Dr. Jim Petersen PhD joined First Command Financial Services in 1983 while continuing a 22-year career in the US Navy and US Navy Reserve. He served as a submarine officer and retired with the rank of captain (0-6). Jim retired from First Command at the end of 2018, having served in multiple positions in the field and the home office. He holds a BS degree from the US Naval Academy and two master’s degrees from The American College. He is the first financial services manager to be awarded a PhD in financial and retirement planning from The American College.
THE BOOKS
Who Let The Dogs Lead
In Who Let the Dogs Lead, Dr. Jim Petersen invites readers into an unforgettable leadership fable where a pack of very different dogs must learn to work together to survive, serve, and succeed. Through the voices of Anderson the disciplined German Shepherd, Marilee the intuitive Beagle, Skipper the spirited Shih Tzu, and others, timeless lessons about character, collaboration, and courage come to life. Their journey mirrors the challenges faced by today’s leaders—balancing ego and empathy, vision and humility, independence and interdependence.
Blending humor, heart, and wisdom, Who Let the Dogs Lead is more than a story—it’s a mirror for anyone seeking to grow as a leader, teammate, or friend. Drawing on decades of real-world leadership experience, Dr. Petersen uses his canine cast to illustrate what it truly means to serve others first and to lead with purpose, integrity, and compassion. Whether you’re a CEO, a coach, or simply someone striving to bring out the best in others, this book will remind you that the most effective leaders aren’t always the loudest—they’re the ones the pack chooses to follow.
The Facts Don't Matter
When effort doesn’t match outcome, what do you do next?
You did the work, built the case, followed the rules—and still got passed over, rejected, or ignored. Welcome to life, where perception trumps proof, and where “fairness” is optional.
In The Facts Don’t Matter: How to Stay Sane When Truth Feels Optional, Dr. Jim Petersen pulls back the curtain on the everyday absurdities of boardrooms, classrooms, neighborhoods, and families. From college admissions to corporate reviews, from DEI workshops to family dinners, you’ll see how often optics win over outcomes, and, more importantly, how to stop replaying the unfairness and start reclaiming your peace.
Because the facts may not always matter. But your response, your peace, and your next step always do.
#1 Book in the Social Sciences Reference category
The Facts Don't Matter
When effort doesn’t match outcome, what do you do next?
You did the work, built the case, followed the rules—and still got passed over, rejected, or ignored. Welcome to life, where perception trumps proof, and where “fairness” is optional.
In The Facts Don’t Matter: How to Stay Sane When Truth Feels Optional, Dr. Jim Petersen pulls back the curtain on the everyday absurdities of boardrooms, classrooms, neighborhoods, and families. From college admissions to corporate reviews, from DEI workshops to family dinners, you’ll see how often optics win over outcomes, and, more importantly, how to stop replaying the unfairness and start reclaiming your peace.
Because the facts may not always matter. But your response, your peace, and your next step always do.
The Spirit to Soar
These Life Lessons come from the True Story of Former Orphan & POW, Lt. Col. Barry B. Bridger, United States Air Force (Retired). The book presents a number of Life Lessons as they apply to Lt. Col. Bridger’s life as seen through the eyes of the author.
From Combat to Corporate Life
When We Hire Military Veterans, Everyone Wins. In business, we need to hire candidates who are honest, loyal, committed to the organization’s overall success, have a great work ethic, work well on teams, and perform well under pressure. Look no further than veterans of the US military forces for your best candidates.From Combat to Corporate Life focuses on the tremendous opportunity that corporations, companies, and organizations have to make veterans valuable members of their teams. It explains how military experience can translate to success in the civilian workforce and answers the who, what, why, where, when, and how of recruiting our nation’s courageous defenders.
From Combat to Corporate Life
When We Hire Military Veterans, Everyone Wins. In business, we need to hire candidates who are honest, loyal, committed to the organization’s overall success, have a great work ethic, work well on teams, and perform well under pressure. Look no further than veterans of the US military forces for your best candidates.From Combat to Corporate Life focuses on the tremendous opportunity that corporations, companies, and organizations have to make veterans valuable members of their teams. It explains how military experience can translate to success in the civilian workforce and answers the who, what, why, where, when, and how of recruiting our nation’s courageous defenders.
From Combat to Client Service
Recruiting top-notch personnel for the financial services profession is a constant challenge. Finding a person who is dedicated, loyal, reliable, able to understand sometimes-complex topics, educated, and mature are just some of these requirements. Often a financial professional is required to operate independently and many times solely on a commission basis. There is a small percentage of Americans who fit these criteria.
UPCOMING EVENTS
CONTACT US
Dr. Petersen PhD is available for speaking engagements to small or large groups on any of his books, training sessions on a variety of subjects or for group sessions to discuss these important subjects. Please inquire below: