oliver.  They love to travel together, and they go to Bonita Springs in Florida each year as well as taking an annual trip to see Mary’s family in Ireland, where she was born and raised.

Kristy Thom

Vice President Compliance Officer

P: (612) 661-3782

E: kristy.thom@marquettewm.com

Kristy is the Vice President Compliance Officer at Marquette Wealth Management. She works directly with the management team and the Chief Compliance Officer to ensure the firm’s operational and compliance requirements are met. Kristy participates in internal audits & outside regulatory reviews, assists in the development and implementation of business continuity plans and operating procedures based on regulatory guidelines. She supports the management group and staff in preparing monthly reports regarding regulated activities. She also serves as a liaison in conjunction with the CCO to service providers, vendors and partners of the firm. Under the instruction of the CCO, Kristy participates in most firm initiatives to ensure activities are performed in accordance with regulations, policies and procedures.

Kristy earned her bachelor’s degree from National American University in Roseville, Minnesota, majoring in business management. Kristy is a St. Paul native; she likes to spend summer weekends at her family’s cabin and during winter, prefers beach vacations with friends and family. Kristy enjoys creating art and walking her young, energetic dog around St. Paul lakes.

Laura Dahlgren

Client Service Associate

P: (612) 661-3078

E: laura.dahlgren@marquettewm.com

Laura’s passion is to provide a seamless experience for our clients.  She works with the client service professionals on account opening, maintenance, and reporting; maintains client information; and assists clients with various needs. She also enjoys planning events for the firm.

Laura earned a bachelor’s degree from Augsburg University in Education with a minor in Psychology.

She lives in Maple Grove with her husband. They have two grown daughters with whom she loves to spend time. Laura enjoys travelling, camping, riding bike, hiking, boating and reading.

Jackie L. Mohr, FPQP™

Client Service Associate

P: (612) 661-3746

E: jackie.mohr@marquettewm.com

Jackie is a Client Service Associate with Marquette Wealth Management.  She works with relationship managers and their clients to provide high levels of service, a seamless client experience, assistance with account opening, maintenance, reporting and various needs.  

Jackie has more than 25 years of experience in the investment advisory industry. She was a valued colleague with Cornerstone Capital Management and CliftonLarsonAllen before joining Marquette. 

Jackie has a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional - FPQP® designation from the College of Financial Planning and an Associate Degree from Rasmussen Business College.

Jackie lives in Lakeville with her husband.  She enjoys skiing, golf and being at the lake.