Our Story.

Every business has a beginning. Barfield Financial, LLC evolved out of a number of casual conversations with government employees seeking to understand a particular topic of the Federal Employees Retirement System. It started by answering questions for a few coworkers. Sometimes these conversations were held over morning coffee runs. Other times, they were held during those long hours on a surveillance assignment. On all occasions, they were conducted in easy-to-understand language.

Word got out—actually it is more accurate to say that knowledge got out— and before long, emails started coming in from strangers with their own questions. Then phone calls from anxious workers, who were very close to retirement. And very worried.

I got the same questions so many times, I eventually typed up stock answers, and just emailed them to the employee as a response. They were well received and passed around throughout the government community. I remember the first time I got one of my own papers forwarded to me, encouraging me to read it, after it had been forwarded over a dozen times already! This was the start of the monthly newsletters that many of you have come to enjoy.

The mission is simple: Strive to educate federal employees on their benefits and investments, in plain language, so that they are empowered with enough knowledge to make the best choice for their situation.

I run my entire business with you in mind. It is my sincerest wish that none of you, later in life, utter those dreadful words of regret, “I should have….” Rather, I want each and every one of you to be able to say, “I sure am glad I….”

Chris A. Barfield, CPA

Chris recently retired after two decades of federal law enforcement experience within the Department of Justice and has received numerous awards, including the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service.

He was a FERS Special Category Employee (SCE) for over 24 years, and is an expert in those unique rules. He regularly conducts retirement seminars for FBI, DEA, HSI, USMS, U.S. District Courts, and many other federal organizations, both law enforcement and non-law enforcement.

Chris holds both BS and MS degrees in Accounting as well as an active CPA license in the state of Indiana.

His free FERS newsletter is read by thousands of federal employees around the world every month.