Faculty

Our talented CFP faculty are key to the success and quality of the Certified Financial Planning Program. These professionals bring many years of professional experience to the classroom. The following provides brief overviews of CFP faculty.

Arv Vilutis, Ph.D., CFP™, ChFC, CLU

Dr. Vilutis is one of the original founders of the University of Houston Financial Planner Program. The University of Houston program is currently one of the largest financial planning programs registered with the CFP Board. Arv has also taught Risk Management and Insurance in the MBA program in the School of Business Administration at the University of Houston. Arv Vilutis joined Financial Synergies, Inc. in 1994 as Vice President and Director for Investments. Arv is also President of FSI Advisory Group, Inc. a Registered Investment Advisory firm that specializes in financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement planning. FSI’s mission is to provide clients with financial planning services designed to accumulate and preserve wealth. FSI offers financial planning services, which vary in scope from a consultation to a comprehensive financial plan and from a review of investments to active portfolio management. FSI is also a advisory firm for the Vanguard mutual funds. Arv has represented several Houston and New York law firms as an expert witness. He has authored many articles and served on the Advisory Committee for the College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Vilutis earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Mississippi and has over 20 years experience in investments and financial planning. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association, Financial Management Association, and Academy for Financial Services. Arv served as a Director, President, and Chairman of the Board of the Houston Chapter of the International Association for Financial Planning. Arv also served as the founder and Presiding Partner for the Houston PFP Investors Club. Arv was selected by the editors of Money magazine as one of the 100 Best Financial Planners for their 1987 Fall Special Anniversary issue.

William G. Christian, Jr., J.D., CFP™

Bill Christian is the owner of Capital Financial Planning Group, which he founded in 1996. As a practicing financial planner for 13 years, Bill has counseled with hundreds of clients in developing financial plans. He is a former corporate lawyer with over 25 years of experience in corporate legal departments, having served with the Prudential Insurance Company of America as Associate Counsel and American General Investment Corporation as General Counsel. In addition Bill has had over 35 years of experience in working with estates in various roles as either the attorney, executor, trustee or advisor.

He earned a BA degree in English at the University of North Carolina and a J.D. degree from the University of Virginia Law School. In addition he received an L.L.B. degree in Civil Law from the Tulane School of Law and completed courses toward an M.B.A. at the Tulane Graduate School of Business before moving to Houston with Prudential in the 1970 s. Bill has earned the Series 7 and Series 63 securities licenses and holds a Texas Group 1 license (life and health insurance including variable insurance). He is an investment advisor under the RIA established at IMS Financial Advisors, Inc.

Bill is engaged in portfolio management of investment accounts for clients and specializes in financial planning, especially retirement planning. He has served in many volunteer positions with various organizations, including the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Association and the Financial Planning Association. Currently, on behalf of the Houston Chapter of the FPA he serves on the Speakers Bureau, the Public Relations Committee, and the Palliative Care Committee. Also he is responsible for the coordination of Money Makeover Plans sponsored by the FPA in Houston. One of these plans, personally prepared by him, was presented on the radio over a period of several weeks.

In his spare time Bill has taken courses in oil painting at the Glassell School of Art. He has been a tennis captain for a neighborhood club for many years. Bill and his wife, Elinor, have two children, a son who is a lawyer in Austin, and a daughter who is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and two grandsons.

Bill will be teaching the course in Financial Planning Process and Case Analysis at the University of Houston beginning with the Fall 2006 session.

Stanley J. Horn, CFP™, MS, RHU, REBC

Stanley Horn serves as instructor of Risk Management for the University of Houston Financial Planner Program and has been teaching CFP classes for the past 16 years. He has also taught Risk Management and Insurance in the MBA program in the School of Business Administration at the University of Houston. Stanley is a consultant in health insurance and is owner of Investors Mutual Agency, Inc. With 22 years of experience in the insurance business, Stanley holds a Group I License (life and health insurance) and a Solicitor’s License (property and casualty insurance). In addition, he holds Series 6, Series 22 and Series 63 securities licenses. Stanley earned his MS degree from the College of Financial Planning and his BA degree from Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University). He served as president and chairman of the board of the Houston Chapter of the International Association of Financial Planners and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association, the National Association of Health Underwriters and the Health Insurance Brokers Association. Stanley is frequently quoted on the subject of insurance in the Houston Chronicle and has been a frequent guest on local business/investment radio programs. Stanley’s designations include, Certified Financial Planner, Registered Health Underwriter and Registered Employee Benefit Consultant.

Jeffery H. Kaplan, JD CPA

With credentials as both an attorney and CPA, Jeff Kaplan brings a dual approach in advising individuals and small businesses with tax and legal matters. His practice areas include Estate and Tax Planning, Business Continuation Planning, Asset Protection Planning, Estate Administration, Probate, Guardianship and Tax Services.

Jeff holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin, and received his law degree from Drake University. He is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Jeff began his accounting career as a Senior Auditor for Deloitte, Haskins & Sells. Following graduation from law school, Jeff worked as a Senior Tax Accountant at Deloitte & Touche, LLP and KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP prior to becoming an associate for Ronald L. Lipman & Associates, P.C. in 1995. He formed Jeffery H. Kaplan, P.C. in 2002.

Among Jeff's extensive involvement in the Houston community, he currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Jewish Community Center and recently completed his term as member of the Boards of Directors for the Society of Financial Service Professionals and the Houston Chapter, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He currently serves as General Counsel of the Houston Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

Jeff's column in Houston Intown Magazine has been met with great reviews. He regularly lectures and presents to various businesses and civic organizations throughout the state on a number of estate planning topics. A native Houstonian, Jeff and his wife have one child.

Sharon C. Stodghill

Sharon C. Stodghill is an attorney and Certified Public Accountant with an accounting and law practice focused on Estate Planning, Trusts, Probate, Guardianship, Real Estate and related Federal Income Tax planning and compliance issues. Ms. Stodghill has been Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Texas since 2000. She is an adjunct instructor of Personal Tax Planning and Management for the University of Houston, Bauer College of Business Administration, Center for Executive Development Program since 2001. Ms. Stodghill is active in various professional organizations such as the Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Houston Bar Association, and the Houston Estate and Planning Forum. Ms. Stodghill has appeared on two radio shows in the Houston area and has spoken to local groups regarding income tax planning, estate planning, elder law issues, and planning for incapacity. Ms. Stodghill received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and her Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law in 1992.

Bruce Wise, CFP™, MCRS

Bruce has more than 25 years experience in the Accounting and Financial Services Industry. He graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Accounting. Bruce has successfully completed the Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) Exam, the Certified Financial Planning (CFP™) Designation and the Master Certified Retirement Specialist (MCRS) Designation. His licenses include: Security Series 7, 22, 63, 65, and Group I (Life and Health Insurance).

Mr. Wise is a Registered Investment Advisor and Registered Representative with James E. Bashaw & Co. James E. Bashaw & Co. is a Houston-based independent financial-services firm. His specialties are retirement planning for higher education, 401(k)/qualified-plan rollovers, College Funding–529 Plans and reviewing Life Insurance needs. Securities are offered through Linsco/Private Ledger, Member NASD and SIPC.

Bruce is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and National Tax Sheltered Accounts Association (NTSAA). He is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Kingwood, a member of Humble Area Chamber of Commerce, and a graduate of Leadership North Houston sponsored by North Houston Montgomery Community College District.