First Command Reports: Career Military Families Saving More for Retirement

The First Command Financial Behaviors Index® reveals fourth-quarter
upturn in retirement savings by middle-class service members who work
with a financial advisor

FORT WORTH, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–America’s career military families who work with a financial advisor
focused on building up their retirement accounts during the fourth
quarter of 2016, paving the way to start another year of continued
saving-centric behaviors.

The First Command Financial Behaviors Index® reveals that 82 percent of
middle-class military families (commissioned officers and senior NCOs in
pay grades E-5 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000) who
work with a financial advisor contributed to retirement savings during
the fourth quarter. That compares to 69 percent of their do-it-yourself
colleagues.

Families with financial advisors contributed more dollars to their
retirement accounts, too. Monthly median contributions for the two
groups were $500 and $250, respectively.

Retirement concerns are top of mind for many career military families,
particularly in light of the new Blended Retirement System. About half
of career military families have viewed online training to explain the
new retirement system options, and roughly two in three are aware of
educational classes that will be available in 2017. Most military
families indicate they are likely to consult a financial advisor
regarding their retirement system options – particularly those who
already work with an advisor (65 percent are extremely or very likely to
consult their advisor versus 25 percent without an advisor).

Service members who work with a financial advisor were also more likely
than those without an advisor to contribute to:

  • Short-term savings (82 percent versus 74 percent). Monthly median
    contributions for the two groups were $500 and $250.
  • Long-term savings (65 percent versus 41 percent). Monthly median
    contributions for the two groups were $400 and $300.

Those with a financial advisor reported roughly $35,000 more in
accumulated savings and retirement funds than their do-it-yourself
colleagues. Current holdings for the two groups were $137,665 and
$102,398, respectively.

The majority of career military families also focused on paying down
debt during the fourth quarter. The Index reveals that 75 percent
contributed to short-term debt (making median payments of $500) and 73
percent contributed to long-term debt (with median payments of $850).
Those who work with a financial advisor reported almost $66,000 less in
debt than their do-it-yourself counterparts. Current debt levels for the
two groups were $59,801 and $125,772.

The savings and debt reduction efforts of military families who work
with a financial advisor helped push the overall Index score for the
fourth quarter to 145 – the highest score in more than a year. (The
Index is set to a benchmark of 100, which was assigned when the Index
was launched in 2008.)

Look for the savings and debt reduction trend to continue in the months
ahead. The Index reveals that 44 percent of military families who work
with a financial advisor say they plan to increase their savings in the
future. Thirty-five percent expect to increase debt payments. In
contrast, roughly one in four of those who do not work with a financial
advisor say they intend to take these actions.

“These results underscore the significant contributions that financial
professionals can make in coaching service members to focus on positive
money habits today so they can feel more certain and sure about
tomorrow,” said Scott Spiker, chairman/CEO of First Command Financial
Services, Inc. “Roughly two thirds of those with an advisor feel
extremely or very confident that their financial situation will improve
in the next year and in their ability to retire comfortably. Financial
advisors are helping their career military clients understand their
options under the new Blended Retirement System and take the kinds of
positive actions that will help them feel more confident in the
long-term pursuit of financial security.”

About the First Command Financial Behaviors Index®

Compiled by Sentient Decision Science, Inc., the First Command Financial
Behaviors Index® assesses trends among the American public’s
financial behaviors, attitudes and intentions through a monthly survey
of approximately 530 U.S. consumers aged 25 to 70 with annual household
incomes of at least $50,000. Results are reported quarterly. The margin
of error is +/- 4.3 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence. http://www.firstcommand.com/fbi/

About Sentient Decision Science, Inc.

Sentient Decision Science was commissioned by First Command to compile
the Financial Behaviors Index®. SDS is a behavioral science and
consumer psychology consulting firm with special vertical expertise
within the financial services industry. SDS specializes in advanced
research methods and statistical analysis of behavioral and attitudinal
data.

About First Command

First Command Financial Services and its subsidiaries, including First
Command Advisory Services, First Command Bank and First Command
Financial Planning, assist American families in their efforts to build
wealth, reduce debt and pursue their lifetime financial goals and
dreams—focusing on consumer behavior as the first and most powerful
determinant of results. Through knowledgeable advice and coaching of the
financial behaviors conducive to success, First Command Financial
Advisors have built trustworthy, lasting relationships with hundreds of
thousands of client families since 1958.

First Command Financial Services, Inc., is the parent of First
Command Financial Planning, Inc. (Member
SIPC,
FINRA),
First Command Advisory Services, Inc., First Command Insurance Services,
Inc. and First Command Bank. Financial planning services and investment
products, including securities, are offered by First Command Financial
Planning, Inc. , a broker-dealer. Financial planning and investment
advisory services are offered by First Command Advisory Services, Inc.,
an investment adviser.
Insurance products and services are offered
by First Command Insurance Services, Inc., in all states except Montana,
where as required by law, insurance products and services are offered by
First Command Financial Services, Inc. (a separate Montana domestic
corporation). Banking products and services are offered by First Command
Bank. In certain states, as required by law, First Command Insurance
Services, Inc. does business as a separate domestic corporation.
Securities products are not FDIC insured, have no bank guarantee and may
lose value. A financial plan, by itself, cannot assure that retirement
or other financial goals will be met. First Command Financial Services,
Inc. and its related entities are not affiliated with, authorized to
sell or represent on behalf of or otherwise endorsed by any federal
employee benefits programs referenced, by the U.S. government, or the
U.S. armed forces.

Contacts

First Command Financial Services, Inc.
Mark Leach, 817-569-2419
Media
Relations
msleach@firstcommand.com

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