Middle-class military families that work with financial advisors save considerably more money than those who do not have an advisor, according to the First Command Financial Behaviors Index.
Military families with an advisor put away four times as much for long-term expenses as those without an advisor. The survey for the fourth quarter of 2013 shows families with advisors saved an average of $1,133 per month in long-term savings, while those without saved $278 per month.
Those with an advisor also saved more for short-term expenses, $1,228 a month compared to $638 per month for those without an advisor, says First Command Financial Services, which helps military families reach their financial goals.
The survey included senior NCOs and commissioned officers with household incomes of at least $50,000.
“This dramatic savings gap highlights the positive influence a trusted financial advisor can have on the money habits and long-term financial security of our men and women in uniform,” says Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command. “These financial professionals are helping to heighten fiscal discipline in a population that has become increasingly concerned about the impact that sequestration and defense downsizing may exert on military pay, benefits and career viability.”
The savings trend is expected to continue for at least the near future, First Command says.