FEDChicks

Can you really afford to retire from federal service? Thousands of federal employees may be working longer than necessary because they don't fully understand their FERS pension, TSP, retirement supplement, or what their actual take-home pay will look like after retirement.

In this episode of FEDChicks, we're joined by Chris Barfield of Barfield Financial, a retired federal law enforcement officer, CPA, and respected federal retirement educator. After more than 20 years with the Department of Justice, Chris now helps federal employees understand their benefits, plan for retirement, and make informed financial decisions.

You asked, and we booked him! We collected questions from our listeners and Chris's followers about federal retirement, FEHB Open Season, Medicare, and more. Chris delivers straightforward answers, real-world examples, and a few laughs along the way!

In this episode, we discuss:

• When to Retire: Why working longer isn't always better financially and how to compare your working income with your retirement paycheck.
• FERS Retirement: Key differences between regular FERS and special category retirement for federal law enforcement officers.
• High-3 Salary: Does waiting another year or moving for higher locality pay really make a difference?
• Unused Sick Leave: Should you use it before retirement or apply it toward your pension?
• Survivor Benefits: Choosing a full, partial, or no survivor annuity and protecting your spouse's health insurance.
• FERS Retirement Supplement: When the earnings test begins and how post-retirement employment affects your benefits.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Penalty-free withdrawals, accessing your money after retirement, and considerations when rolling over to an IRA.
• FEHB Open Season: Comparing health insurance plans, premiums, deductibles, and coverage.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): How high-deductible health plans, including GEHA HDHP, work and their potential tax advantages.
• Medicare at 65: Understanding Medicare Part B and how it works alongside FEHB.
• Retirement Mistakes: Common misconceptions that could cost federal employees money or keep them working unnecessarily.

Chris breaks down complicated federal retirement rules in a way that actually makes sense. And because this is FEDChicks, there's plenty of humor, ginger ale, cocktails, and retirement reality checks!

Whether you're approaching federal retirement, considering leaving government service, or already enjoying life after the badge, this conversation is packed with information worth knowing.

CONNECT WITH CHRIS BARFIELD

Visit https://www.barfieldfinancial.com for Chris's free newsletter, articles, retirement resources, and educational information.

CONNECT WITH FEDChicks

Website: https://FEDChicks.com

Watch and subscribe on YouTube, listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and follow FEDChicks on Instagram and Facebook!

Enjoyed this episode? Please like, subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps others discover FEDChicks!

Real women. Real life. Real talk.

DISCLAIMER: FEDChicks is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Opinions expressed are those of individual hosts and guests, not their former agencies or the federal government. Nothing discussed constitutes personalized financial, investment, tax, insurance, career, or retirement advice. Consult qualified professionals and official sources before making decisions about your benefits.

Episode 12

Work-Life Balance Is a Myth: Choose Your Imbalance Instead

Work-life balance for working women sounds great—until career burnout, motherhood, relationships, and the mental load make it feel impossible. For women in law enforcement and other demanding careers, unpredictable schedules and constant pressure to do it all can make “balance” seem like a cruel joke. What if the answer isn't finding perfect balance, but choosing your imbalance instead?

In this episode of FEDChicks, three retired federal agents—Heather, Mary, and Clare—get candid (and occasionally salty) about the sacrifices women make to keep everything moving. Clare challenges the idea that every part of life deserves equal attention. Sometimes your career takes center stage. Sometimes it's your family, your health, your relationship—or finally, yourself.

Mary shares how becoming a single mother changed her career, and why the breaking point came when she was denied an exception to a two-week work assignment despite her childcare situation as retirement approached. Heather explains why leaving a high-intensity law enforcement job for a different federal agency was one of her smartest choices. And Clare opens up about looking perfectly organized at work while feeling overwhelmed behind the scenes.

We're talking about:

• The difference between functioning and actually feeling balanced
• The “invisible shift” after work and the emotional load women carry
• Burnout, perfectionism, anxiety, guilt, and learning to say no
• Why being the dependable one often means getting handed even more
• How motherhood, marriage, health, and career ambition compete for time
• What retirement teaches us about priorities—and putting ourselves first

This isn't another lecture about yoga, bubble baths, or waking up at 4:30 a.m. to journal. It's a funny, candid conversation about recognizing what matters most in this season of life—and giving yourself permission to let something else go.

💬 YOUR TURN: Have you ever made a major career or personal decision to protect your work-life balance? What are you choosing to prioritize right now? Tell us in the comments.

👍 If this conversation hits home, like, subscribe, and share it with a woman who's doing everything for everyone. New FEDChicks episodes every other Tuesday.

🎙️ FEDChicks: Three retired federal agents, three voices, zero agency talking points.

▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fedchicks

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fedchicks/

Find FEDChicks on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and follow our FEDChicks Facebook page.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are our own and do not represent any agency or employer. This podcast is for general information and entertainment, not professional, financial, career, or medical advice.

#WorkLifeBalance #WorkingWomen #Burnout #WomenInLawEnforcement #FEDChicks

Episode 11: Clarice Starling Inspired Her FBI Career. The FBI Inspired Her Reinvention| Shayne Buchwald-Nickoles

What happens when The Silence of the Lambs inspires a young woman to join the FBI? Twenty-one years of investigations, a few hilarious misadventures, and eventually a whole new chapter she never saw coming.

Meet Shayne Buchwald-Nickoles, a retired FBI Special Agent whose fascination with Clarice Starling helped launch a career investigating violent crime, fugitives, public corruption, and more. And yes, there's a bloody-nose story behind that inspiration!

Shayne joins FEDChicks for a funny, refreshingly candid conversation about life inside the FBI, the challenges of being a working mother in federal law enforcement, and discovering who you are when the badge is no longer your entire identity. From getting kicked out of undercover school to discovering a passion for writing, Shayne proves that an accomplished career in law enforcement doesn't mean you have to take yourself too seriously.

In this episode:

How The Silence of the Lambs and Clarice Starling inspired Shayne's FBI career

The remarkable connection to our previous guest Mary Ann, who helped Jodie Foster prepare for her iconic role

Why Shayne got kicked out of FBI undercover school

The hilarious realities of FBI work that Hollywood never shows

What 21 years of investigating criminals taught her about human behavior

The guilt, sacrifices, and challenges of balancing motherhood and federal law enforcement

Building trust between the FBI and Baltimore communities

The challenges of retirement and adjusting to civilian workplaces

Finding humor, purpose, and a new identity after federal service

How Shayne turned her fascination with people into a passion for writing

Her first novel, Molting, and what it means to shed an old identity and embrace something new.

Along the way, there's plenty of laughter, a little sangria in a moose mug, and a reminder that sometimes the best chapters of our lives are the ones we never planned. Whether you're a current or aspiring FBI agent, a woman navigating a demanding career, approaching federal retirement, or simply figuring out what's next, Shayne's story is proof that you can be serious about your work without losing your sense of humor.

THE CLARICE STARLING CONNECTION

The FBI actually featured Shayne in an article about how The Silence of the Lambs inspired women to join the Bureau!

FBI — The Silence of the Lambs Business Cards:
https://www.fbi.gov/history/artifacts/silence-of-the-lambs

And the story comes full circle! A Boston Globe article features both Shayne and our Episode 7 guest Mary Ann, who helped Jodie Foster prepare for her role as Clarice. Boston Globe — Hannibal Lecter Seized the Imagination. Clarice Starling Shifted It:https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/08/opinion/clarice-starling-hannibal-lecter-silence/

CONNECT WITH SHAYNE https://shaynebuchwaldnickoles.com

FOLLOW FEDCHICKS
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fedchicks
Also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Enjoyed this conversation? LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE!

The views expressed are personal opinions and do not represent any government agency. Content is for informational and entertainment purposes only.

#FEDChicks#FBI#ClariceStarling#SilenceOfTheLambs #WomenInLawEnforcement#FBIAgent

Episode 10: Michele Rigby Assad: Breaking Cover, Getting Off the X & Starting Over

Former CIA intelligence officer Michele Rigby Assad returns to FEDChicks for Part 2 of our conversation about life inside—and after—the CIA. This time, Michele takes us behind the story of her books Breaking Cover and Get Off the X, including the extraordinary post-CIA operation that helped nearly 150 displaced Iraqi Christians escape to a new life in Europe.

But this episode is also about what happens when the career ends. Michele talks candidly about leaving the CIA, starting over when she couldn’t put most of her experience on a résumé, separating identity from a federal career, finding purpose after government service, and learning to move forward even when you don’t feel ready.

For anyone approaching retirement, considering a career change, or wondering what comes after the badge, Michele’s message is simple: you don’t need the perfect next move—you just need a move that takes you forward.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Why Michele and her husband knew it was time to leave the CIA
• Writing Breaking Cover and getting a CIA memoir through pre-publication review
• The remarkable operation that helped nearly 150 Iraqi Christians relocate to Europe
• What “Get Off the X” means in the CIA—and why Michele applies it to everyday life
• Leaving government when your résumé can’t explain what you actually did
• Why Type-A perfectionists can get stuck waiting for the “perfect” next move
• Practical advice for preparing for retirement or a major career change
• Why your identity can’t be entirely wrapped up in your career
• Faith, courage and saying yes before you feel ready
• Finding purpose and service after federal employment
• What Michele would tell herself on her first day at the CIA

Learn more about Michele, her books, speaking and leadership coaching: MicheleRigbyAssad.com

If you missed Part 1 of our conversation with Michele, start with Episode 9:
CIA Officer Michele Rigby Assad: Undercover, Underestimated & Unafraid

WATCH, LISTEN & FOLLOW FEDCHICKS

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fedchicks
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fedchicks/id1896920829
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033xmMo1DDcIFczh0zq4S6
Instagram: @fedchicks
Facebook: FEDChicks
Email: [email protected]

Please like, subscribe, share and leave us a review. It helps more women in federal law enforcement—and those preparing for life after it—find FEDChicks.

Three retired federal agents. Three voices. Zero agency talking points.

DISCLAIMER

FEDChicks is for entertainment and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are our own and do not represent any agency or the federal government. Nothing shared should be considered financial, legal, career or retirement advice. Consult qualified professionals regarding your individual circumstances.

#FEDChicks #MicheleRigbyAssad #CIA #GetOffTheX #BreakingCover #FederalLawEnforcement #FederalEmployees #FederalRetirement #LifeAfterTheBadge #CareerChange #WomenInLawEnforcement

Episode 9: CIA Officer Michele Rigby Assad: Undercover, Underestimated & Unafraid

Former CIA intelligence officer Michele Rigby Assad spent nearly a decade serving undercover, much of it in some of the most challenging parts of the Middle East. In this episode, she takes us beyond the Hollywood version of the CIA and into the real world of espionage, human intelligence, dangerous overseas assignments, and life as a woman in intelligence.

Michele shares how she unexpectedly became a CIA officer, what it was really like working undercover, and how being underestimated as a woman became one of her greatest advantages.

She also tells an incredible story about a dangerous encounter overseas when her CIA training kicked in and she realized she had to “get off the X”—immediately.

But this conversation isn’t only about espionage.

We talk about reading body language, building trust with difficult sources, navigating cultures very different from our own, working alongside her husband, and what happens when you decide to walk away from a government career that has defined nearly your entire adult life.

Michele opens up about leaving the CIA before traditional retirement eligibility after years of demanding overseas assignments—and the fear of starting over when you can’t simply put much of what you’ve done on a résumé. Her message now: sometimes you have to get off the X of your own life.

In this episode:

• How Michele Rigby Assad became a CIA intelligence officer
• What Hollywood gets wrong about the CIA
• The reality of undercover intelligence work
• Serving in dangerous locations in the Middle East
• Working alongside her husband in the CIA
• Reading body language and recognizing deception
• Building trust and rapport with intelligence sources
• Being underestimated as a woman—and using it as an advantage
• The terrifying moment her CIA training kicked in
• Why cultural knowledge matters in intelligence work
• Knowing when it’s time to leave government service
• Starting over when your government career doesn’t translate onto a traditional résumé
• Why Michele believes we sometimes need to “get off the X”

Learn more about Michele, her books, speaking, coaching, and work at MicheleRigbyAssad.com.

🎧 Listen to FEDChicks on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
📺 Subscribe to FEDChicks on YouTube
📱 Follow @FEDChicks on Instagram
📘 Follow FEDChicks on Facebook

If you enjoyed this conversation, like this video, subscribe, and leave us a comment. Tell us: What part of Michele’s story surprised you the most?

Sharing and commenting helps more women in federal law enforcement—and those considering the career or navigating life after government service—find FEDChicks.

Have an episode idea, want to share your story, or interested in being a guest?
📧 [email protected]

FEDChicks: Three retired federal agents. Three voices. Zero agency talking points.

This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed here are our own and do not represent any agency or the federal government. Nothing we share should be considered financial, career, or retirement advice.

This is FEDChicks, and this is where it gets real.

#CIA #MicheleRigbyAssad #WomenInIntelligence #FederalLawEnforcement #CIAOfficer #IntelligenceOfficer #WomenInLawEnforcement #FEDChicks

Episode 8: “9/11, 25 Years Later: The Day That Changed Us”

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, Heather, Mary, and Clare reflect on the day that changed America—and shaped the rest of their federal law enforcement careers.

They share where they were when the attacks began, the assignments they received in the aftermath, and the moments they still carry with them. Clare recalls reporting to her ATF office with a bag packed for two weeks. Mary describes watching the second plane strike from a San Francisco hotel room before supporting the INS command center near the Pentagon. Heather remembers returning to Manhattan on September 12 and later spending a month helping the FBI pursue 9/11-related leads.

The conversation also explores how September 11 transformed federal law enforcement: the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the evolution of INS and Customs into ICE and HSI, increased cooperation among agencies, expanded aviation security, and the specialized role of the former INS—now HSI—Forensic Laboratory in examining the hijackers’ travel and identity documents.

This is not a complete history of September 11. These are three federal agents’ personal memories—and one small part of a much larger story.

Twenty-five years later, what should “Never Forget” mean? Remembering not only the lives lost and the people who served, but also the unity, gratitude, patriotism, and shared purpose that followed.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Where Heather, Mary, and Clare were on September 11
• Their assignments in the immediate aftermath
• Running down 9/11 investigative leads
• How federal agencies and authorities changed
• The INS/HSI Forensic Laboratory’s role
• The images and moments they cannot forget
• What “Never Forget” means 25 years later

RESOURCE:

DHS Homeland Security Investigations Forensic Laboratory:
https://www.dhs.gov/hsi/centers-and-labs/forensic-lab

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS:

World Trade Center photos by John Celardo / National Archives

Pentagon immediately after the attack. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass

Pentagon—smoke on September 11. Credit: U.S. Coast Guard photo by Telfair Brown

MUSIC ATTRIBUTION:

Music licensed through Soundstripe. Codes: EJXPLRNEP9ARFWS5, N3BJMJ4Y1BD1MRXJ

WATCH OR LISTEN:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fedchicks
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fedchicks/id1896920829
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033xmMo1DDcIFczh0zq4S6

CONNECT WITH FEDCHICKS:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/fedchicks
Facebook: https://facebook.com/FEDChicks
Email: [email protected]

Have an idea for an episode, want to share your story, or be a guest? We’d love to hear from you. Email us or leave a comment wherever you’re listening.

This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are our own and do not represent any agency or the federal government. Nothing we share should be considered financial, career, or retirement advice.

Episode 7: She Helped Jodie Foster Become Clarice Starling — But That Was Just the Beginning

What happens when a young FBI agent gets called into her boss’s office and is told she’s been selected to help with a movie?

For Mary Ann, that movie turned out to be The Silence of the Lambs.

Early in her FBI career, Mary Ann was chosen to work with the filmmakers and spent time with Jodie Foster at Quantico, helping give her a glimpse into the life, mindset and day-to-day work of a young FBI agent as Foster prepared to play Clarice Starling.

But that was just one chapter.

In this episode, Mary Ann joins Heather, Mary and Clare to look back on a remarkable FBI career that included undercover work connected to former Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, surveillance during the Monica Lewinsky investigation, VICAP, international assignments, the investigation of Americans killed by Somali pirates, and more than 20 years as a firearms instructor—including three years teaching new agents at Quantico.

She also takes us back to what it was like to be a woman in the FBI in the 1980s: skirt suits, high heels, revolvers, paper maps, pagers and eventually one computer shared by an entire squad.

But some of the most powerful moments in this conversation have nothing to do with famous cases.

Mary Ann opens up about losing fellow agents, the lasting effects of trauma, responding to the Pentagon after 9/11, the role faith played throughout her career, mentoring the next generation, knowing when it was time to retire, and learning to build an identity and a life beyond the job.

Her advice to young women entering law enforcement is simple: you’re not a “female agent.” You’re an agent. Be yourself, walk with dignity and humility, keep learning, recognize opportunities when they come—and never underestimate the importance of treating people well.

It’s an episode about Hollywood and history, but even more than that, it’s about service, resilience, relationships, gratitude and choosing to be a person of joy.

🎙️ FEDChicks
Three retired federal agents. Real women. Real life. Real talk.

▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fedchicks
📸 Instagram: @fedchicks
📘 Facebook: FEDChicks
📧 Email: [email protected]
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Disclaimer: The opinions and experiences shared on FEDChicks are personal and do not represent any federal agency or the U.S. government. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, career or retirement advice.

This is FEDChicks, and this is where it gets real.

EPISODE 6: DON’T LOVE YOUR AGENCY TOO MUCH
What No One Tells You Before Becoming a Federal Agent — Part 2

Becoming a federal agent is only the beginning. Building a long career without losing your identity, relationships, or sense of balance is the harder part.

In Part 2 of “What No One Tells You Before Becoming a Federal Agent,” Heather, Mary, and Clare share the lessons they learned about career choices, office culture, leadership, reputation, work-life balance, and life beyond the badge. They discuss why new agents should avoid limiting themselves too early, why professional relationships matter, and how worrying about everyone’s opinion can drain energy from the work that actually matters.

The FEDChicks also get honest about office gossip, keeping your personal life private, unexpected career paths, retirement, and the reality that an agency will replace your position and keep moving. Your contribution still matters—but your job should never become your entire identity.

Plus: slippery worksite raids, unsuccessful foot chases, a suspect with a wooden leg, a forgotten courthouse firearm, and one very practical surveillance tip.

IN THIS EPISODE:
• Finding balance in a demanding law enforcement career
• Exploring assignments without pigeonholing yourself
• Reputation, relationships, promotions, and office politics
• Protecting your privacy and avoiding toxic gossip
• Developing an identity beyond the badge
• Why your agency’s mission continues after you leave
• Advice the hosts would give themselves on day one

CONNECT WITH FEDCHICKS:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fedchicks
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fedchicks/id1896920829
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033xmMo1DDcIFczh0zq4S6
Instagram: https://instagram.com/fedchicks
Facebook: https://facebook.com/FEDChicks
Email: [email protected]

DISCLAIMER:
FEDChicks is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The opinions expressed are our own and do not represent any government agency or the federal government. Nothing discussed in this episode should be considered financial, legal, career, or retirement advice. Please consult qualified professionals regarding your individual circumstances.

What do three retired federal agents wish they knew before the job, the academy, the badge, and the endless paperwork? In Episode 5, Heather, Mary, and Clare talk about FLETC, fitness, long hours, surveillance, leadership, people skills, women in federal law enforcement, and the lessons that only come with time. Real talk, real laughs, and zero agency talking points from the women of FEDChicks.

 From figuring out how to conceal a duty weapon in work clothes to realizing how much of the job is waiting, this conversation is full of practical advice, honest reflection, and the kind of FEDChicks humor that only comes from surviving the job and laughing about it later.

In this episode:

• What they thought the job would be — and what they were completely wrong about
• The paperwork, waiting, long hours, surveillance, and “hurry up and wait” reality of federal investigations
• Why fitness matters before FLETC, especially running
• The confidence, officer presence, and people skills that only come with time
• Being women in a male-dominated field without losing yourself or setting yourself up to be “one of the guys”
• Why leadership does not always mean becoming a supervisor
• The importance of choosing your battles, reading the room, and trusting your gut
• Why you should write things down, take the pictures, and remember the moments
• What training prepared them for — and what life in the field had to teach them the hard way

Key takeaway:
You can prepare for the academy, the long hours, the cases, and the physical side of the job — but some of the most important lessons come from experience: learning how to talk to people, protect your time, handle yourself with confidence, and remember that the job is what you do, not all of who you are.

Have an idea for an episode, want to share your story, or want to be a guest? Email us at [email protected] or leave us a comment wherever you’re listening.

Listen, watch, and follow FEDChicks:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fedchicks
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fedchicks/id1896920829
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033xmMo1DDcIFczh0zq4S6
Instagram: https://instagram.com/fedchicks
Facebook: https://facebook.com/FEDChicks

Please like, subscribe, follow, share, and leave us a review. It really helps other women in federal law enforcement find the show.

Disclaimer:
FEDChicks is for entertainment and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are our own and do not represent any agency or the federal government. Nothing shared should be considered financial, legal, career, or retirement advice.

Our first guest is here!

In this episode of FEDChicks, we sit down with Tammy Flanagan, founder of Retire Federal and one of the nation's leading experts on federal retirement benefits. Over cocktails and plenty of laughs, Tammy answers some of the biggest retirement questions facing federal employees and law enforcement officers.

Whether you're years away from retirement or getting ready to submit your paperwork, this episode is packed with practical advice that could save you time, money, and stress.

In this episode:

• Should law enforcement retire as soon as they're eligible?
• Understanding the FERS Supplement and earnings test
• When to leave your money in the TSP—and when to consider other options
• FEGLI basics and common life insurance mistakes
• Survivor annuities vs. life insurance
• Tax planning tips retirees often overlook
• A real-life story of a retiree who recovered $117,000 after an overlooked retirement calculation
• Why working with a retirement specialist can make a huge difference

Resources Mentioned

Tammy Flanagan / Retire Federal
Website: https://www.retirefederal.com
Email: [email protected]

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RetireFederal

Investor Education:
https://www.investor.gov

Connect with FEDChicks

YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@fedchicks

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fedchicks

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FEDChicks

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fedchicks/id1896920829

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/033xmMo1DDcIFczh0zq4S6

Email:
[email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or colleague. Your support helps more federal employees find the show.

Disclaimer: FEDChicks is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The opinions expressed are our own and do not represent any government agency or the federal government. Nothing discussed in this episode should be considered financial, legal, career, or retirement advice. Please consult qualified professionals regarding your individual circumstances.