How Do I Know I’m Actually Ready to Retire from the Fire Service
Every shift adds miles to your knees. Every call adds stress to your heart.1 Every year…
What Could My First 12 Months of Retirement Withdrawals Look Like?
Fast forward to your first year of retirement. The paycheck stops, the station rhythm changes,…
Should I Do Roth Conversions After I Retire?
The quiet part of retirement is where taxes get loud. Most firefighters walk out of…
How to Recreate Your Firefighter Income in Retirement (2026 Edition)
In one of our earlier articles, we walked through how firefighters can recreate their income…
Protecting Your Firefighter Family PART 2: Securing Your Spouse’s Future
In Part 1 of this series, we walked through what happens when a firefighter dies…
Roth-Only Catch Ups Start Now: 2026 Checklist for Firefighters
Only about 15% of eligible workers actually make catch-up contributions¹ – even though these extra…
Protecting Your Firehouse Family PART 1: Survivor Benefits for Early Deaths
It’s 3:00 a.m. when the tones drop. Captain John Williams jolts awake, throws on his…
The Firefighter “Gap Years”: Using Ages 50–62 for Tax‑Smart Roth Conversions
Retiring from the fire service often means hanging up your gear in your early fifties,…
Your Firefighter Retirement Income Playbook: How Guardrails, Cash Buckets, and QLACs Work Together
Nearly 2 in 3 Americans say running out of money in retirement scares them more…
Retirement Spending Guardrails: How Firefighters Can Keep Income Steady When Markets Bounce Around
Roughly two out of three workers say they are worried about running out of money…
CDs: Building the Cash Bucket for Firefighter Retirees
Captain Joe sits in the Station 7 break room with his retirement papers spread on…
QLACs 101 For Pension Households: Turning Part of Your 457(b) Into Longevity Income
How long do you expect to live? As a firefighter, the worries of an early…
The Firehouse 457(b) Challenge
October is chock full of important observances. Fire Prevention Week. Cybersecurity Awareness Month. And fittingly,…
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Lock Down Your Pension, 457(b), and Benefits Portals
Running into burning buildings isn’t the only risk firefighters face. In 2024 alone, Americans lost…
Fire Prevention Week for Your Finances
You spend Fire Prevention Week teaching others how to stay safe. In that same spirit,…