David W. Shotwell
Certified Financial Planner™
David Shotwell started in the investment and financial planning world early in the year 2000 with a regional bank’s northern Michigan investment office and began working with clients just as the dot com bubble burst. He earned his Certified Financial Planner® designation in 2012 and joined Beth Baer, the founder of our firm, in 2013. He became President of Shotwell Rutter Baer when Beth retired in 2018.
Starting his career during a bear market, and then working with many of the same clients through the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, gave David a unique perspective into how people relate to their money and view their portfolios in difficult times. He has dedicated his financial planning efforts to helping clients see past the short – term market swings and focus on the big picture, so they can behave in ways that will help them reach both their current and long – term financial goals.
David has held leadership positions with the Michigan Chapter of the Financial Planning Association, serving as the organization’s President in 2020. He chaired the Ann Arbor Rotary Foundation Investment Committee, has served as the Treasurer for the Ann Arbor Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and as the President of Cheboygan County Habitat for Humanity. When not meeting clients in Lansing or Ann Arbor, he spends as much time as he can at his cabin in the Straits Area of northern Michigan.
Dave is a proud member of the following professional associations:
- CFP® Professional
- National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
- Financial Planning Association (FPA)
- Fee-Only Network
- XY Planning Network (XYPN)
Want to learn more about Dave? Click here to listen to Kitchen Table Finance Podcast episodes about Dave.
Nicholas F. Nauta
Certified Financial Planner™
Nick Nauta has been practicing financial planning since moving to the Lansing area in 2006. After studying Financial Management and Economics at Northern Michigan University, Nick ventured into the financial planning industry. Having a young daughter and wife, Nick wanted to stay in Michigan. At the time he graduated, one of the few jobs available for a finance major was as a financial advisor.
Nick struggled through his first few years in the profession. He relates the struggle to his early memories of money living in Spring Lake, Michigan. One of the things he learned about money when he was growing up was the people who seemed to have the most of it, weren’t inherently happier than those who didn’t. When he started in the financial advising industry, the profession appeared to be all about making money, something he didn’t hold in high esteem.
Some years later, around the time his son was born, Nick finally started to figure out his place in the financial planning world. He was challenged to answer the question of why he did what he did. Thinking back on his early memories of money, he concluded he was in the financial planning profession to help people realize their life goals.
Nick enjoys giving back to the community as well as his profession. He is currently an honorary board member of the Davies Project and the past president of the Kiwanis Club of Delta Township. He is also the president of the FPA of Michigan and the President of the Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council. He is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, XY Planning Network and the Financial Planning Association.
Amy Gauden
Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional
Amy is a graduate of Northwestern College in Traverse City with a degree as a paralegal.
She began her career in the financial industry in 1993. She worked for numerous firms and has extensive experience in market exposure. She is well versed in the operational and administrative aspects of financial planning. In 2021 Amy earned her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional designation.
Her priority is making sure client expectations and service issues are met.
Amy is a lifelong resident of northern Michigan.
In her free time, she enjoys gardening, DIY projects and long walks with her Pomeranian Maggie.
Jeff Rutter
Chief Compliance Officer and Operations Director
Jeff Rutter joined Shotwell Rutter Baer in 2015 after almost 20 years in Foodservice management. This experience has strengthened his belief in family and truly enjoys what he is doing. "Working at Shotwell Rutter Baer has allowed me to grow personally, professionally and spiritually". He manages our Lansing office and handles compliance and operations of the firm. Jeff is a graduate of Michigan State University, married with two sons.
Jeff is a member of the Board of Elders at Messiah Lutheran Church in Holt, Michigan and enjoys golf and tennis and traveling.
Ashley Sajor
Operations Specialist
Ashley graduated from Michigan State University in 2022 with a degree in Finance. She began her career as an intern at Shotwell Rutter Baer in the summer of 2021. She is currently an Operations Specialist at the firm. What she loves most about her career is being able to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Ashley was born in Michigan, but lived in Key West, Florida for 7 years. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, building custom computers and gaming.
Cole Williams
Certified Financial Planner™
Cole graduated from Michigan State University in 2021 with a degree in Public Policy and once more in 2024 with an M.S. in Financial Planning and Wealth Management. He began as an intern at Shotwell Rutter Baer in the spring of 2024 before taking a full-time position as an Associate Advisor that summer. The internship confirmed for Cole that he loves meeting with clients and the satisfaction that comes with helping them achieve their definition of financial peace and success.
In January of 2025, Cole received his CFP designation, further cementing his commitment to giving clients the tools they need to succeed. Cole is from Saint Johns, Michigan and still currently resides there with his wife, two dogs (Gryphon and Indy), and a rambunctious cat (Reggie). When not working, Cole loves spending time with his family and going on walks with his wife and the dogs. Cole is a member of the following organizations:
- CFP™ Professional
- Financial Planning Association
- Fee-Only Network
- XY Planning Network
- Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council
- Michigan State University Wealth Management Council
