Michael S. Gutter
Assistant Professor
Family Financial Management
3002 McCarty Hall D
(352) 273-3529
msgutter@ufl.edu
Curriculum Vitae
Abstract
There is a common thread running through my research, teaching, and outreach. My research program focuses on the concept of financial security and how socioeconomic status, financial education, personal psychology, and financial socialization are related to financial behavior. Then in turn, I want to understand how financial management behaviors and their interconnectedness, relate to financial security. In order to support my efforts, I have four funded research projects in this theme of financial behavior and socialization. One such project is currently funded by the National Endowment for Financial Education. This project examines the effect of being exposed to financial education mandates on college student financial behavior. The study utilizes an existing secondary dataset for the first phase and will collect a national sample of college students in the second phase. The model being tested in the NEFE study is also related to a other research projects, including (NCR1013), the Economic and Psychological Determinants of Savings Behavior; where I currently serve as research co-chair. This research has been and is published in leading financial management journals including Financial Counseling and Planning and Financial Services Review. I believe that one critical function of research is that it should inform teaching and outreach.
I have brought both my own expertise and research into the classroom where I have had extensive experience in teaching personal finance courses; including basic personal finance, estate planning, family investment planning, and a capstone course that included the use of actual clients. I recently won an award for innovation by using podcasting as a teaching tool. I have also made connections between my classroom teaching and research. This past year I developed a web-based financial lifeskills course as part of a project funded by Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. The research component measures changes in behavior as a result of being exposed to financial education. This education included engaging in various behaviors such as tracking spending or obtaining a credit report. This longitudinal study measures behaviors at three points in time; the beginning and end of the term, with the third following a year later. Additionally, I have advised BS, MS, and PhD students. However, teaching should expand beyond the classroom and to our surrounding communities.
Selected publications
Gutter, M.S., Hayhoe, C. & Wang, L. (2006) Examining Participation Behavior in Defined Contribution Plans using the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change Financial Counseling and Planning
Gutter, M.S. and Fontes, A. (2006). Racial Differences in Risky Asset Ownership: A Two-stage Model of the Investment Decision Making Process. Financial Counseling and Planning. 17(2), 64-78.
Yao, R., Gutter, M.S., & Hanna, S.D. (2005). The financial risk tolerance of Blacks, Hispanics and whites. Financial Counseling and Planning, 16 (1), 51-62.
Gutter, M.S. & Saleem, T. (2005) Financial Vulnerability of Small Businesses Owners: Portfolio Composition. Financial Services Review. 14, 133-147
Courses
FYCS 4003: Basic Personal Finance
Extension
As a State Specialist in Family Financial Management, I have provided state-wide leadership to county educators working in financial education. One way I do this is as the co-chair for the Family Financial Education Team, which is comprised of a few specialists and over a dozen county educators. I have helped build capacity by providing training in family financial management content, identifying resources, and evaluating impact. I have also been working with several national initiatives such as Get Checking, a second chance program for those losing checking account privileges. I provided leadership in the revision process. With this program and many others building partnerships and collaborations has been an important component. I believe outreach can occur on many levels and one important piece is that it be evidence-based.
Professional and Honor Societies
Service to Profession
Committees
2001 Member Academy of Financial Services Scholarship Committee
2001-Present Member CFP Board Textbook Review
2001-2003 Member-at-Large ACCI Awards Coordinating Committee
2001-2004 Education Chair for South Central Wisconsin Chapter of Financial Planning Association (resigned in 2004). This chapter has been renamed Southern Wisconsin Chapter of FPA as a result of a merger of two chapters
2002 Academy of Financial Services/CFP Board Model Curriculum Committee
2005-2006 Member ACCI Dissertation Awards Committee
Reviewer
2000-Present Reviewer for Financial Counseling and Planning
2003 Reviewer for 2002 Conference for the American Council of Consumer Interests
2004 Reviewer for 2005 Conference for the American Council of Consumer Interests
2005 Reviewer for Financial Services Review, 2006 ACCI Conference
2005-Present Reviewer for Journal of Consumer Affairs
Academic Distinctions
1998 Ohio State University Graduate Teaching Award (nominated)
1999-2000 Ohio State University Doris Risley Fellow
1999 Academy of Financial Services Texas Instruments Award for Outstanding Paper
2001 Co-winner 2001 American Council on Consumer Interests Dissertation Award
2003 Madison Money Conference Distinguished Service Award
2003 School of Human Ecology Excellence in Outreach Service Award
2004 UW Graduate School Research Service Award
2004 Nominated for UW Madison Distinguished Teaching Award
