Baird Retirement Management

About Baird Retirement Management

The Personal Finance Project is a podcast dedicated to providing specialized advice on retirement planning, investment strategies, and financial management, particularly for employees in the oil, gas, and chemical industries. Hosted by experienced advisors from Baird Retirement Management, each episode delves into topics designed to help listeners make informed decisions about their financial futures. Whether you're approaching retirement or looking to optimize your investment portfolio, this show offers valuable insights tailored to your unique situation. Tune in to stay informed and take control of your financial well-being. Meet Your Hosts: •Greg Ashcroft, CFA®, CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA®, RMA®: Greg is a Senior Vice President at Baird Retirement Management. He joined Baird in May 2015 after graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. Greg has earned multiple professional designations, including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), and Retirement Management Advisor® (RMA®). In March 2023, he graduated with a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning. •Scott Bartosh, CFP®: Scott is a Director at Baird Retirement Management and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, demonstrating his commitment to providing comprehensive financial planning services. Scott also holds a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning, highlighting his dedication to advancing his expertise in helping clients navigate their financial futures. Together, Greg and Scott bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the podcast, offering listeners practical advice and strategies to navigate the complexities of retirement planning and investment management.

Publisher

The Personal Finance Project

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Aug 2024

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

80 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Should the Midterms Change Your Investment Strategy?

   Midterm elections can create uncertainty, but should they change the way you invest? In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Scott and Chris discuss how markets have historically responded following midterm elections, why divided government may provide greater policy clarity, and the risks of making dramatic portfolio decisions based on political predictions. They also explore potential changes involving taxes, Social Security, Roth accounts, AI, data centers, market concentration, and the federal debt. The central takeaway: political headlines may be loud, but a diversified portfolio built around your long-term financial goals should not depend on which party controls Washington.

2. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Prediction Markets: Investing, Gambling, or Something In Between?

   Prediction markets have exploded in popularity, allowing people to trade on the outcomes of elections, sporting events, economic developments, pop culture moments, and even the possibility of alien life. In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Hannah Gowdy is joined by Certified Financial Planner™ professional Scott Bartos to explain how prediction markets work, how platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket establish their probabilities, and why these markets are often much closer to gambling than traditional investing. They also explore how prediction markets compare with political polling, whether the "wisdom of crowds" can produce reliable forecasts, and how bias, insider information, public perception, and overconfidence can influence the odds. Most importantly, they discuss what prediction markets mean for everyday investors, retirees, and anyone concerned about missing the next major financial trend. Topics discussed include: How prediction markets work Prediction markets versus traditional investing What an implied probability actually means The differences between prediction markets and polling The risks of speculation, bias, and insider information Why diversification still matters during uncertain events Whether prediction markets belong in a long-term financial plan Prediction markets may be interesting to follow, but that does not necessarily mean they need to be part of your investment portfolio.

3. 

   2 Oct 2026

   The Affordability Crisis: Is Life Really Getting More Expensive?

   Inflation may have cooled from its 2022 highs, but for many Americans, life still feels expensive. In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Scott and Chris unpack the so-called "affordability crisis" and explore why rising costs continue to dominate conversations about personal finance. The discussion covers the pandemic-era economic response, inflation, housing affordability, mortgage rates, college costs, healthcare expenses, and the shifting realities facing today's families and young professionals. They also examine whether the headlines tell the full story and why personal experiences with affordability can vary dramatically. Most importantly, they share practical strategies for navigating higher costs, building financial resilience, and staying focused on long-term goals even when economic conditions feel challenging. Topics discussed: What caused the recent inflation surge Why housing remains the biggest affordability challenge The impact of higher mortgage rates College costs and lifetime earning potential Healthcare expenses and future trends Practical financial habits that can help combat rising costs

Who has been a guest on Baird Retirement Management

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Christine Benz
• Justin Nichols
• Matt Leatherwood
• Christopher Chabris
• Daniel Simons

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,227

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

45

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

32

Contact Baird Retirement Management

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Baird Retirement Management