Top 100 Industry Awards: Financial Services: Bowl game illustrates First Command’s ties to military, FW

Armed Forces Bowl

For the ninth consecutive year, First Command Financial Services Inc. is a co-sponsor of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl – the original collegiate football bowl game that honors all five branches of the U.S. military.

The sponsorship is one of the more public ways the company interacts with the Fort Worth community, as well as its military heritage.

“First Command is honored to offer our men and women in uniform and their families this special opportunity to experience and enjoy this patriotic sporting event,” said Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command. “We view our support of the Lockheed Martin Armed Force Bowl as a clear demonstration of the sense of partnership we feel with all of the armed forces and our civic commitment to the Fort Worth community.”

First Command Financial Services and its subsidiaries, including First Command Bank and First Command Financial Planning, assist families in their efforts to build wealth, reduce debt and pursue their lifetime financial goals. The company also conducts a monthly financial behaviors index to access financial trends among consumers.

- FWBP Digital Partners -

Founded in 1958 by Carroll Payne, a retired military officer who realized that military families needed assistance in planning for their financial futures, the company has continued to grow and expand its mission. It now has grown its customer base beyond the military to include federal employees and other consumers.

In 2014, the company reported sales of $247 million and now has more than 600 workers in the Fort Worth area and 1,693 around the world.

– Staff reports

- Advertisement -

Financial confidence

According to the latest First Command Financial Behaviors index, the financial confidence of America’s career military families is on the rise in 2015,

fueled in part by a continuing commitment to frugal living.

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.

- Advertisement -

“This upsurge in financial confidence among our men and women in uniform is a remarkable development as it comes at a time of continued anxiety about how cuts to defense spending and military pay and benefits may affect their family finances,” said Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command Financial Services Inc. “Roughly three quarters of June survey respondents said they expect to be financially impacted by sequestration. But they are feeling better about their overall finances thanks to frugal living. Half say they are increasing the amount they are saving, and one out of three are cutting back on everyday spending. These are the types of positive money behaviors that can boost financial confidence in times both good and bad. They serve as an effective agent for counteracting feelings of financial uncertainty and worries.”

The First Command Financial Behaviors Index reveals that two key measures of confidence have hit record highs. May results show that 72 percent of middle-class military families (commissioned officers and senior NCOs in pay grades E-6 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000) believe that their financial situation will improve in the next year (up 23 points from January). And 69 percent are growing more confident in their ability to retire comfortably (also up 23 points for the year).

Confidence levels dropped slightly in the June survey, but still reflect an upward trend for the year.

About First

Command Financial Services Inc.

Location: 1 FirstComm Plaza

Fort Worth 76109

817-731-8621

www.firstcommand.com