First Command Reviews
First Command Overview
The generated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
First Command reviews skew negative with recurring customer complaints about predatory practices, unresponsive customer service, and high fees, though a few customers report helpful local representatives.
Key Takeaways for Future Customers
- Expect mixed experiences; verify advisor credentials before committing.
- Watch for high fees and ask detailed questions about products and billing.
- Consider alternative local financial services if concerned about trust or membership-like pressure.
Negative Feedback / Risk Areas
- Customer complaints about predatory sales tactics and poor financial advice.
- Poor customer service: no return calls, hard-to-reach offices.
- Reports of unprofessional conduct and aggressive upselling to military clients.
Positive Feedback
Some reviewers praise individual representatives for being helpful and pleasant.
The generated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
First Command reviews skew negative with recurring customer complaints about predatory practices, unresponsive customer service, and high fees, though a few customers report helpful local representatives.
Key Takeaways for Future Customers
- Expect mixed experiences; verify advisor credentials before committing.
- Watch for high fees and ask detailed questions about products and billing.
- Consider alternative local financial services if concerned about trust or membership-like pressure.
Negative Feedback / Risk Areas
- Customer complaints about predatory sales tactics and poor financial advice.
- Poor customer service: no return calls, hard-to-reach offices.
- Reports of unprofessional conduct and aggressive upselling to military clients.
Positive Feedback
Some reviewers praise individual representatives for being helpful and pleasant.
Dusseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia
The District Advisor in Europe
- - Accuses Jim McNair of tolerating sexist acts and predatory sales tactics.
- - Not recommended in Europe; he dumps clients on a planner after sale.
Avoid Mr. Jim McNair at all cost. He allows sexist acts to occur and only laughs about it some reports that he even takes part.
He is only interested in using predatory practices to pump clients to buy things they do not need and once there is nothing left for him to sell them he dumps the client on a Planner to have them do all the follow work and reap none of the benefit.
It is a shame that this individual is in Europe, as long as he is in Europe I will not recommend this company to anyone and I will do everything I can to get him banned from base to prevent him from preying on the military members in this region.
User's recommendation: Request the Jim McNair be removed as District Advisor
Kansas City, Missouri
Need to find a local representative
Darlene was very helpful! She provided the information I needed and very pleasant to talk with. Thanks
Dededo Village, Dededo
Does anyone work in the Guam office?
- - No return calls; phone is rarely answered.
- - Scheduling is difficult; no one is at the office.
- - There are high fees and expensive products.
It's not what happened, it's what's not happening. No return phone calls, extremely difficult to schedule an appointment, no one answers the phone.
Drop by the office and no one is there. With high fees being charged and expensive products, I expect better than this.
User's recommendation: avoid or consider another local financial services company
Tampa, Florida
Same Old False Promises
- - The firm preyed on financial ignorance.
- - They use former military members to pitch to troops and federal civilians for First Command.
I severed my connection with this company, they preyed upon my ignorance about financial matters and the market. They purposely use former military members to make their pitches to the troops or FED civilians in order to capitalize on the military's reputation as a trust worthy institution.
RUN, don't walk, away from ANYTHING being sold by First Command. I learned the hard way, so hopefully you will not.
Unprofessional
- - Advisor was sociable but gave poor advice and opened two IRAs for a car loan.
- - Supervisor mocked returns; Michael Smith sent insults.
I signed up with an employee at first command financial services here in Greenville, NC. He was very sociable/likeable but did not give good financial advice.
I had to ask him multiple times to stop investing in two IRA's he opened for me to save for a car. His advice was to keep investing in the IRA and take out a car loan. (go into further debt to so he can make money off my IRA investment, yeah, ok). Eventually he listened to me once he figured out I would leave if I didn't start saving for a vehicle.
Then, I went into to close out one of the IRA's to put a down payment on a house, since I already lost 8% of my investment in both IRA's. My advisor wasn't there, so I talked to his supervisor who gave me some dumb analogy about how if I invested a dollar and the return was 100% per year, how long would it take me to make a million dollars, He tol me 20 years. WOW, he's amazing, he can manufacture money like the government. My response was "Pete, I lost 8% so far, how is that a 100% gain per year." He said " who is the financial expert in the room." I replied "I am, its my money." He started yelling tole me good luck I was gonna need and all this other BS.
Then, my financial adivosor Michael Smith tries to call me a couple times. I texted him back and told him that that business was a sham, and if he could tell me what the top five earning stocks were this last month, I'd come back and invest. He couldn't answer me so he instead tells me I'm a loser, no one cares about my love life, no one can stand me, that I was pathetic. HAHA, yeah.
I told him once i'm a millionaire, i'll let him know all about it. Meanwhile they have plaques near their front door that have performance reviews as a professional business, customers first, all that stuff.
His profession is financing and he gives the exact opposite in advice. Do NOT invest with first command, they'll *** just to line their own pockets.
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Your advisor was right. He wanted you to save for retirement instead saving for a car (depreciating asset).
When you retire, your car will be worth much less, but the averages in the market would have grown your IRA.
You were down 8% for a while. The people who get emotional when the account drops and want to cash out always lose.
Don't over react and stay put. The market has always recovered.
I am a First Command client and because of them have saved for my retirement.
First Command Financial continues to support Midland National Life despite the allegations of threats against women.
To learn more about Midland National Life Google "Midland National Life" threat or "Midland National Life" women.
Cashing out an IRA for a car purchase or a home purchase is generally a very bad idea. If it is a traditional IRA not only is there tax due on the withdrawal and any earnings there is also a 10% penalty.
Regarding the statement "I lost 8% so far"...cashing out an IRA or any investment when it is down only locks in the loss. Perhaps, it will rebound 20%??? Who knows?
What I do know is you can't time the market and if you think you can perhaps you shouldn't be investing. All of that aside....First Command still sux!
Any consumer who would set up an IRA for a car is an ***