Barfield Financial, LLC

06/15/2026

For you federal law enforcement officers retiring soon (or moving to a new state in retirement) and wondering about HR 218/LEOSA quals, I have a piece of advice:

Get the information from someone in the state you'll be retiring in. It is done differently in each state. And sometimes VERY differently.

Here are just some examples:

-some states make you qualify with the EXACT weapon you are going to carry, like literally each weapon by serial number. Others make you qualify with the TYPE of weapon you are going to carry (Revolver vs Semi-Automatic), but not the exact weapon. Others couldn't care less what gun you carry. They don't make a note of what you qualify on.

-Generally speaking, your former agency will NOT qualify you. You have to find another route. In my experience, the FBI Retired Agents Association will sometimes coordinate federal retiree qualifications in some states (maybe all?). But it's generally at a local PD or Sheriff's dept. Or sometimes State Police.

-The qual course is a state approved qual course. Some agencies may require the primary qual course, others may only require a back-up course

-Some agencies are very strict with scoring and others don't even bother scoring the targets.

-Yes, most of us recommend both the LEOSA qual card AND a conceal carry/license to carry from that state as well, if they offer it. The coverages are not the same and more protection is generally better than less.

-This may be different for different agencies, but for the U.S. Marshals and others I know of, you'll get 3 items: 1.) retired credentials, 2.) a separate LEOSA card specifically stating you're a retired LEO that retired in good standing (a requirement of LEOSA), and then 3.) your qualification card from your most recent qual issued by whatever state entity qualified you. No expiration on Items 1 and 2. Item 3 has to be renewed every year.

Bottom line is when you are in a retirement seminar and they talk blanketly about how things are done across the country, just understand that there is no blanket way and you really need to speak with a retired LEO in the state you plan on living in. And ideally in the city you plan on living in, since it can vary from one department to another, depending on who's doing the qual.

Any other advice you guys have in different states around the country?

06/15/2026

Let's do our weekly recap of the Supplement Earnings Test since I just answered it for the 2nd time this week (and it's only Monday).

-The supplement earnings test for 2026 is $24,480

-Only post-retirement income counts. So your bonus from working, your lump sum A/L check, etc. is money you earned while working for the government and does not count toward the limit

-Only earned income after retirement counts. Pulling money from TSP, from private investments, inheritances, gambling winnings, gifts, etc. doesn't count toward the earnings test.

-Earnings test begins when you hit your MRA, which is age 57 for everyone that is born in 1970 or later. So in order to be subject to the earnings test, you have to be: 1.) older than your MRA, 2.) retired, 3.) earning more than the limit for the year, 4.) receiving the supplement. If one of those things is not true, guess what? No supplement impact.

-It is based on a calendar year. You report your earnings in the previous calendar year in May of this year. OPM reduces your supplement in July of this year moving forward (assuming the earnings test applies to you).

-For you special category employees, you may be receiving the supplement for 10 years or more where you are not subject to the earnings test. Example: FBI Agent retires at 47 years of age and begins collecting the Supplement. His MRA is 57. That means he won't have an earnings test until age 57. Meaning unlimited earnings potential with zero loss of supplement for 10 years.

-You lose it on a sliding scale. For every $2 you earn over the limit ($24k), OPM takes away $1 of your supplement. Earn $5k over, they take away $2500 of your supplement.

-You might lose the supplement for a year or two and then get it back if you stop earning over the limit.

and learn the rules to one of the most confusing benefits we have.

Seriously, why can't OPM just do away with the earnings test?!?!?!?!?!?!?

06/15/2026

Should I stay to the end of the year to maximize my Annual Leave payout?

I get this question every week. I just answered it again this morning.

My opinion after doing the math for a decade now hundreds of times:

Generally speaking, don't make a retirement decision based on something related to annual leave (with two exceptions).

Reasons:

1. You have to give the government 10 working days for them to give you back 1 day. Is that worth it? You're always 9 days in the hole?

2. For every month you stay to increase your A/L payout by 2 days, you are missing out on 1 month of the supplement payment. Remember--that is a fixed number of payments. You don't get that forever. They end at 62. They can end earlier if you are still working after retirement and earning too much after your MRA. Want to maximize the number of supplement payments? Leave as soon as eligible.

3. EXCEPTION: If you are planning on retiring at the end of January of a certain year, that will be passed the end of the leave year and you will lose any A/L over your use or lose. So you'll probably want to retire 12/31 of the year before.

4. EXCEPTION: Taxes. Some of you high earners may want to retire early enough in the year to make sure some of your A/L payout is not subject to the 6.2% SSA tax if you've already paid the max for the year. Others of you expect to be in a low tax bracket the following year and may want to wait to retire to ensure your A/L check comes the following year.

***************

Real World Example: I retired 10/31/22. People asked me all the time, "Why don't you just work until the end of 2022? You'll maximize your annual leave check!"

I had to explain the math to them. 2 more months (Nov and Dec) would be 4 more pay periods. Which would mean 4 more A/L days paid out I would accrue. That's it. 4 days. So I could work for the government for another 60 days for them to give me 4 days back?!?!? That's a good deal? I'd rather them keep their 4 days. And I'll keep my 60 days. And we're all good.

Plus...

I'll get 2 more months of the supplement by leaving in October vs December.

Plus....

I'll get at least a little COLA in Jan of 2023 since I left in October. Leave in December and you get 0 COLA the following year.

In short, not much of a reason to stay to increase A/L payout for most people. My wife was eligible to retire at the end of January of 2022 and that's exactly when she retired. If there was ANY benefit to her staying, we would have done it.

and run your own numbers to see when you should retire. There is both a pro AND a con for staying longer.

06/15/2026

Looks like I’m not the only one moving back to NC.

Welcome back to Raleigh, Lord Stanley.

Great job, boys!

Carolina Hurricanes do it in 6!

06/11/2026

The Tommy Weeks Classic 2026 Barfield Financial hockey pucks are now available for sale.

100% of the proceeds goes to the U.S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund.

Ordering info:

1. Send an email to [email protected]
2. Provide # of pucks and shipping address
3. Pucks are $10 each + shipping
4. Shipping cost: 1 puck $7; 2-4 pucks $14; 5-45 pucks $25

So maybe combine orders with your office or other groups to lower shipping costs per puck?

Who is Tommy Weeks?

On 4/29/24, Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks, as well as local law enforcement officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the NC Dept of Corrections were killed while serving a warrant in Charlotte.

US Marshal Service Hockey Team and JFK Customs Hockey Team play an annual charity game to remember Tommy, who worked for both of those agencies.

This event hit home to me especially as my law enforcement career consisted of only two agencies: the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and the U.S. Marshals Service, both of whom lost heroes that day.

and do good with your money.

06/11/2026

I know plenty of people who went the second route and can totally confirm this.

You can't afford NOT to invest.

06/08/2026

If you are looking for a place to spend your TSP, you can certainly do a lot worse than Wrightsville Beach, NC.

and then find an outlet for it

06/06/2026

Barfield Financial Sticker Scavenger Hunt. Tarheel Edition.

First one to locate this exact sticker and send me a pic wins a free World Famous Barfield Yeti Coffee Mug.

Location Hint: The incredibly beautiful Wrightsville Beach, NC

Go.

06/06/2026

A multiple cancer survivor wanted to share their experience with the FERS disability retirement process. They are correct--sometimes there is a reluctance to go this route. Like it is something to be ashamed of or some stigma attached to it.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

"I am a long time reader of Dan Jamison and your newsletter.

I want to share my journey to help other SCE and not to feel ashamed for going the disability route for retirement.
My story.

I joined the Fed gov in Jan 2002 as a NIST uniform officer, but was waiting for my clearance for Diplomatic Security Special Agent.

I joined DSS in June 2002. as a 23 year old - the same year I opened a ROTH IRA

FLETC then domestic 2002-2005

Went overseas from 2005-2011 while overseas started to max out my TSP and I pretended to pay rent/mortgage every month into mutual funds/stocks.

I was domestic from 2011-2018 during that time I went to NIU, got married and had my son.

I continued to max out and invest monthly mutual funds.

In 2019 we were kicked out/evacuated from an overseas post. That changed the course of my bidding.

From 2020-2024 we were overseas.

In Sept 2021 I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. I got 2nd opinions and chose to stay at post to receive treatment. I was in a first world country. I got chemo, radiation, surgery 2021-2022.
In 2023 I had a recurrence and had more surgery. I recovered and had check-ups at the host country.

We transferred to the domestic summer 2024. I got all my medical files transferred during the first appointment. It appeared I had another reoccurance. It had morphed into a different type and now state 4. I was back in DC in a desk job and was 46 with 20 plus years on the job. Going through chemo treatment for a 2nd time. Talking to all the US doctors my treatment would have been the same in the states. I have no regrets staying at post. In many ways I got the VIP treatment.

A very good Agent friend basically woke me up and said you will qualify for Disability retirement. (I literally had that section in Jamison's book marked) but I needed another person to spark the idea. Feb 2025 I hired a law firm and started the process through the Department of State- bc I am Foreign Service 2501 not 1811 was not through OPM.

After a few months of compiling the paperwork, doctors ,Social Security Department of State Med I was approved June 2, 2025.

I had 2 options to retire right away or exhaust my sick leave.
I chose to exhaust my sick leave which was 10 months.
During that time I was NED and then in June I had my 4th recurrence of breast cancer. Had more surgery and am on chemo pills to be stable.

I officially retired April 8, 2026. I made it and I am doing well.

When I retired my TSP was 1.3 million mix of C I S TSP from 2002-2026

I have a Fidelity account with 1.3 million started in 2007
and the first year I will get 60% of my high 3 (I was a FS-02-GS14 since 2013 so maxed out on pay) after that it's 40% with COLA. Knock on wood I am alive at 62 then all is recalculated like I was working till 62 and retiring.

My plan was always to retire at 50 but with my health issues I did not know if I would make it and with the current environment I physically could not do the job like when I was in my 20s.

Did I want to retire this way no but for my family and mental health it was the right decision and 24 years 3 months is still a long time to be a SCE. Do I feel strange at 47 to be retired yes but a huge relief, a huge amount of stress is lifted.

Again I am a long time reader but an investor. I went to 3 different retirement seminars at DOS throughout the years. I was well prepared for retirement even if I did not go the disability route. I even front loaded FSA medical before I retired and claimed dependent care till I officially retired.
To keep busy I volunteer at a local park, sub teach and am very involved in my son's activities.

One thing you cannot get back in time and your health. Make the most of your time."

06/06/2026

An extremely niche question maybe some of you can shed some light on. Because I don't have an answer.

Several people have emailed me in the last month from FDA OCI. (That's a law enforcement arm of the FDA) asking me my opinion on the opportunity presented to them to switch from the GS scale to a Pay Band.

Some are very reluctant to do it because they have heard horror stories of Pay Band salaries. Others are very excited to do it because they don't want to be constricted by the GS Pay Cap.

As usual in any agency (but particularly in FDA), the rumors and suppositions are running wild.

Anyone have any insight on ever switching from GS to Pay Band or vice versa? Anything you like about one vs the other?

My initial thought is that it won't make a ton of difference except maybe to those who are already over the pay cap and now can at least have the opportunity to make more money?