Balancing the Badge to Make a Difference: What Every Law Enforcement Professional Should Know about Managing Money and Life.

Book excerpt: Balancing the Badge to Make a Difference is a holistic approach toward balancing a law enforcement career with a purpose-driven retirement. Balancing the Badge to Make a Difference is based on a relationship with God and family, and a solid financial plan. Jim's passion for creating the Balancing the Badge concept and writing this book began while working alongside peace officers and providing financial services to them. He quickly recognized the importance of Balancing the Badge to provide financial information for officers to plan for retirement and also for developing a purpose-driven retirement to keep retirees motivated, healthy, productive, and most importantly, happy in retirement. Research for this book includes more than 36 years of police experience as an officer and a manager, providing financial services to officers and the public for over 20 years, raising a family, his relationship to God, teaching financial planning and life planning for over seven years to officers and cadets, and conducting extensive interviews with law enforcement professionals regarding their life goals during their career and into retirement. The goal for this book is about transforming law enforcement personnel to embrace the concept of Balancing the Badge because a purpose-driven retirement is critical for law enforcement survival. The objective of this book is to provide the tools to cross the bridge from achieving financial wealth, to also achieving life wealth. Building a life portfolio is as important as building a financial portfolio. This is a must-read book for all officers at any stage of their career including retirees that wish to live a life worth living. This book can easily by applied to all other careers as well. Reviews include: "Jim's classes were valuable to both me and my wife as we planned for our retirement. It caused us to have realistic goals and expectations and to formulate a plan to keep everything in line with God's plan for our lives, as well as meeting our financial goals." - Eric Fagan, Houston Police Officer (retired). "Jim has an enormous heart and unyielding energy to help officers and anyone in need to live a life worth living. Jim's vast police experience and extensive financial experience coupled with his faith and charity work guide him to help others live a balanced life. This book is a must read for all law enforcement personnel at any stage of their career, including retirees. I also recommend this book to anyone searching for their purpose." - James Bollig, Houston Police Sergeant (retired) & Army Veteran. "Balancing the Badge is a great 'How To' book on achieving Financial Freedom as well as genuine freedom. Everyone wants to be successful financially, but most of us never attain it. The reason is because we either don't know how or are not willing to do what it takes. This book gives you the knowledge and the motivation. Remove the handcuffs and start living a life free from bondage. Thank you, Lt Jim, for writing this book!" - Terry Farrar, CFP. "The value of a plan integrating the priorities of career, finances, family, and spiritual well-being cannot be understated. This book provides a road map in establishing your long-term plan to achieve personal success, happiness and financial security, geared specifically to law enforcement." - Dan Murphy, Inspector, NYPD (retired).