Come join a groundbreaking new podcast that promises to change the way you think, the way you live, and the way you manage your future. Grab a cup of coffee, a 6mg Zyn, some noise-canceling headphones, and get lost in the world of the Fiscal Firehouse. With your co-host Jon Beattie and Louie Barela, the Fiscal Firehouse is your guide to financial freedom. Tailored to union firefighters, we will discuss problems, solutions, and benefits that are unique to our profession. Change your finances, change your life at the Fiscal Firehouse. Brought to you by Local 1309.
Introduction to Investing: Firefighter Financial Academy: Part 2
Investing Basics for Firefighters: Stocks, Bonds, Index Funds, and Keeping Fees Low
Jon Beattie and Louis Barela continue their Firefighter Financial Academy series with an investing basics episode aimed at helping firefighters build financial independence by living below their means, staying out of debt, and investing early and often. They explain stocks as ownership and bonds as lending, discuss volatility and risk tolerance, and emphasize broad diversification through low-cost index funds like the S&P 500 and total market funds, including target date funds that automatically rebalance from stocks to bonds over time. They compare traditional versus Roth 457 contributions (tax later vs. tax now), highlight the power of compounding growth, and stress that pensions typically cover 75–80% but may lack cost-of-living adjustments, making supplemental saving critical. They also warn that fees and active management can significantly reduce long-term returns, and suggest transparency and fiduciary, CFP-level guidance when needed
16 Sept 2026
Firefighter Financial Academy - Part 1 (Foundations)
Firefighter Financial Academy – Part 1: Foundations lays the groundwork for building financial independence throughout your fire service career. Jon and Louie break down the three fundamental pillars of personal finance: live below your means, get out and stay out of debt, and invest early and often.
From budgeting around base pay and managing overtime to understanding debt, credit, compound growth, and the importance of starting early, this episode is about making the right financial decisions today so you can retire on your terms tomorrow.
Fiscal Firehouse — Financial education built for firefighters.
Sponsorship:
Colorado's Firefighter Federal Credit Union https://dfdfcu.com (https://dfdfcu.com/)
22 Aug 2026
Roth 457 vs Traditional: What Firefighters Need To Know
Roth or Traditional 457—which is right for you? In this episode, we break down how 457 plans work alongside a firefighter pension, compare Roth and Traditional contributions, discuss tax and withdrawal considerations, and highlight common mistakes to avoid when planning for retirement.
Sponsorship:
Colorado's Firefighter Federal Credit Union https://dfdfcu.com (https://dfdfcu.com)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
15 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
18 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 19 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
17
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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