This First Premier Bank FAQ answers what veterans and service members ask once the uniform comes off: when to claim Social Security, what to do with the Thrift Savings Plan, how a pension is taxed beside a new salary, and what happens when markets drop. The first six questions start from your own situation (a letter, a balance, a job offer). The last four cover the firm's logistics: custody, the minimum, the fee and meeting hours.
Questions and answers
My benefits letter shows Social Security at 62; should I claim it while I'm still working my second career?
Usually not, if your new salary is well above $24,480 a year. Before full retirement age (67 for anyone born in 1960 or later), Social Security holds back $1 for every $2 you earn over that 2026 limit. A hypothetical $90,000 salary means $32,760 withheld in a year. First Premier Bank runs that arithmetic against your pension before you pick a claiming age.
Do I have to move my Thrift Savings Plan balance when I start a second career?
No. Your TSP balance can stay where it is after you leave the service, and often should until you've compared it with the new employer's 401(k). The 2026 employee deferral limit of $24,500 applies across the TSP and a 401(k) together, so contributing to both doesn't double it. First Premier Bank compares fund costs and options on both sides before suggesting any move.
What happens if my $48K military pension plus a new $90K salary pushes me into a higher tax bracket?
The pension and salary stack, so your first dollar of salary is taxed on top of the pension. In this hypothetical, $48K plus $90K is $138K of income; subtract the $16,100 single standard deduction and $121,900 is left to tax. Before First Premier Bank suggests pre-tax or Roth TSP contributions, it estimates the tax cost of each. Some states tax retirement income too; check your state's rules.
What does First Premier Bank do when my TSP drops 20% the year after I retire?
First Premier Bank doesn't try to time the drop; it checks whether your pension and cash cover your income draws so you aren't selling at the bottom. A hypothetical $600K balance falling 20% loses $120K and leaves $480K. Every investment can lose money, including what you originally put in, and no advisor can prevent that. Any rebalancing or pause in draws is discussed with you first.
What happens to my roadmap if I change employers 2 years after leaving the service?
The roadmap gets reordered, not thrown out. A new job usually brings new due dates: an old 401(k) rollover, the new employer's enrollment window, and sometimes a different amount of pension income to cover. Send First Premier Bank the offer letter and your last pay stub, and the due dates are listed again in order. An inheritance or a move to another state gets the same treatment.
Is an online robo service enough if my money is mostly a TSP and a pension?
Often yes, if your situation is simple and you're comfortable making the calls yourself. A robo service builds and rebalances a portfolio cheaply. It usually won't decide when to claim Social Security, which account pays your income draws first, or what a rollover costs in tax. A person earns the fee when one wrong order costs you thousands of dollars.
Where would my money be held if I hire an advisor?
In general, advisory firms have a separate custodian hold your accounts in your own name, and the advisor gets permission to trade, not to move money to themselves. Your TSP stays with the TSP unless you decide to move it. Ask First Premier Bank which custodian applies to you, get it in writing, and check it against your year-end statement.
Does the $500K minimum count my military pension, or only accounts like my TSP?
The $500K minimum is measured in investable assets, such as the TSP, IRAs and savings. A pension's monthly payment is income, not a balance, so it isn't counted. A veteran with $380K in the TSP and $140K in an IRA reaches $520K. First Premier Bank serves 426,000 clients and $3.2 billion in client assets as of 10/19/2026, by video and phone nationwide.
How is First Premier Bank paid if I hire it to handle my TSP rollover and IRA?
The fee is talked through openly in your first conversation and confirmed in writing before any work begins, so you decide with the number in front of you. This page doesn't quote a rate. For comparison, any 1% fee on $500K is $5,000 a year, which is why you should ask exactly what the fee covers.
What are the office hours, and can I meet outside my work schedule?
Meetings are by appointment, by video or phone, so you can pick a time around your shift or contract work. The office is at 1355 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101, United States. No phone number is published, so use the request form. First Premier Bank doesn't promise a response time on this page; ask when you submit the form.