Farmers and Ranchers

Your farm or ranch needs may begin with one immediate financial concern or involve a transition that takes years to complete. Whether you are preparing for retirement, transferring the operation, protecting against the unexpected, or coordinating your estate-planning goals, we provide clear, practical guidance for the decisions ahead.

Explore some of the questions we help farmers and ranchers address.

Your question: How can I better understand the factors that may affect the value of my farm or ranch?

How we help: We help you evaluate the operation’s assets, earnings, cash flow, and other factors that may affect its value. Whether an informal or formal valuation or appraisal is needed, we can coordinate with a qualified valuation professional or appraiser. Understanding that value can provide a foundation for retirement, succession, and estate-planning decisions.

Your question: Who is willing and prepared to operate the farm or ranch?

How we help: We help your family consider potential successors, future responsibilities, financial readiness, and a realistic timeline for transferring management.

Your question: How can we transfer ownership while keeping the operation financially strong?

How we help: We help you evaluate transition alternatives, funding needs, cash-flow demands, and the financial effect on both generations.

Your question: How do we treat our children fairly when only some are involved in the operation?

How we help: We help you consider the needs of participating and nonparticipating family members, the role of farm and nonfarm assets, and strategies designed to balance family goals with the operation’s financial needs.

Your question: How will I fund retirement when much of my wealth is tied to the operation?

How we help: We help you evaluate potential retirement-income sources, the timing and structure of the transition, and how much income the operation may be able to support.

Your question: What happens if an owner dies or becomes disabled before the transition is complete?

How we help: We help you identify potential financial gaps and evaluate contingency and funding strategies, including life and disability insurance when appropriate.

Your question: How do I bring succession, retirement, and estate planning together?

How we help: We help you evaluate financial alternatives, identify gaps, and establish practical next steps. When appropriate, we coordinate with your attorney, accountant, lender, and other professional advisors to help align the different parts of your strategy.