FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Look for wives and husbands to play a key role in decisions facing service members this year under the military’s new retirement program.
The First Command Financial Behaviors Index® reveals that 82 percent of spouses in middle-class military families (commissioned officers and senior NCOs in pay grades E-5 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000) expect to be extremely or very involved in the process of deciding between opting in to the Blended Retirement System (BRS) and sticking with their traditional guaranteed pension. And one in five think they should be the primary decision maker.
“These survey findings stand in sharp contrast to the reality facing military spouses,” said Scott Spiker, chairman/CEO of First Command Financial Services, Inc. “Wives and husbands receive limited access to government education or training and have no voice in decisions involving the new program. That’s a troubling oversight as the BRS opt in decision is clearly one of the most important financial choices facing our Nation’s career military families. It’s a decision that can significantly affect the long-term financial security of service members and spouses.”
The BRS represents a major shift in military retirement planning, one that introduces more risk and more complexity. That risk begins with a 20 percent cut in the traditional pension, which has provided guaranteed monthly retirement pay to generations of career military families who completed 20 years of service. The 20 percent reduction pays for a new defined contribution program that includes automatic and matching Thrift Savings Plan contributions, mid-career continuation pay and a lump sum buyout option. The program applies to all new service members starting Jan. 1, 2018, but military members with 12 years or less of service on Dec. 31, 2017, are eligible to opt in to the new program during 2018.
The latest quarterly results of the Index reveal that three out of ten career military families say they want to opt into the BRS. While the new benefits may appear appealing at first glance, a 20 percent reduction in guaranteed lifetime income is a matter of serious concern. For that reason BRS regulations include mandatory education for service members in advance of the decision to opt into the new system or stick with the guaranteed income from the legacy pension. Almost all of the spouses in the survey said they also would find education and training to be a valuable tool in helping them understand the BRS opt-in decision.
“This strong interest in BRS education makes perfect sense in light of the importance of financial issues to military spouses,” Spiker said. “Their unique experience is often one of shouldering the primary responsibility for household budgeting and savings. Our research confirms that military spouses are deeply involved in preparing for retirement, so it’s understandable that they want education and to be involved in the BRS opt-in decision. Our survey results reveal that 39 percent of spouses think they should have an equal voice in the opt-in decision. Twenty percent say spouses should be the primary decision maker.”
Financial coaching can play a key role in helping service members and spouses work together to successfully navigate this complex government benefit through diligent planning and saving. The Index consistently reveals that career military families who work with a financial advisor are more likely to save more and feel more confident about their finances than their colleagues who do not work with an advisor.
“Working with a financial coach is an ideal way for military families – and the husbands and wives who manage their household finances – to make the most of their pay and benefits,” Spiker said. “Coaching helps to give military spouses an equal voice in retirement and other financial decisions and supports military families in their continuing pursuit of long-term 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 Financial Planning and First Command Bank, coach our Nation’s military families in their pursuit of financial security. Since 1958, First Command Financial Advisors have been shaping positive financial behaviors through face-to-face coaching with hundreds of thousands of client families.
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.
