SMAFC Membership Meeting
Thursday, January 29, 2026
8:00 AM - Registration and Networking
8:30 AM - Morning Educational Sessions
12:00 PM - Lunch & SMAFC Meeting
12:30 PM - Update from State Fire Marshal
Join us for the whole day or for lunch and the State Fire Marshal!
Only $25 Per Person!
L O C A T I O N
Troy Community Center
3179 Livernois Rd
Troy, MI 48083
P R E S E N T A T I O N S
Commanding the Next Chapter:
Retirement & Succession Planning for Fire Chiefs
Update from State Fire Marshal Tom Hughes
Our training day, Commanding the Next Chapter: Retirement & Succession Planning for Fire Chiefs, offers a focused look at the financial, organizational, and personal aspects of preparing for retirement and leadership transitions. Through expert presentations, real-world case studies, and insights from retired fire chiefs, attendees will gain practical guidance for planning ahead—both for themselves and their departments. The day concludes with an update from State Fire Marshal Tom Hughes.
Download Event Flyer
A G E N D A
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Registration and networking
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Financial Planning
Matthew Teetor - Co-founder of the Sequoia Financial Guns & Hoses team
Pension vs paycheck comparison, how to turn your 401(k) into a pension-like income stream, social security strategies, retirement considerations and how to avoid pitfalls, investing and the market, and estate Planning.
9:30 AM – 9:40 AM
Break
9:40 AM – 10:25 AM
Department Succession Planning
Fire department case study on planned fire chief retirement. Preparing your boss, department, and building a smooth transition.
10:25 AM – 10:35 AM
Break
10:35 AM – 11:20 AM
The Life Change of Retirement
Pastor Tim Holzerland, Chaplain - West Bloomfield Fire Department
Retirement! We dream about it. When it comes, it is all that we hoped for in life. This is a fantasy. Here is the reality. Retirement is another transition of life, like marriage, homeownership, or children. Plan ahead and say to yourself, “When this happens, I plan to…”
11:20 AM – 12:00 PM
Panel Discussion – “After Action Report – Retirement Journey”
Discussion from retired fire chiefs on their experience leading to the decision to retire, life after retirement when the emails and calls stop, things they did well, things they would change.
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Lunch & Southeast Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs meeting
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Update from State Fire Marshal Tom Hughes
