Lifestyle & Retirement
In the Lifestyle & Retirement section you’ll find expert columns and articles on topics ranging from retirement and finance to off-duty hobbies, marriage advice, second jobs, and more, to prepare you for your career and life after you’ve pulled the pin!
Our handy guide helps you make informed choices about cruise lengths, packing essentials and pre-cruise preparation
Even if you can’t travel out of town for a vacation, you can still make the most of your time off; here are some tips to help responders enjoy a staycation right at home
Take care of your companions, even when you’re on a long shift
From adjusting to new routines to supporting individual hobbies, retired LE couples can thrive and find joy in this new phase of life
“Both professions are good at recruiting members in but are lacking in adequately preparing members to exit out.”
Former community protecters bring with them experiences and skills that prove valuable in navigating the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship
His grandfather’s bravery sparked a strong sense of patriotism in Officer Anthony Guglielmo who creates custom wooden American and other patriotic flags
Pre-retirement workshops can be a helpful tool in preventing adverse outcomes during retirement
Financial Planning
This is the true measure of financial success in law enforcement: being able to enjoy retirement in great physical and mental shape
A retired cop shows off his new ride
Age and disease may eventually leave you unable to handle firearms safely
This top-ranked trick shot pool player turned pro at 16, but found his true calling in law enforcement
The diagnosis had come less than two years into retirement after 20 years of distinguished service
Putting together a simple budget is not difficult. Here are some tips
Regardless of what option turns out to best fit your family’s needs, there are some very important points to remember as you’re making choices
You will understand your capabilities and limitations while tackling shooting scenarios that are unwieldy or impossible to replicate at your department training
There will be both ups and downs, but you will meet incredible people and work with some of the best folks on the planet
“Examine your emotions. Examine your closest relationships. How are you treating others? How are you treating yourself?”
“Over time your career will tend to occupy more and more of your life if you let it. And as we become more invested in our careers, we start to care about things that are not in our control.”
“If you have any difficulty limiting your intake at all, meaning you can’t keep it to one drink, it is much better never to drink at all.”
“Research shows that about 75% of our law enforcement do not get sufficient sleep on their shift nights.”
“Fitness can determine your energy and power, whether you are on duty during an altercation or off duty playing with your kids.”
“On a daily basis, if you don’t have enough nutrients in your body, what happens is your energy starts to deplete. What that can turn into and often does in law enforcement is weight gain.”
Mel Brown, who previously worked for the Annapolis and Seat Pleasant police departments, leads STEM-based LEGO challenges for his local Boys & Girls Club
The sad reality is that many public safety families struggle to enforce the law on the street only to lose control of the battle at home
Regardless of your level of wealth, the failure to establish an estate plan can be detrimental to your family
“My pension is the exact same as it was when I retired 34 years ago,” said Robert McCann, a retired police officer
It’s no secret that the stress of police work can bleed into your off-duty life. But it doesn’t have to be debilitating
Make sure you know the rules before crossing state lines with your firearm
Legislation allows injured federal first responders who continue service in government to retain retirement
Retired Det. Costa Walton says he intends to divvy up the money between his children, nieces and nephews
