Somewhere in Colorado, a firefighter is counting down to retirement. A new police chief is sorting through their future benefit options. A sheriff department is deciding to join FPPA for the first time. Each of them needs the same thing: someone who can show up, sit down, and make it all make sense. And somewhere on the highway, members of a six-person FPPA team are on their way to meet with them.

If you’ve ever seen these people crisscrossing Colorado—equal parts educators, planners, problem-solvers, and road warriors—you’ve probably spotted members of the Relationship Management team. Armed with laptops, printouts, and straightforward answers that first responders rarely have time to hunt down on their own, this team turns retirement from a distant idea into a real plan.

Team Mission

Relationship Management is united by a shared mission: delivering high-quality retirement services to Colorado’s first responders, every step of the way, from the first day on the job through their retirement date. Relationship Management team members have the unique privilege of being FPPA’s direct connection to Members throughout their entire careers. That means answering questions, guiding decisions, and helping first responders understand one of the most important parts of their future: financial security in retirement.

Putting the “Statewide” in Statewide Retirement Plan

From major metro departments to rural agencies hundreds of miles away, Relationship Management is on the road two to four days a week meeting Members where they are. Some trips span hundreds of miles, like the furthest department from the FPPA office: Cortez Fire Protection District, a 756-mile round trip. And because Colorado's geographic and cultural diversity means adapting to each community, no two visits look alike!

Starting in 2025, the team raised the bar even higher: rather than visiting each department every other year, they now make it to every department, every year. This approach ensures more consistent support, stronger relationships, and better access to information.

What Happens During an On-Site Visit?

An on-site visit opens with a brief 20-minute group presentation covering what’s going on at FPPA and the full picture of Members’ FPPA benefits: pension options, death and disability coverage, and how to plan for retirement during their working years.

Then comes the individual sessions. Following the group presentation, Relationship Managers meet one-on-one with Members to discuss their financial future. These individual meetings are always different, but one thing that’s consistent is completing the Member’s retirement projection spreadsheet. Real numbers go in: years of service, current salary, desired retirement age, 457 account balance, etc. What comes out: an individual retirement projection to show what the Member’s pension and 457 balances may be in retirement. Based on the results and the Member’s individual goals, the team also completes an analysis of whether they will have enough income in retirement. Finally, each Member walks away with a printed copy of their personalized retirement projection and a better understanding of what retirement may look like down the road.

One of the team's recurring messages during on-site visits: check your beneficiaries. Their advice is when you change the clocks and change your smoke detector batteries… check your beneficiaries! It's a small step that protects everything you've worked for, and the results of not doing it can be devastating. Without a named beneficiary, accounts can end up in probate and tied up for years in legal limbo. Without an up-to-date beneficiary, account balances can end up going to unintended recipients like former spouses or estranged family members.

Beyond the Road

On-site visits are the heartbeat of what Relationship Management does, but their list of duties doesn't stop there. Throughout the year, the team organizes and hosts events designed to reach Members at every career stage and Employers navigating the complexities of plan administration. Regular events include:

• Retirement Readiness Seminars covering financial, mental, physical, and legal aspects of retirement
• Early-to-Mid Career Seminars
• Retiree Appreciation Luncheons

• Annual Employer Summit
• Virtual Summit for Volunteer and Old Hire Employers
• Webinars on rotating topics like Social Security

• Conference appearances at organizations like the Special District Association (SDA), Colorado State Fire Chiefs, and County Sheriffs of Colorado (CSOC)

Relationship Management also helps with circumstances that don't follow a standard script, like when departments merge, consolidate, or dissolve. The team also supports departments looking to affiliate or reenter FPPA’s plans.

In Their Own Words