Questions farmers actually ask me
If yours isn’t here, call and ask. I’d rather answer it in two minutes on the phone than have you wonder about it.
What exactly do you do?
It starts with understanding your operation completely — your statements and schedules, and a real conversation about the bind you’re in and how it came about. Only then do I build the lender-ready package and take it out. From there I manage the entire conversation with lenders: explaining past challenges clearly, proposing a structure that addresses what they’re actually worried about, and keeping the process moving so nothing stalls. Farmers need a loan. Lenders need clarity. I make sure both happen.
Are you a loan broker?
No. The engagement agreement I use calls the role finder and advisor, and that’s the honest description. I identify and introduce lenders, prepare and present your financial information, and work to improve both your odds of approval and your terms. What I don’t do is sign anything on your behalf, obligate you to anything, or make the credit decision — lenders do that, and you are never required to accept any loan I bring you. I also don’t simply shop a file as it stands: if it won’t clear, I help you change what’s in it. Most engagements end up going well past the loan into ongoing CFO work.
Do you guarantee I’ll get a loan?
No. I guarantee my effort, attention and process, but I can’t control a credit decision. What I can control is clarity, completeness and how fast questions get answered. Those three things decide more files than most farmers realize.
Why can’t I just call lenders myself?
You can. But incomplete or messy financials damage confidence before anyone reads the story, and slow replies stall everything. Most farmers are in the field, managing crew, or out of signal when a lender calls with a question — and when the lender can’t reach you at the moment they’re reviewing your file, the file gets set aside for days. I keep it moving.
My lender hasn’t said no — they’re just taking forever.
This is the most common situation I see. Banks prefer “not yet” to “no.” But farming runs on deadlines your operation can’t move. I bring traction and speed back into the process, and I start a parallel track with other lenders so you’re not betting the season on one committee’s calendar.
What if my finances are a mess?
Most farms’ finances are messy — multiple entities, different landlords, insurance claims, delayed payables, year-to-year irregularities. That’s normal and it’s not a reason to wait. I don’t judge the numbers. I organize them so a lender can make a decision.
Can you work with my current lender?
Often, yes — and frequently that’s the best outcome. Rebuilding confidence with a lender who already knows your operation is usually faster and cheaper than starting over. Sometimes the relationship has run its course, and I’ll tell you if I think that’s the case.
What types of loans do you work with?
Operating lines, real estate loans, refinancing, restructures, debt consolidation, bridge loans, equipment financing and distressed situations. If it touches the financial side of a farming operation, it’s worth a call. Every farm I’ve worked with so far has been in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois or Ohio — mostly grain, plus a livestock operation and an organic grain operation. Neither the geography nor the commodity is a rule. Call from another state, or another kind of operation, and we’ll talk.
What does it cost?
Every operation is different — scope varies enormously depending on the shape your records are in and what the situation calls for — so I’d rather talk it through than post a number that won’t fit you. We’ll cover scope and fee on the first call, before you commit to anything.
Are you a CPA?
No. I don’t prepare tax returns or perform audits, and I’m not an attorney either. My work is farm financials, lender communication, loan structure and turnaround planning. I work alongside your CPA and your attorney rather than replacing them.
Do lenders actually like working with you?
Yes, because I speak their language and I make their job easier. I started my career as a credit analyst, so I know what slows an underwriter down and what builds confidence. And when a lender is on the fence rather than saying no, I’ll work with them on how the deal could be structured so they can get comfortable — which is a conversation most borrowers never get to have.
Do you help farms near bankruptcy?
Frequently. I help negotiate with vendors, manage past-due payables, rebuild lender confidence and build a credible turnaround plan. If bankruptcy is avoidable, we work to avoid it. If it isn’t, I help position the operation to keep farming afterward — and many do. Bankruptcy is a reset, not an ending.
Why should I trust you with my financials?
Because I’ve lived this from every angle: a credit analyst inside an institutional ag lender, a commercial lender through the 2008–09 downturn, and the CFO of a large multi-entity grain operation since 2011. I am a CFA® charterholder, and I work in a community where reputation is the whole business.
How do we get started?
Call or text me. We’ll talk through where things stand. If it makes sense to work together, you send me your financial information — as-is, no cleanup needed — and I start the deep dive. You don’t need to prepare anything fancy. Just bring the real numbers.
Still have a question?
Call or text. It costs you nothing to find out whether I can help.