Fee-Only Financial Planning for First Responders

Plan Your
Money.
Plan Your
Life.

You protect your community every shift. The Shield Finance helps you protect your financial future — with honest, fee-only financial planning and coaching built specifically for first responders and their families.

Book a Free Discovery Call See the SHIELD Program
15+
Years in Law
Enforcement
Fee-Only
No commissions,
ever
Your Interests First
Acting in your
best interest, always
Fee-Only · No Commissions
Your Interests First
MS Finance · Kelley School
Registered Investment Adviser · Indiana
Who We Serve

Built for the people
who run toward danger

First responders face unique financial challenges — unpredictable overtime, pension complexity, and financial decisions made in the parking lot before a shift. We get it, because we've lived it.

Police Officers

Pension navigation, overtime budgeting, and planning around the reality of a physically demanding career with a hard stop date.

Firefighters

Shift work cash flow, deferred comp accounts, DROP programs, and building wealth on a schedule that fights every budget category.

Paramedics & EMTs

Managing variable income, student loans, PSLF eligibility, and building a financial foundation in a career that rarely rewards patience.

Dispatchers & Comms

Often overlooked in first responder financial conversations — but facing every bit of the same income complexity and benefit confusion.

Why It Matters

Financial stress is the
hidden shift no one talks about.

First responders face above-average divorce and suicide rates. Financial stress is one of the leading contributing factors. You already carry enough from the job — your money shouldn't add to it.

01
Nobody taught us this stuff

12, 16, even 20 years of school and nobody covered budgeting, cash flow, or what to actually do with a paycheck. That's not a personal failure — it's a system failure.

02
Overtime makes budgeting hard

When a big portion of your income is unpredictable, traditional budgeting advice breaks down. We help you build a system around how you actually get paid.

03
The pension is complicated

DROP programs, survivor benefits, early retirement options — the pension is often your largest asset and most first responders don't fully understand it. We do.

The Program

The S.H.I.E.L.D.
Framework

Four focused sessions. Twelve deliverables. One clear path forward. Built around how first responders actually live and work.

S
Set Your Foundation
Net worth, cash flow, and financial baseline. Know exactly where you stand.
H
Handle Your Debt
Debt inventory, payoff strategy, and PSLF eligibility for qualifying loans.
I
Invest for the Future
Pension analysis, retirement accounts, and long-term savings strategy.
E
Envision Your Life
Life goals worksheet and values-based spending plan aligned to what matters to you.
L
Leverage Your Income
Overtime budgeting system to maximize every dollar, including irregular income.
D
Deploy Your Plan
90-day action plan and annual review checklist. Leave with a real roadmap.
Is This Right For You?

Built for first responders who are ready to stop guessing.

This program is for you if any of these sound familiar:

  • You want a plan, not a product
  • You want someone who understands your career, not just your income
  • Overtime makes budgeting feel impossible
  • You're not sure if your pension is actually working for you
  • You're ready to take your finances seriously
  • You want honest advice — no commissions, no sales pressure
Book Your Free Discovery Call See the Full Program →

Free 30-minute call  ·  No commitment  ·  No sales pitch

Ryan Skaggs, Founder of The Shield Finance
Ryan Skaggs, Founder Full-time police officer · MS Finance, Kelley School
About Ryan

Built by a cop.
For the people who get it.

Ryan Skaggs has been a full-time police officer at a major university in Indiana since 2011. K9 handler, field training officer, basketball program security — and for over 15 years, he's watched fellow officers make the same financial mistakes, starting with the $70,000 truck fresh out of the academy.

That experience, combined with a Master's in Adult Education and a Master's in Finance from the Kelley School of Business, is what makes The Shield Finance different. Ryan doesn't just understand the numbers — he understands the life.

  • MS Finance · Indiana University Kelley School of Business (2025)
  • MS Adult Education · Indiana University
  • Full-time police officer since 2011 · K9 Handler · Field Training Officer
  • Fee-only · No commissions · Registered Investment Adviser · Indiana
Read Ryan's Full Story
From the Blog

Financial education
for first responders

All Articles →
One Month In — Thank You
Uncategorized
One Month In — Thank You

Financial Survival for Law Enforcement has been out for one month. I want to say thank you — genuinely. To everyone who bought it, shared it, passed it…

Jun 11, 2026 · Ryan Skaggs
The Parking Lot Problem
Uncategorized
The Parking Lot Problem

The Parking Lot Problem Walk through any department parking lot before the start of a shift. Look at what’s sitting there. Lifted trucks. Brand new SUVs. Nice stuff.…

Jun 9, 2026 · Ryan Skaggs
The One Insurance Policy Most Officers Never Buy (And Regret It)
Uncategorized
The One Insurance Policy Most Officers Never Buy (And Regret It)

The One Insurance Policy Most Officers Never Buy (And Regret It) Ask any officer about life insurance and they’ll give you an answer. Most departments offer some level…

Jun 2, 2026 · Ryan Skaggs
Financial Survival for Law Enforcement book cover
● New Release — Now on Amazon

Financial Survival
for Law Enforcement

The practical guide to money, risk, and long-term security for those who serve — written by a cop, for cops.

Learn More → Get on Amazon →
Ready to Start?

Your shift ends. Your financial stress can too.

Book a free 30-minute discovery call. No sales pitch — just an honest conversation about where you are and where you want to go.

Book Your Free Discovery Call Learn About the Program

The Shield Finance is a Registered Investment Adviser in the State of Indiana. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Financial coaching services are available as a separate educational offering.