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Shotwell Rutter Baer

Kitchen Table Finance: Our Blog & Podcast

Practical retirement planning insights for Michigan's university and state employees. We break down complex topics like pension timing, tax strategies, and healthcare transitions into clear, actionable advice you can use right now.

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We help people just like you with financial planning and retirement planning. We also specilize in MSU employee retirement plans.

    Our Podcast

    S4E8 - Traveling in Retirement March 5, 2025
    S4E22 - We Survived the Spring Volatility, Now What? — June 16, 2025
    S4E21 - How to Plan on Enjoying Retirement — June 2, 2025
    S4E20 - Should You Buy a House in Retirement? — May 27, 2025
    S4E19 - Does your Retirement Plan Need a ROTH? — May 12, 2025
    S4E18 - What to Know About Taxes in Retirement — May 5, 2025
    S4E17 - April 2025 Retirement Headlines — April 28, 2025
    S4E16 - 2025 Quarter One Market Review and Outlook — April 21, 2025
    S4E15 - When to Adjust Your Retirement Income — April 16, 2025
    24:58
    S4E14 - How Retirees Can Handle Emotions of a Down Market — April 11, 2025
    S4E13 - Introducing Nathan Gardner, Intern — April 7, 2025
    S4E12 - How to Adjust Your Retirement Income — April 2, 2025
    S4E11 - How to Put Together a Retirement Income Strategy — March 24, 2025
    26:38
    S4E10 - CFP vs. ChatGPT for Retirement Planning — March 17, 2025
    S4E9 - February 2025 Retirement Headlines — March 11, 2025
    S4E8 - Traveling in Retirement — March 5, 2025
    S4E7 - George Kinder’s Financial Life Planning Process — February 25, 2025
    20:08
    S4E6 - Going from a Saver to a Spender in Retirement — February 20, 2025
    23:14
    S4E5 - January 2025 Financial Headlines — February 14, 2025
    S4E4 - Financial Disasters Unpacked — February 10, 2025
    S4E3 - Lifeboat Drills: Preparing for Market Downturns Before They Happen — February 3, 2025
    S4E2 - 2024 Q4 Review and Market Outlook — January 20, 2025
    24:55
    S4E1 - 2025 Market Predictions — January 14, 2025
    S3E46 - Preventing Identity Theft in Retirement — December 30, 2024
    21:34
    S3E45 - November Retirement Planning Headlines — December 16, 2024
    S3E44 - 5 Insights for Retirement Investors in 2025 — December 13, 2024
    21:04
    S3E43- Gratitude For Your Retirement Plan — November 27, 2024
    25:44
    S3E42- Does Warren Buffett Think You Should Change Your Retirement Allocation? — November 25, 2024
    17:48
    S3E41 - Retirement and Markets Over the Next Four Years — November 19, 2024
    S3E40 - October Retirement Headlines — November 15, 2024
    S3E39 - Interning at a Financial Advisory Firm with Shane Topping — November 11, 2024
    S3E38 - Retirement Spending - Die With Zero — November 4, 2024
    22:26
    S3E37 - Q3 2024 Market Update & Economic Outlook — October 25, 2024
    30:02
    S3E36 - Book Review - Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity — October 14, 2024
    S3E35 - September Retirement Headlines — October 8, 2024
    S3E34 - Retirement Planning Updates: Cash and Elections — September 24, 2024
    S3E33 - Dealing with Investment Fraud in Retirement — September 19, 2024
    S3E32 - Helping Your Kids Understand Student Loans — September 9, 2024
    21:46
    S3E31 - August 2024 Retirement Headlines — September 5, 2024
    S3E30 - Making Smart Housing Decisions in Retirement — August 28, 2024
    22:20
    S3E29 - Special Guest - Scott de Varona with MiABLE — August 20, 2024
    36:57
    S3E28 - Navigating Retirement in Times of Market Volatility — August 13, 2024
    25:14
    S3E27 - Retirement Planning Headlines – June 2024 — July 29, 2024
    27:40
    S3E26 - Using a Retirement Target Date Fund — July 22, 2024
    22:36
    S3E25 - Q2 2024 Review and Q3 Outlook — July 15, 2024
    22:32
    S3E24 - Four Principles of Retirement Investments — July 8, 2024
    17:07
    S3E23 - Special Guest Diane Brewer - Director of MET — July 1, 2024
    30:52
    S3E22 - How to Create an Income Stream in Retirement — June 25, 2024
    S3E21 - Retirement Planning Headlines – May 2024 — June 17, 2024
    31:36
    S3E20 - Dealing With Increasing Insurance Rates — June 3, 2024
    S3E19 - Using CDs and Bonds in Retirement — May 28, 2024
    S3E18 - Relocating During Retirement — May 20, 2024
    25:11
    S3E17 - Retirement Planning Headlines - April 2024 — May 13, 2024
    S3E16 - Navigating Market Pullbacks and Geopolitical Risk In Retirement — May 6, 2024
    S3E15 -Q1 2024 Review and Q2 Outlook — April 29, 2024
    S3E14 - Why Diversify Your Retirement Portfolio — April 15, 2024
    19:14
    S3E13 - A Conversation with Summer Intern Cole Williams — April 10, 2024
    22:12
    S3E12 - Annuities and Insuring Your Retirement — April 9, 2024
    S3E11 - Strategic Reliable Blueprint - Obstacles Meeting — April 2, 2024
    23:46
    S3E10 - Retirement Planning Headlines - March 2024 — April 1, 2024
    S3E9 - How the 2024 Presidential Election Could Affect the Stock Market — March 18, 2024
    S3E8 - How to Protect Your Credit in Retirement — March 13, 2024
    S3E7 - Retirement Planning News February 2024 — February 26, 2024
    23:01
    S3E6 - Marketing EFTs To Attract Investors — February 26, 2024
    19:09
    S3E5 - When Should You Make Changes to Your Retirement Portfolio? — February 19, 2024
    18:20
    S3E4 - Should You Add Bitcoin to Your Retirement Portfolio? — February 5, 2024
    21:46
    S3E3 - Retirement Planning News - Dec & Jan — January 29, 2024
    S3E2 - 4th Quarter 2023 Economic Review — January 22, 2024
    Ep 150 - Realistic Market Expectations for Retirement — January 8, 2024
    19:41
    Ep 149 - Your First Market Downturn in Retirement — December 22, 2023
    32:00
    Ep 148 - Will Seasonal Market Patterns Affect Your Retirement? — December 18, 2023
    17:56
    Ep 147 - Retirement Planning News - November Edition — December 11, 2023
    28:02
    Ep 146: What Are Your Key Numbers for Retirement? — December 4, 2023
    27:02
    Ep145: Reasons for Retirees to be Thankful — November 27, 2023
    16:16
    Ep 144: Retirement Planning Headline Review — November 13, 2023
    26:06
    Ep 143: Guest Dr. Darla Bishop — November 6, 2023
    33:46
    Ep 142: How will Artificial Intelligence Impact Your Portfolio — November 6, 2023
    17:58
    140: Why Don't We Just Put Everything in CDs? — October 19, 2023
    17:17
    Ep 141: 3rd Quarter 2023 Economic Review and Current Market Update — October 19, 2023
    24:06
    Ep 139: Our Favorite Movies about Money — October 9, 2023
    23:34
    Ep 138: MSU Case Study: Retired Couple with Plenty for Retirement — October 2, 2023
    31:13
    Ep 137: 4 Step Plan for Dealing with the Financial Media — October 2, 2023
    19:12
    Ep 136: Align Your Money With Your Values — September 18, 2023
    28:08
    Ep 135 - How Big is Your "Too Hard" Pile? — September 8, 2023
    28:34
    Ep 134 - What's a Money Script? — August 28, 2023
    22:37
    Ep 133 - MiABLE Account Overview — August 22, 2023
    20:04
    Ep 132 - Book Review - Thinking Fast and Slow — August 16, 2023
    16:24
    Ep 131 - Student Loan Repayment Plans — August 8, 2023
    14:47
    Ep 130 - What Should You Insure? — July 31, 2023
    27:56
    Third Quarter 2023 Economic Update and Market Review — July 27, 2023
    29:20
    Ep 128 - MSU Case Study - Couple Near Retirement — July 26, 2023
    36:51
    Ep 127 - Stoic Philosophy and Financial Planning — July 12, 2023
    13:45
    Ep 126 - Don't Fall for These Scams — July 10, 2023
    25:50
    Ep 125: Does Your Financial Advisor Provide Value? — July 6, 2023
    31:38
    Ep 124: Summer Intern, Cade Campbell, Joins the Show — July 5, 2023
    28:06
    Ep 123: Nick's Best & Worst Personal Money Moves — July 3, 2023
    24:10
    Ep 122: Dave's Best and Worst Personal Money Moves — June 30, 2023
    21:18
    Ep 121: Book Review: "The Soul of Money" — June 2, 2023
    24:16
    Ep 120: New MSU Professor Retirement Planning — May 22, 2023
    24:18
    Ep 119: Financial Planning Resources — May 15, 2023
    22:38
    Ep 118: Update - What's going on with I Bonds Now? — May 12, 2023
    9:48
    Ep 117: What is Your Ideal Retirement Age? — May 8, 2023
    21:10
    Ep 116: Getting Real About Social Security — May 1, 2023
    18:45
    Ep 115: Review of 2nd Quarter 2023 — April 17, 2023
    26:48
    Ep 114: Retirement Planning Case Study for an MSU Employee — April 10, 2023
    27:56
    Ep 113: Rent or Buy - Move or Stay — April 6, 2023
    26:52
    Ep 112: Thoughts on the Silicon Valley Bank Failure — March 16, 2023
    27:58
    What you need to know about Secure Act 2.0 — March 13, 2023
    23:58
    Why Ashley Sajor Became a Financial Planner — March 6, 2023
    14:54
    What is Your Investment Risk Tolerance? — February 27, 2023
    27:37
    Michigan 1st Time Homebuyers' Savings Account — February 20, 2023
    21:18
    Why Dave Shotwell Became a Financial Planner — February 13, 2023
    17:03
    Setting and Keeping your Financial Goals in 2023 — February 8, 2023
    23:20
    Ep 105 - How the Debt Ceiling and Government Spending Impact Investors — January 31, 2023
    11:37
    Episode 104: 1st Quarter 2023 Investment Review & Economic Update (podcast) — January 23, 2023
    26:08
    Financial Predictions for 2023 — January 19, 2023
    23:08
    Why is Nick Nauta a Financial Planner? — January 18, 2023
    18:48
    Should I Lease or Buy My Next Car? — January 5, 2023
    24:46
    Podcast: Tackling Retirement Goals from Both Ends — December 15, 2022
    16:45
    Three Reasons for Investors to be Thankful This Year — December 7, 2022
    13:46
    Fees to Watch Out For With Retirement Planning — December 2, 2022
    43:00
    Stress Testing Your Financial Plan — November 16, 2022
    17:00
    Book Review: The Investment Answer — November 4, 2022
    20:09
    How Much Money Do You Need to Retire? — November 4, 2022
    17:09
    A Positive Way to Look at the Current Market — November 4, 2022
    22:02
    5 Things You Can Do During a Down Market — October 19, 2022
    22:44
    Marketing Timing (podcast) — October 11, 2022
    29:34
    Student Debt Relief Plan — October 4, 2022
    23:46
    Special Guest: Khadijah H. Mutakabbir, Owner of Step By Step Financial Wellness — September 12, 2022
    31:37
    The Power of Investing During Down Markets (podcast) — September 9, 2022
    28:11
    Ask A Financial Advisor Anything - Part 4 — September 9, 2022
    24:38
    Ask A Financial Advisor Anything - Part 3 — August 29, 2022
    27:20
    Second Quarter 2022 Market Review and Economic Outlook — July 26, 2022
    19:09
    Financial Documents an 18 Year Old Needs — July 18, 2022
    43:40
    What to do When Your Child Turns 18 — July 18, 2022
    22:44
    Is the 60 - 40 Portfolio Dead? — July 18, 2022
    15:36
    Dealing with High Inflation — June 28, 2022
    25:53
    Ask A Financial Advisor Anything - Part Two — June 9, 2022
    25:02
    Ask A Financial Advisor Anything - Part One — June 8, 2022
    26:49
    Tik Tok Money Challenge — June 2, 2022
    14:30
    Book Review: The New Retirementality by Mitch Anthony — May 26, 2022
    19:47
    What is an I Bond? — May 23, 2022
    19:39
    The Two Most Important Stock Market Charts — May 9, 2022
    18:32
    Guest Ian Richardson - Reviewing Cybersecurity — May 2, 2022
    42:02
    Reviewing the 1st Quarter of 2022 — April 27, 2022
    27:54
    What is a Fee-Only Financial Planner? — April 25, 2022
    21:18
    The Psychology of Money Recap — April 18, 2022
    30:48
    Reviewing Your 2021 Tax Return — April 10, 2022
    31:04
    Should I Hire a Financial Advisor? — April 4, 2022
    25:35
    Starting A New Job - Rolling Over a 401K — March 24, 2022
    20:18
    The Russian Ukrainian Conflict and the Economy — March 7, 2022
    29:03
    Power of Inflation - What's going on? — February 21, 2022
    29:27
    Investment Philosophy and East Bay Introduction — February 14, 2022
    25:37
    Let's Talk About 2021 Tax Forms — February 14, 2022
    30:15
    2021 Q4 Quarterly Market Review — January 27, 2022
    19:24
    Financial Goals for 2022 - Things to Consider NOW — January 18, 2022
    30:50
    2022 Financial Predictions — January 10, 2022
    22:18
    Key Elements of Financial Planning — December 15, 2021
    36:37
    Upgrading Your iPhone Really Costs $17K — December 9, 2021
    18:00
    Economic Update November 2021 — November 21, 2021
    33:30
    What Issues Should I Consider Before the End of the Year? — November 18, 2021
    23:36
    Step Seven - Build — November 8, 2021
    18:50
    Step Six - Strategy — November 8, 2021
    20:54
    Step Five - Organization — October 27, 2021
    24:10
    Step Four - Obstacles — October 22, 2021
    24:25
    ESG Investing + Webinar — October 14, 2021
    21:29
    Step Three - Vision — October 6, 2021
    18:19
    Step Two - The Foundation Meeting — September 30, 2021
    18:59
    Our FIT Meeting Process — September 30, 2021
    20:21
    How Nick Handles His Finances  — September 13, 2021
    25:54
    How Financial Planners Handle Their Own Finances — September 3, 2021
    35:23
    Helping Your College Student Budget — September 3, 2021
    19:08
    Second Quarter 2021: Market Review and Outlook — August 10, 2021
    25:54
    Traveling Post Pandemic Webinar with Kim Barber — July 31, 2021
    26:28
    Should I sell my house? Guest: John Douglas, Keller Williams — July 26, 2021
    44:25
    Getting Launched: Helping Children Manage Money — July 12, 2021
    31:40
    Budgeting for Vacation — June 28, 2021
    17:12
    Understanding Stock Market Information — June 17, 2021
    18:17
    Inflation and Your Portfolio — June 3, 2021
    20:39
    Investment Real Estate and Rental Properties — June 1, 2021
    20:49
    Pension Choices — May 20, 2021
    24:19
    Is Bitcoin an Investment? — May 14, 2021
    18:50
    First Quarter 2021: Market Review and Outlook — May 6, 2021
    25:43
    MSU Retirement Plan Basics — April 21, 2021
    28:52
    How to Budget for Academic Year Faculty and Staff at MSU — April 21, 2021
    13:18
    How to Financially Help Adult Children — April 12, 2021
    30:02
    Estate Planning Basics with Special Guest Molly Petitjean — March 31, 2021
    40:30
    Our Investment Philosophy — March 24, 2021
    25:52
    American Rescue Plan — March 24, 2021
    27:28
    How Does A Roth IRA Work? — March 8, 2021
    21:21
    Lessons From a Year with Covid — February 26, 2021
    19:36
    Investing in New Industries — February 23, 2021
    23:47
    Changing for Good Book Club — February 23, 2021
    28:27
    Charitable Giving Strategies — February 12, 2021
    20:29
    Quarterly Market Commentary — February 1, 2021
    26:13
    What to do with Stimulus Money — February 1, 2021
    22:01
    The Game Stop Problem — February 1, 2021
    24:34
    Cybersecurity: Keeping Your Financial Information Safe — January 27, 2021
    48:41
    Understanding Required Minimum Distributions — January 12, 2021
    21:30
    The Steps for Starting a Budget — January 8, 2021
    32:18
    The Snowball Strategy for Getting Out of Debt — January 5, 2021
    11:54

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