Results of the Index’s semiannual federal employee survey indicated that the average monthly amount federal employees put into their retirement accounts during the first quarter totaled $1,221, about 40% more than the rank and file of average Americans. The average long-term debt payments by federal employees totaled $1,217, 14% more than the general population. 

According to a release of the survey results, the dollars allocated to long-term debt in the first quarter also helped federal employees outpace the general population in overall debt payments ($2,132 versus $2,033). However, federal employees trailed average Americans in overall savings activity. Average monthly payments for short-term and long-term savings and retirement accounts totaled $2,006 for federal employees, compared to $2,292 for the general population. 

The survey found that federal employees with a financial plan put a higher amount, on average, into savings and investment accounts than those without a plan. During the first quarter, overall savings for those with a financial plan totaled $2,542, compared to $1,781 for those without.  

In addition, federal employees with a financial plan have greater feelings of comfort with savings than those without a plan. In the first quarter, 20% of federal employees with a financial plan felt extremely or very comfortable with their current savings, compared to only 11% of federal employees without a plan. 

A similar disparity exists with respect to comfort with current debt levels—37% versus 26%.

The First Command Financial Behaviors Index assesses trends among the American public’s financial behaviors, attitudes, and intentions through a monthly survey of approximately 1,000 U.S. consumers ages 25 to 70 with annual household incomes of at least $50,000. 

More information is available at www.firstcommand.com/research.