Chicago City Wire

Former firefighter Earl Smith, who retired in January 2018, saved $102,051 toward a pension over 27 years working for fire departments, Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago records show.

Over 30 years of retirement, Smith would collect as much as $3.22 million, according to a projection by Local Government Information Services (LGIS), which publishes Chicago City Wire.

The projection assumes Smith received $67,693 in the first year of retirement, then 3 percent annual increases thereafter, compounded.

After 2 years of retirement, Smith will have already received $137,417 in retirement benefits, or more than the sum total of the retiree's contributions to the state pension fund.