No matter where you’re at in life, it’s never too early or too late to strengthen your financial wellness. The tips below can help you prepare for and thrive in retirement with confidence. Don’t just take our advice! We’ve included actual retirement advice—from first responders, for first responders—collected from our annual Member survey.

Before Retirement

When you’re working, financial wellness is largely about preparing for the future. Do these things today to help create greater peace of mind when retirement arrives.

TIP #1: Pay Yourself First
Retirement may feel far away, but every contribution you make today helps build the future you want tomorrow. Consistent saving is one of the most powerful steps you can take when time is on your side. By making retirement savings a regular part of your budget, you’re investing in your future goals: when you retire, where you live, how you spend your time, and the experiences you want to enjoy.

TIP #2: Build a Financial Safety Net
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. An emergency fund is a buffer between you and potential financial setbacks. It acts as your first line of defense when you have an unexpected, necessary, and urgent cost, like a medical bill or a major car repair not covered by insurance. Start by saving $1,000, then aim to set aside enough money to cover three to six months of essential living expenses.

TIP #3: Know Your Benefits
Understand what your pension and/or other retirement plan(s) provide—and what they don’t. The good news: you don’t have to sort through your FPPA benefits alone! Read Plan brochures and watch the “5 Things to Know” video series to get started. Contact FPPA to help review your options and answer questions. You can meet one-on-one with FPPA staff over the phone, virtually, and in person.

After Retirement

Financial wellness in retirement is more than just having enough money. It is the ability to meet your needs, maintain your desired lifestyle, and feel confident about your future.

TIP #1: Create a Spending Plan
Retirement often means replacing a regular paycheck with fixed income from multiple sources, such as your pension, retirement accounts, and personal savings. Create a retirement spending plan that helps you strike a balance between essential expenses, future needs, unexpected costs, and the activities that make retirement rewarding. Review your spending, goals, and financial needs annually as they may change over time.

TIP #2: Stay Alert to Scams and Financial Fraud
Retirees are frequently targeted by fraudsters through phone calls, emails, text messages, social media, and even fake websites that appear legitimate. Take the time to verify requests for personal or financial information. This will help safeguard the resources you’ve worked hard to build. When in doubt, verify the source before responding. Read our blog on tips on staying safe on the internet.

TIP #3: Invest in Yourself
One of the most valuable investments you can make in retirement is in your own well being. Stay active, socially connected, and engaged in meaningful activities for a healthier, more fulfilling retirement. Make room in your spending plan for hobbies, lifelong learning, travel, fitness, or community involvement. Read our blog on a few hobby ideas that help reduce stress.

Advice from Members, to Members

Members were asked to share advice for fellow first responders in the 2026 Member Satisfaction Survey. Here are a few of their responses:

"Start saving as early as possible and continue to, regardless of what happens in your life. You can never get back time for compounding."
- Retired Fire Member

"Retirement feels far away when you start, but it comes faster than you think, so start planning and investing from day one. Take care of your finances, your health, and your mindset now, because they’re what determine how well you live when the job is over."
- Active Police Member

"Your pension is rarely enough to live comfortably in retirement, and Social Security is not often an option for public safety employees, so investing early in a 457/401(k) will help to ensure financial stability in your retirement years."
- Retired Fire Member

"Fully immerse yourself in the Plan and do the calculations early to determine what you need to additionally save in a 457 or IRA to supplement your pension. If possible, purchase as many years as possible early in your career."
- Active Fire Member

"Figure out how much is enough right now and then put 20-75% of any raises, windfalls etc. into the tools provided - close to max yearly, for retirement. In the last three years before retirement try and utilize catch-up provisions."
- Retired Police Member