Personal Financial Readiness for Law Enforcement Professionals

Financial wellness is an essential component of personal and professional readiness. Law enforcement officers face unique financial challenges, including shift work, overtime income fluctuations, retirement planning, deferred compensation options, and the physical demands of a career that may impact long-term earning potential. 

This class provides practical financial education designed specifically for law enforcement professionals. Participants will learn strategies for budgeting, debt management, emergency savings, retirement planning, insurance considerations, investment fundamentals, and preparing for major life events. The course will also address financial stress and its impact on decision-making, job performance, and family well-being. 

Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, attendees will gain the knowledge and tools needed to make informed financial decisions, build long-term financial security, and develop a personalized plan for achieving their financial goals. 

Topics include: 

• Building and maintaining a realistic budget
• Managing debt and improving financial health
• Establishing emergency savings
• Understanding retirement systems and deferred compensation plans
• Investment basics and wealth-building strategies
• Insurance and risk management
• Planning for career transitions and retirement
• Protecting against fraud and financial scams 

Learning Objectives: 

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify common financial challenges faced by law enforcement professionals.
2. Develop a personal budget and savings strategy to improve financial stability.
3. Evaluate retirement planning options and long-term financial goals.
4. Recognize the impact of financial stress on job performance, decision-making, and personal wellness.
5. Apply basic risk management principles through insurance and emergency planning.
6. Identify financial fraud schemes and strategies for protecting personal assets.
7. Develop a personal financial action plan to support career and retirement readiness. 

Instructor: Frank Higginbotham

Frank Higginbotham brings decades of law enforcement and instructional experience:

·         Retired Lieutenant, Alabama Bureau of Investigations

·         19 years in Patrol, including 17 years on a SWAT Team

·         Former full-time instructor at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center

·         4 years with the Alabama Bureau of Investigations

·         Current Financial Crimes Investigator, Escambia County Sheriff's Office (Pensacola, FL)

·         Instructor at the University of West Florida, teaching:

·         Forensic Accounting

·         Personal Financial Planning

·         Introduction to White Collar Criminal Investigations

Certifications:

·         Certified Fraud Examiner

·         Certified Firearms Instructor

Sponsors: This seminar is sponsored by AUM's Alabama Crime Prevention Clearinghouse & Training Institute, the Institute for Criminal Justice Education, Inc., Alabama Peace Officers' Association, U.S. Attorney's Office, MDA, and ADECA Law Enforcement Planning/Traffic Safety Division. This training is funded by an ADECA Law Enforcement Planning subgrant #2026-DJ-02-15 awarded to AUM and its Alabama Crime Prevention Clearinghouse