As always, if you read my blog, you read about things as they relate to whatever is going on in my life. This week it’s to Fish Lake and then straight to Atlanta, Georgia. I’m here for a meeting for First Command financial planners. Today is my 5th week anniversary being married and I’m being a supportive wife. It’s much easier to support something you can believe in.

Not only have a learned a more organized life from Stephen, but today I learned about his career as a financial planner. It is something I’m not good at but appreciate, partly because it’s so radically different from my industry. They plan everything, from the luggage tags to the next sales meeting two years out (something my industry can’t do - where the average stay at a company is around 18 months!). With how things are growing we’re lucky to plan ahead two weeks.

Business meetings are business meetings so it’s not amazing (but the SOB band was fun), but I’m impressed with First Command so far, and here’s why:

• This company walks its talk. Just like my husband, they plan ahead and build on a solid foundation based on principles and values. The First Command Bank is financially secure, ahead of its peers when other banks are teetering or failing.
• Their target market is middle class America and the military - people who need to plan financially and who too often, don’t. There is a lot of talk of making a difference. There is a lot of genuine appreciation (from the chef at the hotel, to the execs), kindness, and camaraderie.
• Unlike conferences where people hook up or cheat on their spouses, there is example after example of devotion to family and fidelity. Spouses seem to work as teams. People who cheat don’t last here.
• They motivate with good examples. Today a journalist Myerl Comer spoke about caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s. She shows a video of what she does every day and the love she infuses into her interactions with him. It’s almost unbelievable. I know how I feel getting woken in the middle of the night or early in the morning…I’m inspired. I remember my dad caring for his dad who had Alzheimer’s the entire time I knew him.

As far as Atlanta goes:

• They don’t sleep! The subway was crowded past 11pm and activity seemed to be going on at all hours. I’m used to a night life that ends at 9.
• We’re not in Utah - from the wine in the hotel snack bar fridge to the cultural diversity - it’s obvious and refreshing (though I’ve gotten used to and love Utah).
• It’s HUGE. I have been to Atlanta before but I remembered again how big this city is.

A lot of us live for today without thought of tomorrow and it has gotten us in a bad place. Some are good in their financial life but cheat in their personal lives. First Command has earned my respect as they stand for goodness in both.

My only advice is after seeing their search results, their online reputation needs an upgrade.

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