First Command Financial Services reviews about "training"

Advisors are independent contractors. The company offers a lot of training on financial planning and sales, but almost no training on running a business. Many advisors fail simply because they were not equipped to properly run a business. Little name recognition: company was stuck in the dark ages of just word of mouth for too long and has little presence in most modern marketing outlets. Company inbred for too long. By taking an isolationism view to outside hires the company fostered a way of thinking that was slow to change and did not take into account industry changes.

First year quota's are all based upon insurance. If you aren't selling insurance, you'll never make it at this company. Very little on the job training. DA's are hit and miss as successful advisors don't always translate into good DAs. Client portal is seriously out dated.

Hitting quotas. Being an advisor are for certain personalities. First Command really does believe in doing the right thing and preparing everyone's financial plan but sometimes the focus can really shift towards whole life insurance.

1- The company talks about doing what's best for clients, but the compensation system for advisors pressures them to sell whole life insurance. 2- Slow to pay advisors their commissions and fast to take money on charge backs. 3- Very challenging gates for the first year advisor. Investments sold by the first year advisor does not count towards the quarterly gates (only insurance sales). Only one year program for new advisor income before going to 100% commission. 4- Financial planning software is outdated and not user friendly.

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.

They don't provide training to employees, they micro manage but with lack of direction or goals, there is a lot of finger pointing and management does not want to take responsibility. 2% to 0% on employee pay raises. Executives have a lot of off site meetings with big budget meals. Depressing atmosphere, lots of people always coughing and sneezing. No career opportunities, long hours, and 1950's culture.

benefits, training and promotion dont enter into the situation until you have proven that you can sell. Training is scant, benefits are unclear and promotion appears purely political

Company is still maturing in the area of change management and leadership, but improving as some of the old ideas and management styles are replaced with innovative thinking and strategy.