First Command Partners with Cristo Rey Fort Worth
An interview with John Weitzer, First Command Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
First Command Financial Services, founded and headquartered in Fort Worth for 67 years, serves military families globally through financial coaching, banking and investment planning. Recently, they joined forces with Cristo Rey Fort Worth College Prep’s internship program, providing students with employment as well as hands-on experience and education in finance and investment strategies.
For the past two years, four Cristo Rey students have spent one day each week at First Command’s headquarters through the Corporate Work Study Program partnership. These students gain far more than just work experience. They explore the financial planning industry and professional environment and get exposure to career possibilities they may never have considered.
John Weitzer, First Command’s Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, helped launch a similar Cristo Rey program in Milwaukee. “I understand how transformative this model can be when businesses truly invest in developing student potential rather than simply providing employment,” he said.
John reflected on the meaningful impact of teaching and coaching—both in guiding our nation’s military and in shaping the next generation of leaders:
How is this different from a typical internship?
John Weitzer: The students don’t just observe workplace dynamics—they become active participants in planning their professional futures while developing critical skills in financial literacy, business communication and professional development. We seek to inspire and motivate the students by coaching them in the financial behaviors associated with the pursuit of financial security, just as we do with our Nation’s military families.
This partnership represents my personal commitment to expanding educational access through meaningful coaching relationships. Rather than simply providing these students with jobs, we ensure they feel understood, valued and supported while fostering the disciplined financial habits and long-term perspective essential for lasting financial security.
How do you offer practical financial education without risking someone’s retirement savings?
John Weitzer: As Chief Investment Officer overseeing First Command’s $24 billion investment program, I created a hands-on stock picking contest that embodied our coaching philosophy. Instead of telling students which investments to choose, I taught them how to make those decisions themselves.
Students built and managed a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio, making strategic trades while documenting their investment reasoning. They tracked performance using real market data and justified each decision—developing the analytical thinking and evidence-based approach we follow. The program rules mirrored real-world investment guidelines, preparing them for actual financial decision-making.
The true measure of our coaching success? One student outperformed my own portfolio during a recent market downturn. That achievement didn’t surprise me—it validated our approach of coaching clients on their terms while empowering them to clarify their goals and needs. When provided with a guided, transparent experience and relevant tools and advice, the students thrive. Through our trusted coaching relationship, our clients leverage positive and productive financial habits—and so do our students.
What impact has First Command’s partnership with Cristo Rey Fort Worth College Prep had on student learning and workforce development?
John Weitzer: What started as a program for two students in my department has expanded to all four Cristo Rey interns at First Command. We’ve developed structured learning sessions on stocks, bonds, and fundamental investment principles—not because the students will all become investment professionals, but because financial literacy is a life skill that serves everyone.
The benefits extend far beyond investment knowledge. Students develop confidence in financial decision-making and gain understanding of career possibilities they may never have considered. For First Command, these students bring fresh perspectives while helping us build a future talent pipeline right here in Fort Worth.
This collaboration demonstrates what happens when local businesses commit to true coaching rather than simple employment. We’re not just providing jobs—we’re expanding educational access and economic opportunity through meaningful skill development.
How does First Command’s partnership with Cristo Rey Fort Worth reflect the company’s broader mission and commitment to military families and community service?
John Weitzer: Our partnership with Cristo Rey Fort Worth exemplifies First Command’s 67-year commitment to serving others through empowerment. Since Lieutenant Colonel Carroll Payne founded our company in 1958 to address unique financial challenges faced by military families, we’ve understood that lasting security comes through coaching, not quick fixes.
Today, we dedicate 8% of our company profits directly to charities and sponsorships supporting military and community causes, with no tax benefit to First Command. Our Financial Advisors deliver more than 34,000 complimentary financial plans to active duty military families annually, empowering them through personalized guidance and transparent recommendations. First Command employees volunteered more than 25,000 hours to military and charitable initiatives last year, extending our coaching philosophy into community service.
With 75% of our 589 Financial Advisors being veterans or military spouses, our deep connection to the military community influences everything we do. We’ve earned recognition as a Military Friendly Employer for 12 years and a Military Friendly Spouse Employer for nine years, reflecting our commitment to empowering rather than simply employing those who serve.
How does First Command’s coaching approach impact Cristo Rey Fort Worth students beyond the workplace?
John Weitzer: The results speak for themselves: 100% of recent Cristo Rey Fort Worth graduates are accepted to colleges and universities. But that statistic, impressive as it is, tells only part of the story. The real success lies in watching students develop the confidence and skills to achieve their own goals.
When our Cristo Rey students graduate and pursue higher education, they carry forward more than just work experience. They possess the financial literacy, analytical thinking, and professional confidence gained through our coaching approach. They understand that success comes through disciplined effort and sound decision-making—lessons that will serve them throughout their careers and lives.
How does First Command view its partnership with Cristo Rey Fort Worth in terms of community impact and long-term mission?
John Weitzer: This partnership represents more than corporate citizenship. It’s an investment in developing Fort Worth’s future leaders through proven coaching principles. When we help economically disadvantaged students access not just education but the skills to succeed independently, we’re strengthening our entire community.
At First Command, we understand that true success is measured by the positive impact we make in the lives of those we serve. Our partnership with Cristo Rey Fort Worth College Prep proves that when businesses commit to coaching rather than simply employing, we unlock potential, expand opportunity, and build stronger communities for everyone.
As these students continue their educational journeys, they’ll carry forward the most valuable lesson we can teach: with the right coaching, guidance, and personal commitment, financial security and professional success can be achievable. That’s been our Mission for 67 years, and it’s what drives us forward today.
About First Command
First Command Financial Services coaches our Nation’s military families in their pursuit of financial security. Founded in 1958, First Command and its subsidiaries—including First Command Brokerage Services, First Command Advisory Services, and First Command Bank—serve more than 304,000 client families through 589 Financial Advisors nationwide. As a 100% employee-owned company, First Command manages $46.48 billion in client assets and maintains $70.27 billion of life insurance coverage in force.
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