Washington state has some of the strongest-funded pensions in the nation. In this episode, we sit down with Washington State Actuary, Matt Smith, to unpack why the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' (LEOFF) Plan 1 has an expected surplus. Matt breaks down simple ways to measure pension health, why LEOFF 1 now looks more like an endowment, and the policy and legal questions lawmakers face when deciding how to use expected surplus pension funds.

What does it really mean to retire early? Is it about leaving work behind completely, or is it more about creating flexibility, freedom, and balance sooner rather than later? We’re joined by Christine, a DRS employee who’s been carefully planning for her future since her mid-20s. She shares how her perspective on retirement has evolved: from imagining it as “stopping work altogether” to thinking about it as a chance to downshift: maybe working part-time, pursuing a different role, or finding new ways to stay engaged without the 9-to-5 grind.

The term micro-retirement is becoming popular with people of all ages. The idea involves stepping away from the workforce for an extended period to pursue passions, travel, recharge, or learn new skills, essentially hitting the reset button on life. We look at perspectives and planning strategies to help you make micro-retirement a viable, enriching option.