Core Insights - The article explores whether the fictional character Fonzie from "Happy Days" would have sufficient retirement funds to live comfortably in 2026, assuming he retired around 2000 [1] Group 1: Fonzie's Career and Earnings - Fonzie began his career as a mechanic in the mid-1950s, later transitioning to education as a shop teacher and guidance counselor [2][3] - His early career as a mechanic did not provide substantial earnings, with inflation-adjusted wages for factory workers remaining relatively stagnant from the 1960s to the 1980s [4] - Real wages for American workers peaked in 1973, and Fonzie's modest lifestyle during his mechanic years meant he likely did not save significantly for retirement [5] Group 2: Retirement Planning and Pension - Upon becoming a teacher, Fonzie entered the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), a defined benefit pension plan for public school teachers in Wisconsin [6] - The WRS pension can replace approximately 33% to 45% of a teacher's salary, depending on years of service, with Fonzie potentially qualifying for the higher end of this range after 35 years in the system [7] - Assuming a salary of $50,000 at retirement, Fonzie's annual pension would be around $20,000 to $22,000 [7]