Early in your career, retirement planning is about accumulation. You contribute to deferred compensation, you trust the pension formula, and you let compounding do its work. As retirement gets closer, planning becomes less about building and more about coordinating. I often explain it this way: You’ve spent your career collecting tools. The final few years are about making sure all those tools work together when you need them most.

Historically, that one dollar has grown dramatically over time when dividends were reinvested. The path was never smooth. There were major downturns along the way. But over the long run, diversified investors were rewarded for staying invested. The important lesson is not that markets never fall - because they absolutely do. The lesson is that long-term growth has historically favored disciplined investors who stay diversified.

It’s difficult to take time to reflect without immediately jumping to what’s next. Do you notice how we do that? At least twice a year… sometimes more. Kind of like rebalancing a portfolio. Maybe it’s really a rebalance of our life.

As 2025 came to a close, I found myself thinking… maybe this is the year. And honestly, it wasn’t until I started reading other people’s reflections that I finally sat down to write my own as a blog post versus a card to send. I truly believe we’re here to help others in one way or another. I always have. I’ve been drawn to those kinds of roles my entire career. For the past ten plus years, that calling has taken shape in the financial planning and advising.

My focus isn’t just on helping you save and invest for retirement - it’s also about how and where you take money from when you’re retired. I fully support talking with friends, coworkers, family members, and neighbors about money. Those conversations can be helpful. Other people’s experiences can help you ask better questions - but if something doesn’t fit your situation, don’t force it.

Careers, especially for a firefighter or first responder, go quickly, just like dog years do. The days are long, the nights are unpredictable and the years? They fly by. It can feel like life is moving in fast-forward. The same thing happens in the financial world!

Should you stop your retirement contributions to pay off debt?

I know this stage can feel overwhelming. Between the pension paperwork, DROP decisions, and those 457(b) balances that rise and fall like Lake Erie in spring, it’s a lot. That’s where I come in.

Let's consider the real costs of owning a home, and the real benefits of renting.

Whether you’re a firefighter nearing retirement, helping a parent with their health coverage, or just trying to get ahead of the curve before you turn 65 - this episode is for you.

“By the time we’re ready to talk about these things, it might already be too late to take meaningful action.”  - Shannon

As I often remind the firefighters I work with: “Save early in your 457(b) so you’ll have choices - choices about when to retire and how to spend your retirement.”

What the 4% Rule Gets Right and What It Misses for Public Employees “The goal isn’t to follow a formula - it’s to build a plan that fits your life, your health, and your values.”

When you’re working and hit a financial bump, there are workarounds. Firefighters can pick up extra shifts. Public employees might take on side jobs. And let’s not forget the gig economy - Uber, tutoring, dog walking, delivering groceries… your hustle, your choice.

I’m terrible at social media. And I don’t enjoy it. There, I said it. I’m the kind of person who will spend two hours agonizing over a 90-second video… only to never post it.

I’m not just someone who manages your deferred comp account. I’m a financial advisor. A planner. Someone who helps you look at your entire financial life - retirement income, family goals, risks, estate planning, and more - and build a plan that truly works for you now, and decades into the future.

I like structure, goals, and having a path forward. But somewhere along the way, I started to realize that I was constantly chasing a version of the future that I thought would finally make me feel secure, joyful, and content.

What if the same unpredictability that shapes your work life also gives you a powerful advantage when it comes to your money?

When you think about saving for your kids' future, where do you start?

Adoption was always on my heart. It wasn’t just a backup plan; it was part of the vision.