Chicago City Wire

Former firefighter Lavelle Hands, who retired in January 2018, saved $168,786 toward a pension over 29 years working for fire departments, Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago records show.

Over 30 years of retirement, Hands would collect as much as $3.51 million, according to a projection by Local Government Information Services (LGIS), which publishes Chicago City Wire.

The projection assumes Hands received $73,780 in the first year of retirement, then 3 percent annual increases thereafter, compounded.

After 3 years of retirement, Hands will have already received $228,046 in retirement benefits, or more than the sum total of the retiree's contributions to the state pension fund.