Strong Back, Strong Balance Sheet

Every firefighter knows the weight of turnout gear and the strain of hauling hose up a stairwell. Your body is the engine that makes your career possible and, by extension, funds every savings goal you have, whether it’s the boat on the lake or your daughter’s college tuition. A pulled muscle or chronic back pain does more than sideline you at the station. It drains overtime income, erodes pension service credits, and forces you to spend hard-earned money on treatments instead of family memories. In short, health risk is hidden financial risk.

The Cautionary Tale

A lieutenant I worked with logged every extra shift he could grab. Over ten years he saved more than two hundred thousand dollars in additional pay. Then a back injury during a routine lift ended his operational status. Workers’ comp helped at first, yet the rehab bills kept coming and overtime disappeared. Today that extra money lives in a brokerage account labeled “medical.” Vacations are on hold and college funding is tight. Planning for health costs after the fact is expensive. Investing in prevention up front is cheaper and keeps your goals intact.

Health as a Line Item on Your Balance Sheet

1. Lost-income math

   • One month on light duty can mean a five-figure hit if you rely on overtime.

   • Pension calculations often exclude light-duty pay, so lost service credits compound the damage.

2. Healthcare inflation

   • The average family premium has risen roughly five percent a year for two decades.

   • An extra five prescriptions in retirement can cost more than a car payment.

3. Stress spillover

   • Sleep debt raises the risk of cardiac events, already the leading cause of on-duty firefighter deaths.

   • Divorce rates climb when long shifts and poor recovery meet financial pressure.

Build Your Wellness Budget

Treat fitness and recovery the way you treat debt reduction or college savings. Allocate targeted dollars every paycheck:

• Quarterly allocation — Take the net from one voluntary shift each quarter and use it for a massage package, a personal trainer who understands tactical athletes, or meal-prep services that beat the drive-thru.

• Department resources — Tap peer fitness groups, Employee Assistance Program counseling, and discounted gym memberships that many locals negotiate for union members.

• Low- or no-cost wins — Keep a mobility band in your turnout pocket, join a station-wide push-up challenge, and set a sleep reminder on your phone.

Protect the Downside

• Disability insurance — Short-term coverage often stops at six months. Make sure you have a long-term policy that replaces at least sixty percent of base pay plus average overtime.

• Health Savings Account — Every untaxed dollar you place in an HSA is triple-advantaged. Grow it now and use it for Medicare premiums later.

• Life-insurance structure — If overtime funds your mortgage, term coverage should reflect that number, not just base pay.

Prevention Adds Years to the Go-Go Phase

Retirees who maintain healthy weight and blood pressure spend on average one-third less on healthcare in their first decade of retirement. Lower medical outlays reduce early retirement withdrawals, easing sequence-of-returns risk. Staying fit also means you can delay Social Security if you choose, giving the benefit a permanent boost.

Action Checklist

1. Schedule an annual physical and a mental-health screen.

2. Audit disability and life coverage to confirm they match your actual earnings.

3. Automate monthly HSA contributions, even if you start with fifty dollars.

4. Block two thirty-minute slots per week on the crew calendar for mobility work and meal prep.

5. Meet with a fiduciary advisor to integrate a wellness budget into your overall cash-flow plan.

Call to Action

Ready to line up fitness, family, and finances? Book a Firefighter Wellness-Wealth Review to see how a stronger back today builds a stronger balance sheet tomorrow.

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Investment advisory services offered through Carlson Planning Company, LLC, a registered investment adviser. This material is for educational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. Consult your physician for health recommendations and a qualified professional for personalized financial guidance.