First Command

Our Mission

The seeds of First Command’s commitment to serving the financial planning needs of American military families were planted in the early 1950s, when Air Force Lt. Col. Carroll Payne had the occasion to work closely with the families of several crew members killed in a training flight. Saddened by the survivors’ financial difficulties, Lt. Col. Payne began thinking about how he might be able to help other military families avoid the same fate. In 1958, he began laying the groundwork for the company that would become First Command.

First Command’s mission – coaching those who serve in their pursuit of financial security – hasn’t really changed in the ensuing years. Our focus continues to be on building trusting Client-Advisor relationships by meeting face-to-face with servicemembers, federal employees and their families to learn what’s important to them, helping them establish meaningful and specific goals that reflect their values, and then constructing comprehensive financial plans for protecting their loved ones and pursuing their goals.

Just as Lt. Col. Payne envisioned more than half a century ago, First Command is steadfastly committed to helping those who serve get their financial lives squared away.