I earned my bachelor’s in accounting and master’s in finance through the amazing Professional Program in Accounting (PPA) at Mays Business School. Shortly after graduation, I obtained my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license and then earned my Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation in the years following. My professional career started as an auditor for a Big Four accounting firm and later transitioned into strategic finance, corporate finance, private wealth and finance education. Since 2016, I’ve shared this knowledge as an adjunct professor at two universities in the DFW metroplex, and now as CEO of the CFA Society Dallas/Fort Worth. The DFW region is the No. 2 financial services region in the country, so I’ve got much to do and accomplish, but I love a good challenge!
A CFA charter is one of the top designations in finance as it covers every area of the investment industry, including the fundamentals of investment decision making, asset valuation, portfolio management and wealth planning. It’s a global designation and one of the hardest professional designations to achieve; less than 20% of those who attempt the CFA designation obtain it.
There are numerous philanthropic strategies that can maximize the benefit received by your chosen charity while also maximizing the tax benefit received by you as a donor. Philanthropic giving doesn't always have to involve cash, and there can be significant benefits to giving non-cash assets.
By giving assets like real estate, stocks or business interests to a charity, you can receive a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of those assets and avoid any capital gains tax that would result from selling them. This strategy can be especially beneficial for highly appreciated non-cash assets. Ultimately, this means that you save more in taxes and the charity receives a larger contribution.
To determine the best approach and ensure you have optimized your philanthropic giving strategy, consult a financial professional and charitable gift planner so it is considered within your overall financial plan.
Bequests are one of the most popular and flexible ways to support the causes that are important to you. Giving through a bequest allows me to support future generations of Aggies after my lifetime and direct my funds exactly how I want them distributed.
I’m proud to be a former student, and I want to help carry on Texas A&M University’s legacy and culture. The PPA program and my degrees have been so impactful to my career, so I wanted to give back. I’m passionate about Mays’ mission to graduate highly educated professionals for the accounting and finance professions, and my future endowments to support the Master of Financial Management and PPA programs allows me to make a difference that ensures those passions carry forward as part of my legacy. Working with the Texas A&M Foundation’s team to accomplish this was a wonderful experience. They truly cared about my philanthropic goals and clearly explained how my funds could be used.
I was raised to be considerate, respectful and charitable, and I also believe society is more productive and positive when people help others. Through financial goal setting, early saving and financial planning, I’m glad I can make a meaningful gift from a place of financial health.
