Summary
In this episode, Jen Pennington and Dallas Baker discuss the ‘I’m On It’ checklist designed for Seattle Fire Fighters. They explore the importance of keeping personal and professional information updated, the ease of using the checklist, and the critical components that firefighters should focus on, including health benefits, retirement planning, and mental health resources. The conversation emphasizes the need for regular updates and the checklist’s role in simplifying the management of important life aspects for fire fighters.
- The “I’m On It” checklist is a practical tool to help fire fighters stay on top of critical life and benefit decisions.
- Keeping personal and beneficiary information up to date can prevent serious and avoidable problems.
- The checklist is designed to be quick, easy, and manageable year over year.
- Annual medical exams play a key role in early detection and better health outcomes.
- Retirement planning is most effective when it starts early in a fire fighter’s career.
- Built-in links make updating information fast and straightforward.
- Mental health check-ins are a critical part of overall readiness and long-term well-being.
- The checklist helps organize administrative, financial, and health-related responsibilities.
- Fire fighters’ focus on the job can unintentionally push benefits planning to the background.
- Using the checklist can help prevent avoidable and potentially tragic situations.
Transcript
[00:00:02] Dallas Baker:
The primary goal of this list is to organize it in an easy, structured way so that you can track all these important points and, you know, use this tool to simplify that whole process.
[00:00:18] Jen Pennington:
Hey, Seattle fire fighters, this is Jen Pennington, and I am here with Dallas Baker today, and you are listening to ListenUp L27. Today we’re going to walk through the I’m On It checklist. This is something you may have heard of, but if you haven’t, it’s something you really want to get familiar with.
I’m here today with Dallas. He’s the Benefits Officer for Local 27, and he’s also the HealthCare Trust Chair. We’re going to dive into what this checklist is and how it can benefit you. So, Dallas, welcome.
[00:00:57] Dallas Baker:
Hi, Jen.
[00:00:58] Jen Pennington:
As part of Local 27, what were you seeing day to day that made you want to create a checklist like this and take action on it?
[00:01:08] Dallas Baker:
Yeah, thanks, Jen. The board and I had experienced a lot of different issues with members related to the items on this list. Sometimes they’re small pitfalls—like the department can’t get a hold of someone because they don’t have the right personal email or phone number.
Sometimes it’s a much bigger issue—like a first spouse receiving survivor benefits because the fire fighter never updated their beneficiaries.
Most of the items on this list came from real situations we’ve seen. Some are minor, some are major, but all of them matter. We wanted a tool to support fire fighters so they know how to track all the things they need to stay on top of.
[00:02:10] Jen Pennington:
And there are a lot of those. As we’ve worked on communications going out to fire fighters, we know there are so many pieces to manage—especially if you’re a young recruit or on probation. You’re focused on learning the job, and things like this aren’t always top of mind.
[00:02:35] Dallas Baker:
That’s very true. We see it even with more senior members. People are so career-focused and fire-skill-focused that they don’t always invest time in understanding the benefits available to them.
This checklist is designed to be streamlined. The first time through might take a little longer to make sure everything is accurate and up to date, but it’s meant to be reviewed annually. The second time through should be quick and painless because most things don’t change year to year.
The goal is to support fire fighters by giving them the information they don’t always realize they need.
[00:03:37] Jen Pennington:
And as you go through the checklist itself, it’s really very easy to use.
[00:03:48] Dallas Baker:
It is. That’s exactly how it was designed. Many of the links are built right into the checklist so you can update information directly—whether it’s through the city, pension, or another system—without having to hunt things down.
[00:04:18] Jen Pennington:
Another key feature is that if there’s something you don’t know or need more time on, the checklist saves your progress. You can come back the next day or even a week later.
There’s also a red-yellow-green system that shows where you’re at—red for items that need attention, yellow for in progress, and green for completed. That color-coding really helps you understand where you stand.
Have you seen other examples where things not being updated caused real problems?
[00:05:16] Dallas Baker:
Absolutely. A common one is when someone has a new baby or adopts a child and doesn’t add them as a dependent. That can impact eligibility for benefits.
There are also administrative things—updating wills or trusts, reviewing your estate plan—that should really be looked at annually.
We’ve included reminders for scheduling your AFFME and getting your annual exam at Station 2. Flexible spending elections during open enrollment are another thing people often forget, so that’s on the list as well.
We’re also really emphasizing retirement planning. Waiting until the end of your career is too late. We want young members, even in their first year, thinking about retirement now. Spending just a couple of hours a year can make a huge difference long-term.
[00:07:13] Jen Pennington:
You all teach preparedness every day—checking gear, checking rigs. This feels like an extension of that mindset.
[00:07:28] Dallas Baker:
Exactly. Just like daily rig checks, this checklist is about making sure your life is ready for whatever the year throws at you.
[00:07:51] Jen Pennington:
How much time should someone expect to spend on this each year?
[00:07:57] Dallas Baker:
We designed it so you could do a couple of items a month—maybe 10 to 15 minutes at a time. You could also knock out most of it in under 20 minutes.
Once everything is verified the first year, future check-ins are even faster. If nothing has changed—no new spouse, no new child—it’s just a quick confirmation and you move on.
[00:08:55] Jen Pennington:
Are there tools or resources people should have ready the first time they do this?
[00:09:10] Dallas Baker:
Most updates—like contact info or beneficiaries—are linked directly to DRS or city HR systems. That’s all built in.
Other items, like adjusting life insurance after buying a home or getting married, may change year to year. The checklist prompts you to think about those decisions and provides the links to take action.
[00:10:21] Jen Pennington:
Taking this stress off your plate has to feel like a relief.
[00:10:34] Dallas Baker:
That’s exactly the idea. There’s a lot to manage, and this tool organizes it in a simple, structured way so nothing falls through the cracks.
[00:11:08] Jen Pennington:
If there’s one thing you want fire fighters to take away from this episode, what would it be?
[00:11:21] Dallas Baker:
They’re all important, but one big one is the Total Wellness Fund launching for 2026. That benefit exists because of the success of the HealthCare Trust—especially the increase in annual exams in 2025.
Early detection leads to better outcomes and fewer large claims, which allows the Trust to reinvest back into member benefits. Getting your annual exam is one of the best returns on your time.
Retirement planning is another huge piece—457s, Roth plans, Roth IRAs. Nothing replaces starting early.
And finally, mental health check-ins. With increasing run volume, browned-out units, and more overtime, stress is real. Using the mental health professionals at Station 2 is an investment in yourself—not just financially, but personally.
[00:14:04] Jen Pennington:
Thank you, Dallas. Anything else you’d like to add?
[00:14:07] Dallas Baker:
If you have questions, you can contact info@aff27.org. We really encourage everyone to use this tool. We’ve seen what happens when these things get overlooked, and this checklist can prevent those situations.
[00:14:57] Jen Pennington:
Thanks again, Dallas. We’ll drop a link to the checklist on the episode page so it’s easy to access. We’d love to see as many of you as possible complete it.
[00:15:16] Dallas Baker:
Thank you.
[00:15:19] Jen Pennington:
Thanks for joining us. ListenUp L27 is a Seattle Fire Fighters HealthCare Trust production. This podcast is produced by The Rhizome Collaborative. I’m your host, Jen Pennington—and until next time, stay safe and stay healthy.
