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James Farrell, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Finance and Economics

The Anne and Bill France Chair in Business

Farrell

I believe that the role of a professor is to push students to work hard and think critically about topics in order to gain the tools and skills to necessary to succeed in both today and tomorrow’s markets. Engaging students allows them to take ownership of both their education and their future and prepares them for a job market that rewards active participation.

-James Farrell

Becker Business - 104

 863.680.4441

 863.680.4355

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Biography

Dr. Farrell is an Associate Professor of Finance and Economics at Florida Southern College and holds a doctorate in Economics from Florida State University as well as the CFA designation. Prior to joining Florida Southern College he was a senior quantitative analyst with the Florida State Board of Administration. He also worked in the brokerage industry for Merrill Lynch and TD Waterhouse. His research interests include behavioral investing, pension and labor studies as well as regional economics. Dr. Farrell recent publications include “Peer Effects Among Teachers: A Study of Retirement Investments,” in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues and “Revisiting the 15 Year Mortgage as an Investment,” in the Journal of Financial Planning. Dr. Farrell has completed economic impact studies for entities including LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Sun ‘n Fun, the Central Florida Development Council and Chapters Health System.

Education

  • Ph.D., Economics - Florida State University, December 2009
  • M.S., Economics - Florida State University, December 2006
  • B.S., Finance - University of Florida, December 2002

Awards

  • Best Paper Award in the State, Local and Regional Economic and Fiscal Issues Category, “Risky Choices: Simulating Public Pension Funding Stress with Realistic Shocks,” Brookings 2017 Municipal Finance Conference, Washington, D.C. (Daniel Shoag presented)
  • School of Business Summer Research Grant (2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012)
  • Grant to create a simulation model to study pension funded-status under various conditions, Laura and John Arnold Foundation, (with Daniel Shoag, through Harvard University, 2015 - 2016)

Publications

  • “Risky Choices: Simulating Public Pension Funding Stress with Realistic Shocks,” in revision. With Daniel Shoag
  • “Peer Effects Among Teachers: A Study of Retirement Investments,” Journal of Family and Economic Issues, February 2019
  •  “Revisiting the 15 Year Mortgage as an Investment,” Journal of Financial Planning, Vol 31, No. 4, September 2018
  • “Asset management in public DB and non-DB Pension Plans,” Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Vol. 15, No. 4, October 2016 with Daniel Shoag
  • “Addressing Cross-Disciplinary Graduate-Level Learning Goals Through Game Design,” The Journal of Instructional Pedagogies, Vol. 13, February 2014 with Cindy Hardin
  • “Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors of Investors,” Investor Behavior: The Psychology of Financial Planning and Investing. Ed. H. Kent Baker, Ed. Victor Ricciardi. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2014.
  •  “The Financial Crisis: Reactions of Investors Across Demographic Groups,” The Journal of Business and Finance Research, Vol. 3, No. 1, Fall/Winter 2011 with Craig Bythewood
  • “Demographics of Risky Investing,” Research in Business and Economics Journal, Special Edition -  May 2011