Podcast Summary: The Stacking Benjamins Show
Episode: The Fire Safety Steps You're Skipping (Plus: What the World Worries About in Retirement) SB1774
Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and Neighbor Doug
Guest: Steve Kerber, VP and Executive Director, FSRI (Fire Safety Research Institute, part of Underwriters Laboratories)
Episode Overview
This lighthearted yet informative episode centers on two main themes: critical but often-overlooked fire safety steps for homeowners—especially during the holidays—and new insights into what people worldwide worry about most regarding retirement, based on T. Rowe Price's latest global study. Steve Kerber returns to share urgent fire prevention tips, often linking safety measures to smart financial behavior (like maximizing insurance effectiveness). The hosts also break down global retirement anxieties, interspersed with their trademark humor, audience-driven trivia, and curiosity-driven “TikTok Minute.”
Key Segments & Insights
1. Why Fire Risk Goes Up During the Holidays
[08:53–13:56]
- People Spend More Time at Home: Holiday gatherings and celebrations increase in-home risk.
- Cooking Spikes: More cooking means more chances for unattended stoves and accidents, especially if alcohol is involved.
- Heating & Decorations: Space heaters, unchecked fireplaces, and aging holiday lights/candles all heighten risks.
- Material Risks: Older, frayed electrical items are often reused, further compounding danger.
Quote:
“People spend more time at home, so there's more opportunities to have people do things that aren't the most intelligent in the world.” – Steve Kerber [09:11]
2. Hidden Financial Costs of House Fires & Underinsurance
[10:20–13:56]
- Underinsured Homeowners: Many never update their policies’ replacement values to reflect rising rebuild costs.
- Complacency & Indifference: After paying off the mortgage, some homeowners let insurance lapse altogether, risking generational wealth.
- Real Disaster Examples: Recent analyses of the Lahaina fire (Maui) and Palisades fires found underinsurance to be a primary hardship multiplier.
Quote:
“It could wipe out generational wealth.” – Steve Kerber [12:52]
Action Points:
- Review your homeowner’s insurance policy and make sure it reflects today’s replacement value, not an old figure.
- Don’t assume you’re adequately covered simply because you bought a policy years ago.
3. Fire Causes: What Really Gets People?
[14:05–15:26]
- Cooking Is #1: While not all kitchen fires get reported (many are handled thanks to smoke alarms), the data shows cooking as the leading cause.
- Modern Smoke Alarms Are Crucial: Early detection makes it possible for most home fires to be self-contained before they’re disastrous.
Quote:
“Cooking is a big one... Most people that didn't have smoke alarms was because they had it too close to their stove, it winds up in the drawer... 60% of fire fatalities did not have a working smoke alarm.” – Steve Kerber [15:15–16:30]
4. How Fast Fire Spreads Today
[16:33–19:51]
- Modern Furnishings: Newer homes filled with synthetics burn much faster (from first ignition to room engulfed: ~3 minutes now vs. 30 minutes in the past).
- Escape Plans: Because time to escape has shrunk, rehearsing fire drills and planning multiple exits is critical.
Quote:
“You have the least amount of time to safely get out of your home if you have a fire today than at any time in the history of the United States.” – Steve Kerber [16:51]
5. Practical Fire Safety Upgrades
[19:58–23:22]
-
Upgrade Smoke Alarms: New UL-listed smoke alarms include better/smarter multiple sensors and last 10 years—check and replace expired units!
-
Family Fire Drills: Don’t just rely on school drills; practice at home so everyone (including guests) knows multiple exit routes.
-
Closed Doors Matter: “Close before you doze” stops the spread of smoke and heat, increasing survival odds.
Quote:
“We want people sleeping with closed doors, so we call it ‘close before you doze.’ That barrier... buys you valuable time.” – Steve Kerber [21:13]
6. Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Dangers
[23:24–32:41]
- The New Risk: Rechargeable gadgets, toys, e-bikes, and power tools use powerful batteries—smaller but more dangerous than typical electrical equipment.
- Take CHARGE of Battery Safety:
- C: Choose certified (e.g., UL listed) products
- H: Handle devices with care (avoid drops, punctures, extremes)
- A: Always watch for warning signs (bulging, odors, overheating)
- R: Recycle batteries properly, never throw them in regular trash
- Traveling: Never put lithium-ion batteries in checked baggage. Always keep power banks or devices in carry-ons so you can respond to issues.
Quote:
“A single E bike battery or scooter battery can fill a room with fire in like 30 seconds.” – Steve Kerber [31:11]
Useful Resource Links:
- closeyourdoor.org (escape plans, closed door facts)
- batteryfiresafety.org (battery safety tips & more)
7. Notable, Shareable Takeaways
- Smoke alarms expire after 10 years.
- Lithium-ion battery fire risk is new and immense—buy quality & follow safe disposal.
- Holiday increases in cooking/candles aren’t just about fun, but fire triggers.
- Underinsurance can devastate families even after generations of paying off homes.
- Practice fire escape plans at home, not just at school.
[42:36] – TikTok Minute: The Frugal Airport Buffet Legend
A viral story from social media describes a man in China who bought a refundable first-class plane ticket and used it to access the airport lounge dinner for 300 days in a row. Each day, after dining, he’d reschedule his flight for the next day before ultimately refunding the ticket, never boarding.
- The hosts are both incredulous and amused, debating the logistics and reality of such a scheme but ultimately recognize it as a masterclass in frugality (or “brilliant/air quotes brilliant”).
- This playful segment highlights the creative—and sometimes dubious—strategies people try to get ahead financially.
8. Headline Segment: Global Retirement Worries
[45:32–59:59]
Based on the T. Rowe Price Global Retirement Survey
Top Retirement Anxieties Across the Globe:
- #1: Inflation (42%)
Four years ago, inflation wasn’t even on the radar; now it’s the overwhelming global concern. - Other Top Concerns: Geopolitical issues (30%), Interest rates (27%), Unemployment (20%)
- Generational Shift: Younger savers worry more about the stock market, while older savers pay less attention to daily volatility.
Quote:
“If we had said four years ago that inflation worldwide was going to be the thing people were worried about... (it) wasn’t on the radar.” – Joe Saul-Sehy [46:14]
Retirement Planning Highlights:
- Most people’s primary goal: maintain quality of life and financial peace of mind.
- Only 31% expect to maintain or improve their standard of living in retirement; 17% fear running out of money.
- Workplace is the most common source for retirement advice, but people wish for holistic advisors who can bridge in- and out-of-work needs.
Amusing Observations:
- News and financial media fuel pessimism (“28M people in the path of the storm = 340M enjoying good weather!”).
- Progress in retirement saving is easier to see in retrospect than in real time—don’t obsess daily.
Quote:
“You don't get to see the effects of compounding in real time.” – OG [54:29]
[65:29] – Key Lessons & Takeaways (Neighbor Doug’s Wrap-Up)
- Upgrade smoke detectors: Get new, multi-sensor alarms to avoid fatal gaps in protection.
- Lithium-ion safety: Buy certified devices, don’t overload outlets, recycle batteries safely.
- Retirement security: Focus on security first; small, consistent choices make a big difference over time.
- Trivia (& Life) Tip: Don’t be OG’s Trivial Pursuit partner—he’ll just go for “leisure” questions!
Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)
- "People spend more time at home, so there's more opportunities to have people do things that aren't the most intelligent in the world."
– Steve Kerber [09:11] - "It could wipe out generational wealth."
– Steve Kerber [12:52] - "Cooking is a big one... 60% of fire fatalities did not have a working smoke alarm."
– Steve Kerber [15:15–16:30] - "You have the least amount of time to safely get out of your home if you have a fire today than at any time in the history of the United States."
– Steve Kerber [16:51] - "A single E bike battery or scooter battery can fill a room with fire in like 30 seconds."
– Steve Kerber [31:11] - "You don't get to see the effects of compounding in real time."
– OG [54:29] - "31% expect to maintain or improve their standard of living in retirement — that means 69% do not. But you could also say 69% think they're OK!"
– Doug [59:25]
Important Timestamps
- 08:53 – Steve Kerber joins on fire risks & statistics
- 10:20 – The financial disaster of being underinsured
- 14:05 – Why cooking is the top cause of home fires
- 16:51 – Modern home materials fuel fast-spreading fires
- 19:58 – Fire drills, escape plans, and sleeping with doors closed
- 23:24 – Dangers of lithium-ion batteries, what to watch for
- 31:11 – Shocking speed & power of battery fires
- 33:11 – Recommended fire safety resources
- 45:32 – T. Rowe Price global retirement worries (headline segment)
- 54:29 – The behavioral psychology of saving & compounding
Resources & Action Items
- Check your smoke alarms: Replace those >10 years old with new UL-listed, dual-sensor models.
- Do a home fire drill: Practice multiple exit routes—including with visiting family/friends.
- Buy only UL (or certified) lithium battery devices: Dispose/recycle responsibly.
- Review your homeowner’s insurance replacement values: Don’t assume you’re covered!
- Review & update your retirement goals: Progress can be slow, but keeping records makes a difference.
- Learn more:
closeyourdoor.org
batteryfiresafety.org
Tone & Humor
The hosts maintain a friendly, conversational, and joking tone throughout, making technical advice feel approachable and even fun—true to the podcast’s tagline of “fun and functional.”
This comprehensive summary covers all key discussions, insights, and notable quotes, with useful timestamps and action points for listeners who want the maximum wisdom with minimum time spent.