WHO WE ARE
About Mark Roberts, CRPC®, Founder, Lead Instructor – Shift Change
Shift Change is led by Mark Roberts, a lifelong public servant with over two decades of experience in public safety. Since 2000, Mark has worked on the front lines and continues to serve today as a Senior Fire Investigator for the State of Maine.
Mark is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), a Licensed Insurance Agent, and a Licensed Investment Advisor Representative. He currently serves on Maine’s Deferred Compensation Advisory Council, helping shape strategy and policy for the state’s retirement savings programs.
In addition to his educational outreach, Mark has contributed to public policy through his work with MainePERS and the State Legislature, where he has authored and championed multiple retirement-focused bills—including the creation of Maine’s only 20-year retirement plan for state employees.
While Mark leads Shift Change’s education efforts, he also maintains relationships with a trusted network of outside professionals—including Certified Financial Planners, insurance specialists, and attorneys. When appropriate, he refers individuals to these subject-matter experts to help ensure each person receives guidance tailored to their specific needs.
WHAT WE DO
Shift Change delivers independent, non-sales, education-focused retirement and benefits training to public safety professionals across Maine. Our sessions are designed to help employees gain a clear understanding of their pension systems, retirement options, and long-term financial wellness strategies.
Services include group workshops, one-on-one retirement education, and onboarding sessions for new hires. When needs extend beyond education, we help connect individuals with the most appropriate professionals in our network—ensuring they get the specialized advice or services their unique situation calls for.
The goal is simple: empower those who serve our communities to build secure, informed futures.
WHY WE DO IT
After working alongside some of the most dedicated professionals in the state, Mark saw too many colleagues reach retirement without the clarity or confidence they deserved.
Shift Change was created to change that. We believe public safety professionals—those who spend their careers protecting others—deserve access to tools and training that help them protect their own futures. By equipping them with the knowledge to make smart decisions, we help ensure that retirement is not a cliff, but a smooth and confident transition.
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WORK
Here are a few ways we’ve helped public safety professionals and agencies across Maine:
Clarifying Pension Choices: Helped individuals understand their pension options by explaining plan rules, benefit structures, and associated risks in plain, accessible language.
Agency Training: Delivered financial, retirement and benefits training to local public safety agencies—supporting onboarding, pre-retirement planning, and ongoing workforce education.
Union & Admin Consulting: Advised union leadership and police administrators on retire/rehire program design and retirement benefit comparisons during contract negotiations.
Trusted Referrals: Referred individuals with windfalls, old employer accounts, or complex financial needs to vetted professionals—such as CFP®s, insurance specialists, and attorneys—for tailored planning and support.
Are you an administrator seeking wellness opportunities for your people? See what the experts say:
"Workers who believe their employers don't care about their well-being—physical, emotional and financial—often feel less engaged at work and are more likely to seek employment elsewhere. This may especially be true when they are experiencing anxiety about their financial situation." *
From the Police Executive Research Forum: "Where possible, agencies should consider partnering with local financial advisors or other certified professionals to deliver specialized information." ~ Recommendation 33.**
Read the complete report here: Promising Strategies for Strengthening Police Department Wellness Programs
