Nathan Harness, Ph.D., CFP®
TD Ameritrade Director of Financial Planning
nharness@tamu.edu | 979.862.2527
Dr. Nathan Harness, who was appointed TD Ameritrade Director of Financial Planning on Jan. 1, 2015, brings years of financial planning experience to Texas A&M University. Since 2013, he has taught the Investment Planning, Retirement Planning and the Financial Planning Capstone courses for the Financial Planning program.
He received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Central Arkansas and a Master of Science in Finance, as well as, a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University.
Dr. Harness’ research interests include personal financial ratio analysis, household heuristics and wealth accumulation, and individual stock selection. He is published in Applied Economic Letters, Financial Services Review, International Journal of Business and Finance Research, Journal of Financial Services Professionals, Financial Counseling and Planning, and the Journal of Personal Finance.
Prior to joining the Texas A&M faculty, Dr. Harness taught at the University of Georgia in Athens. Most recently, he taught graduate and undergraduate courses in the areas of investments and financial management at Texas A&M-Commerce.
Courses: AGEC 435 Financial Planning for Professionals, AGEC 438 Investment Planning, AGEC 441 Financial Planning Capstone
Christopher Moore, MBA, CFP®
Lecturer, Financial Readiness Program
cmoore3105@tamu.edu | 979.458.3187
Christopher M. Moore, Texas A&M University Lecturer, joined the Financial Planning program in 2015. He currently teaches the Retirement Planning, Capstone, and Financial Readiness courses.
Moore received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M and a Master’s in Business Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce. He is a licensed General Lines Agent with the Texas Department of Insurance, is an Investment Advisor Representative (FINRA Series 65), and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ (CRPC®) and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designations. He is also a Supply Corps Officer in the United States Navy Reserve.
Moore has been in the financial services industry since 2004, and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE).
Courses: AGEC 489 Financial Readiness and Leadership, AGEC 439 Retirement Planning, AGEC 441 Financial Planning Capstone
Sarah Buenger, CFP®
Lecturer
Sarah D. Buenger, Texas A&M University Lecturer, joined the Financial Planning program faculty in 2017. She teaches the Insurance and Estate Planning course as well as Financial Planning for Professionals, and the Financial Planning Capstone courses.
Buenger received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. She later earned the Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP®) designation after successfully completing the education component and passing the board exam in 2003. Buenger is licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance as a Life and Health Insurance Counselor. Most recently, Buenger completed a Master of Science degree in Personal Financial Planning through the College for Financial Planning where she was awarded the Master Planner Advanced StudiesSM (MPAS®) designation in recognition of her extended course studies.
Prior to joining the faculty at Texas A&M, Buenger worked for 16 years in financial planning, allowing her to call on her experience serving and educating clients in order to bridge the gap between book knowledge and real world client application.
Courses: AGEC 435 Financial Planning for Professionals, AGEC 436 Insurance and Estate Planning, AGEC 441 Financial Planning Capstone
Debra Webb, CPA, CFP®
Lecturer
Debra Webb joined the Financial Planning faculty in 2013. In addition to teaching the Tax Planning course for the Financial Planning program, Webb is also a professor of economics and accounting at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas.
Webb received a Bachelor of Science in Modern Languages and a Master of Science in Economics, as well as, a Master of Science in Accounting from Texas A&M University. Currently, she teaches the Tax Planning course.
Prior to Texas A&M, Webb taught at the University of Maryland in Germany and served as Instructor of Economics and Accounting. Furthermore, she has served as the Blinn College Assistant Director for Financial Aid in both the Brenham (August 2007-May 2008) and Bryan (May 2008-January 2009) locations.
Webb brings several years of Tax Preparer and Tax Certified Public Accountant experience to the position. Webb became a CPA in Pennsylvania in 1991, receiving her CPA credentials in Texas in 2000. Furthermore, she has been a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) since 2003.
Courses: AGEC 437 Tax Planning
Jeanie Long Izurieta
Program Manager
jeanie_long@tamu.edu | 979.845.5223
Jeanie Long Izurieta has served as manager of the Financial Planning program since February 2013.
Izurieta received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications from the University of Georgia. She received a Master of Science in Agricultural Education, as well as the eLearning Development Certificate from Texas A&M.
For nearly six years, Izurieta worked as the instructional designer for the Texas A&M Bush School of Government and Public Service. She brings years of course management and development experience, as well as, instructional design and graphic design experience to the Financial Planning program.
As program manager, Izurieta provides administrative support to faculty and students in the Financial Planning program. She works with faculty to develop online courses and advises students interested in pursuing the financial planning coursework. She oversees the financial planning minor and the extended learning certificate. In addition, Izurieta manages all marketing and communication efforts for the program, including the annual Financial Planning Conference.
A. Gene Nelson, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Dr. Gene Nelson came to Texas A&M University in 1990 and served as Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics until January 2005. In 2005, he moved to college administration and served as Executive Associate Dean until May 2008. Since then, he has been an active faculty member and led the effort to develop the Financial Planning curriculum at Texas A&M.
Dr. Nelson received a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University and the master’s and doctorate degrees from Purdue University. After graduating from Purdue, he served as a faculty member at Oregon State University for 20 years—nine years as department head.
Dr. Nelson’s teaching, research and extension programs have emphasized management, finance, and risk analysis in decision making. He received the USDA Superior Service Award for leadership in developing innovative risk management teaching materials. Furthermore, he has authored several publications, including an undergraduate farm business management textbook, and was honored as a Distinguished Scholar of the Western Agricultural Economics Association in 2004.
Since returning to the Department in 2008, Dr. Nelson has continued to teach and conduct research with a new emphasis in financial planning. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of Agricultural Economics, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association in February 2015.
