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First Command Financial Services

Engaged Employer

First Command Financial Services reviews

4.4

87% would recommend to a friend

(576 total reviews)
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Mark Steffe

92% approve of CEO

88% positive business outlook

First Command Financial Services has an employee rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, based on 576 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The First Command Financial Services employee rating is 22% above average for employers within the Financial Services industry (3.6 stars).

Reviews by job title

576 reviews
1.0
Jan 6, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Many of the lower and mid manager level employees really seem to care about the company's clients.

Cons

Most of the upper management honestly are very much out for themselves and will do almost anything imaginable to cover themselves. People are put in management roles (often very high roles within the company) and they cannot manage people. There is a difference between being a project manager and a people manager. When senior leaders are made aware of a lack of management, they often turn their heads to the point that honestly First Command puts itself in a liablility for an employment lawsuit. Although I did not witness this firsthand, I heard numerous people stating that they had been asked by their managers to go on to Glassdoor and write positive things about First Command and working there. Many of them may have written more than one positive review. For this reason, I would not put a lot of weight into many of the comments on this site. I will state from an advisor and a home office perspective that it is very difficult to be successful with this company. Although I did not work directly with the advisors to discuss such matters, it was well known thoughout the company and even the competition and the military market that First Command was only interested in selling something they refer to as whole life insurance which apparently is a lot more expensive and makes First Command a lot more money. Even when advisors feel this is not the best choice for the client, they are compensated a lot less if they do not sell it. Advisors looking to go to work for this company need to be aware of this. This from what others said had been brought to management's attention that advisors did not understand why they were penalized for doing what was right for the client but management simply stated that it was the right thing regardless. Please keep in mind that I do not know much about the industry, but to me it seems a bit shady.

2.0
Nov 4, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Paid time off starts accruing immediately, which is a bonus over some places. They offer leadership training, but several managers will not allow their employees to participate. They have great programs like OZ and CASTLE but instead of having the professionals teach the courses, they have internal HR employees do it. You go to multiple full day courses, but each one is exactly like the previous, redundant. They possess tons of technology! Unfortunately they don't have the skills or the "formula for change" so they are not utilizing anything to the best of it's intended purpose.Office culture is pretty laid back, so going to work daily is not too stressful. Annual raises - don't get your hopes up too high, doesn't cover cost of living increase. First Command wants a feedback culture, meaning they intend to support an environment that allows open and honest feedback. This is good for employee growth, if used properly.

Cons

While they have several classes and opportunities for growth, as well as tuition reimbursement, most of the management discourages use of these, or in many cases, denies an employees ability to utilize these resources. Money is spent as if it were growing on trees for technology, supplies, training. After they do all of the spending, there is absolutely no follow through. Millions of dollars with nothing to show for it, nothing purchased is fully implemented afterwards someone will just purchase something else to do what they want. First Command has a "Family focus" but this is just in talking. When there is a situation or emergency, there is NO SUPPORT. Sending flowers does not make you family oriented. I have seen several women go through miscarriages, in each case the woman is expected at work until the time of their surgery, and then expected in the day following the "Procedure" as they call it in Human Resources. Donation of PTO is not allowed when serious circumstances should permit. It is against company policy. First Command has the biggest Business Information Services department (IT) I have ever seen in a not IT company. The turnover rate in BIS is worse than any IT department I have ever seen. Even senior management changes regularly. Positions are so hard to fill, that HR is offering double incentives if you can get someone in to be hired. All positions pay fair, but raises are below 3%. Feedback is a joke. Feedback is given to employees but never to management. Some managers severely lack in people skills, other managers feel that you cannot speak to them unless you are at their level or above. While it is well known that the management style of these people is unacceptable and causes turnover, it is ignored. If you have worked there more than a couple years, you are the way you are and people have to deal with it. If you are new, you must take whatever is given to you. In order to be promoted, you need an MBA, even if your bosses do not have more than a Bachelor's degree.

Viewing 511 - 513 of 576 Reviews

Glassdoor has 633 First Command Financial Services reviews submitted anonymously by First Command Financial Services employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if First Command Financial Services is right for you.