Top 10 Charitable Planning Strategies for Advisors

Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP® is a chaired professor at Texas Tech University where he directs the on-campus and online graduate program in Charitable Financial Planning (planned giving). He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law where he was a member of the Missouri Law Review and received the United Missouri Bank Award for Most Outstanding Work in Gift and Estate Taxation and Planning. He also holds a Ph.D. in consumer economics from the University of Missouri, where his dissertation was on charitable giving.

Prior to his career as an academic researcher, Dr. James worked as the Director of Planned Giving for Central Christian College in Moberly, Missouri for 6 years and later served as president of the college for more than 5 years. During his presidency the college successfully completed two major capital campaigns, built several new debt-free buildings, and more than tripled enrollment.

Dr. James has published research in more than 75 peer-reviewed scientific journal and law review articles and he has authored several books on philanthropy. He has been quoted on charitable and financial issues in a variety of news sources including The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, the Associated Press, Bloomberg News and the Chronicle of Philanthropy and his financial neuroimaging research was profiled in The Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money Magazine.

Dr. James has spoken over 400 times at regional, national, and international conferences on fundraising, financial planning, and estate planning. His teaching awards include the University of Georgia Outstanding Teacher of the Year (department level and college level), Texas Tech University Instructor of the Year (department level and school level), and the CASE “Stellar Speaker” designation. He is a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners “Hall of Fame.”