{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Fiscal Firehouse","title":"Introduction to Investing: Firefighter Financial Academy: Part 2","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3489,"description":"Investing Basics for Firefighters: Stocks, Bonds, Index Funds, and Keeping Fees Low\n\nJon 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","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/RS37jTGIIW3kSqFAHofZ1ty6vr-8adzjMdXK6Hio2Xw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lMDg0/MjcwODU2YmFiMDE1/MTQzMmU5YTg1ZmVi/MzlkNi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}