AMARILLO AREA ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL

Amarillo Area Estate Planning Council's

Thirty-Third Annual Fall Institute

Wednesday November 5, 2025

Amarillo Area Foundation Building

919 S Polk St, Amarillo, TX 79101 - Buckingham Conference Room

Please join us for our 32nd Annual Fall Institute for a day of engaging speakers and meeting your fellow AAEPC members.

7:30 am – Registration and light breakfast

7:50 am - Welcome & Introduction

8:00 am to 11:00 am – Morning session

11:00 am to 12:30 pm – Lunch/Legislative Update Presentation

1:30 pm to 4:00 pm – Afternoon session

Featured Speakers:

Dr. Ray Perryman is President and CEO of The Perryman Group, a Waco-based economic research firm. With a BS in Mathematics from Baylor and a PhD in Economics from Rice, his accidental entry into economics began with a coin flip. He has held academic posts at Baylor, SMU, and other institutions, authored over 400 academic papers and several books, and served as president of key regional economic associations. He’s been called a “genius” by The Wall Street Journal, “the most quoted man in Texas” by Texas Monthly, and “the state’s premiere barbecue connoisseur” by The Dallas Morning News.

Dr. Perryman’s firm has conducted thousands of major economic studies for clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to government agencies. A prolific writer and speaker, he also engages in substantial pro bono work addressing poverty, hunger, and health care. Among hundreds of accolades, he’s received the Texan of the Year award, numerous lifetime achievement honors, and even been nominated for the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics. Despite a packed professional life, he finds humor in the everyday—once crashing one of his cars into another—and proudly serves as an honorary Kilgore Rangerette (though not yet on the traveling squad).

Russel James Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP® is a professor in the School of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University where he directs the graduate program in Charitable Financial Planning (planned giving). He graduated, cum laude, 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. He is a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP) Hall of Fame and an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estates Counsel (ACTEC).

Julia Jonas is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Julia works with clients on their estate planning, including wills, trusts, partnerships, and other types of gifting.  She enjoys working with individuals and families of all backgrounds to find the right structure to address their specific needs, such as guardianship for minor children, custom trust provisions, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, family business issues, and unique assets. Julia practices law with her father, Glenn Karisch.

Joel Crouch counsels and advises businesses, wealthy individuals and families about their most demanding tax planning, estate planning and IRS controversies.  He often works with tax professionals and financial specialists to help develop solutions for their clients. Joel is a Partner in the firm and is Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Joel has been recognized as one of the best in his field by Texas Monthly and Law and Politics magazines by being named a Texas Super Lawyer from 2003 through 2025. Mr. Crouch has been selected to the Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth Texas Super Lawyers list for the primary practice area of Tax Law in 2020 and 2024.  He has also been named one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine for the years 2012-2025. Mr. Crouch has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® in Tax Law for the years 2015-2025.  Mr. Crouch was named the Best Lawyers 2022® Tax Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Dallas/Ft. Worth. Mr. Crouch has been ranked in the 2024 and 2025 Chambers and Partners USA Legal Guide in the Tax Litigation practice area.

Rory Sheppard is a senior executive with over 30 years of leadership experience across some of Texas’s most iconic brands, including Hastings Books & Records, Builders Square, AT&T, H-E-B, and Whataburger. His career has been largely rooted in large, complex, family-owned businesses—giving him valuable insight into the unique needs of family ownership groups, especially those with strong community and philanthropic commitments.

Rory has successfully led large, cross-functional teams across areas such as Information Technology, Finance, Customer Service, Internal Consulting, and Strategy. Known as a powerhouse executive and trusted leader in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, he brings bold, real-world expertise and practical insight to every keynote and breakout session he delivers.

Whether you're leading a large corporation, your family business, or a community organization, Rory understands the desire for simple, actionable practices to live with purpose, lead with courage, and leave a legacy of faith and impact.

Courses:

Dr. Ray Perryman - The Economic Outlook for Texas: Key Patterns and Forces Shaping Future Growth

Dr. Perryman will discuss his latest outlook for the Texas economy. An overview of US and global conditions will be included, as well as a description of how these national and international forces are affecting expansion prospects for the state. Key sources of potential growth and challenges to be dealt with will also be described. Topics will include, among others, tariffs and trade policy, energy and the future of oil and gas, demographic changes, and emerging industries. 

Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP® - Special charitable financial planning opportunities for 2025

Market fluctuations, interest rate changes, SECURE & SECURE 2.0, other new legislation — the changes never seem to stop! But with change comes opportunity. This combination of circumstances has led to some attractive opportunities for donors and clients with charitable interests.  In this presentation, Dr. James reviews the strategies available to help clients take advantage of these special opportunities. Additionally, he will share his latest decision-making research results revealing the words, phrases and conversation strategies that are most effective in communicating with donors during times like these.

Julia Jonas, Karisch Jonas Law - The 2025 Texas Estate and Trust Legislative Update:

Statutory update from the 2025 legislative session, including decedents’ estates, guardianships, trusts, powers of attorney, and related matters.

Joel N. Crouch, J.D. Partner, Meadows Collier Reed Cousins Crouch & Ungerman, LLP - Even with Higher Exemptions, the IRS is Not Giving Up on Estate and Gift Tax Examinations

Despite historically high exemption amounts for estate and gift taxes, the IRS continues to actively pursue examinations in this area. This course provides a timely and practical overview of the IRS's current enforcement initiatives, audit strategies, and legal challenges in the estate and gift tax arena. Participants will gain insights into key issues that the IRS is targeting in examinations, including valuation disputes, use of discounts, and reporting inconsistencies.

The presentation will also analyze recent court decisions that shape estate and gift tax planning, offering participants actionable guidance to mitigate audit risks and stay compliant in a shifting regulatory environment.

Led by Joel N. Crouch, a nationally respected tax attorney, this course provides essential insights for legal and financial professionals involved in estate planning and wealth transfer strategies.

Rory Sheppard, ActionCOACH of West Texas - What Your Client’s Business is Worth:Knowing the value is critical for everything from key-person insurance to estateplanning. 

Every business owner needs to know the value of their business and we want them to ensure that they have a transition plan to the next geration, to passive income with a leadership team in place, or a wealth-creation event through the sale of the business. 90%+ of all businesses in the United States are privately held. These businesses are responsible for both employing & paying salaries for more than 60% of the US population. When a business owner knows the value of the business, they can more effectively plan for their future - and estate planing professionals.

Rory Sheppard, ActionCOACH of West Texas - Making the Most of Difficult Conversations

Improving communication and empathy skills through the use of the platform of Emotional Intelligence and techniques from leading experts. 

CE has been approved for ABA (8.5 CTFA, 2.5 CISP, 2.5 CRSP credits), CPE 8.75 credits, TX MCLE 7 credit hours, and CFP 7 credit hours.

Fees: **REGISTRATION FEES MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE EVENT TO RECEIVE CE. **

Include the participant's name in the memo line of your check or PayPal payment to ensure proper processing.

Members - $250

(Please make sure your membership is active/renewed before selecting this option.)

Non-Member - $350

Questions, please contact Amber Womble at aaepc1@gmail.com

Please Note: We will not be able to provide refunds for cancellations after May 1st or for no-shows.