The share of America’s career military families currently providing elder care is on the rise, creating unexpected monetary stresses and fueling demand for professional financial advice.

The First Command Financial Behaviors Index® reveals that 42 percent of middle-class military families (commissioned officers and senior NCOs in pay grades E-6 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000) are currently providing care for an elderly parent or other family member. That’s up significantly from 13 percent in 2012. In contrast, just 12 percent of general population families are currently providing elderly care, statistically unchanged from 2012.

Military families are currently or anticipate providing care in a variety of settings, most commonly in the home (54 percent in their own home and 46 percent in the elderly person’s home). Many respondents expect to provide care by paying for:

* home care services (28 percent)

* health care services (10 percent)

* nursing home care (9 percent)

The cost of providing this care is proving to be sizable for many military families. More than half (53 percent) say costs are more than they expected, estimating their average monthly outlay at $1,306. Among general population respondents, just 27 percent say the costs are higher than they expected. They estimate their average monthly cost at $918.

Two thirds of military families are seeking out specific financial planning help related to the cost of elder care. The Index reveals that 67 percent are planning for these costs, up from just 16 percent in 2012. And almost half of those families are engaging with a financial advisor. The trend has remained essentially flat in the general population, where just 14 percent of respondents are seeking out planning services related to the cost of elderly care. Almost half are using a financial advisor.

“As a growing number of military families take on responsibility for elder care, they are finding that the economic reality is more challenging than they expected,” said Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command Financial Services, Inc. “Seeking out knowledgeable financial planning support is a smart way to prepare for the added financial responsibility of caring for an older family member.”

Look for the elder care trend to continue in the years ahead. Eighteen percent of military families say they anticipate providing elderly care in the future, unchanged from 2012.

About the First Command Financial Behaviors Index®

Compiled by Sentient Decision Science, Inc., the First Command Financial Behaviors Index® assesses trends among the American public’s financial behaviors, attitudes and intentions through a monthly survey of approximately 530 U.S. consumers aged 25 to 70 with annual household incomes of at least $50,000. Results are reported quarterly. The margin of error is +/- 4.3 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence. http://www.firstcommand.com/fbi/

About Sentient Decision Science, Inc.

Sentient Decision Science was commissioned by First Command to compile the Financial Behaviors Index®. SDS is a behavioral science and consumer psychology consulting firm with special vertical expertise within the financial services industry. SDS specializes in advanced research methods and statistical analysis of behavioral and attitudinal data.

About First Command

First Command Financial Services and its subsidiaries, including First Command Bank and First Command Financial Planning, assist American families in their efforts to build wealth, reduce debt and pursue their lifetime financial goals and dreams—focusing on consumer behavior as the first and most powerful determinant of results. Through knowledgeable advice and coaching of the financial behaviors conducive to success, First Command Financial Advisors have built trustworthy, lasting relationships with hundreds of thousands of client families since 1958.

First Command Financial Services, Inc., is the parent of First Command Financial Planning, Inc. (Member SIPC, FINRA), First Command Advisory Services, Inc., First Command Insurance Services, Inc. and First Command Bank. Financial planning services and investment products, including securities, are offered by First Command Financial Planning, Inc. , a broker-dealer. Financial planning and investment advisory services are offered by First Command Advisory Services, Inc., an investment adviser. Insurance products and services are offered by First Command Insurance Services, Inc., in all states except Montana, where as required by law, insurance products and services are offered by First Command Financial Services, Inc. (a separate Montana domestic corporation). Banking products and services are offered by First Command Bank. In certain states, as required by law, First Command Insurance Services, Inc. does business as a separate domestic corporation. Securities products are not FDIC insured, have no bank guarantee and may lose value. A financial plan, by itself, cannot assure that retirement or other financial goals will be met. First Command Financial Services, Inc. and its related entities are not affiliated with, authorized to sell or represent on behalf of or otherwise endorsed by any federal employee benefits programs referenced, by the U.S. government, or the U.S. armed forces.