Mr. Wilder earned a B.B.A degree from the University of Mississippi in 1971.

He earned a Juris Doctorate, with honors, from the University of Mississippi Law School in 1973, where he was a member of the board of editors of the Mississippi Law Journal.

He also earned an L.L.M in taxation from Georgetown Law School in 1978.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Wilder worked with the office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D.C.