The 7 Steps to Farm Succession Planning

519.339.6885Serving over 130 farming families and their businesses.

Steve Steinman, CFP CLU CH.F.C. CAFAPresident , Steinman Financial Network

The 7 Steps to Farm Succession Planning

Statistics show that the lack of planning on the partof farmers is ALARMING.

A survey by Successful Farming found that only 30% of farmers actually have an estate plan.

Too many times these decisions are made under time pressure (i.e. we have to do something now) or under emotional stress (i.e. just after the death of a parent).

Get everyone to put their real expectations on the tableso you have a solid basis for negotiating the future.

When people form relationships, there are at least three levels of expectations involved:

• those that we know we have and talk about (e.g. that we want to continue to work and live on the family farm).

• those we know we have but haven’t discussed (e.g. that we want to inherit the family farm).

• some we don’t even know we have - until they are not met (e.g. that we will be able to live on the family farm until we die).

What happens if?

Many different unexpected scenarios can happen. Without a plan, the outcome is anyone’s guess.

1. What if none of the farm children want to take over the farm?1. What if mom outlives dad? How will she choose to manage the

business?2. Rent out the farm? Sell the farm?3. What if mom remarries after dad dies?4. What if mom owns the farm and mom dies before dad?

Farm Succession Planning is not a one-time event, it is a long-term strategic process that involves executing the plan and re-adjusting based on the changing family situation (new family members/ members that pass on) and the economic market.

Letting your family know that this is a long-term process that will benefit everyone involved and getting their commitment early on to participate to the end is an important preliminary step.

Many don’t recognize that a lot of communication is in what’s not said - silence may not mean agreement, but just the opposite.Real farm succession planning issues are not financial, not taxes, they are not business related at all in fact.

They are based on your ability or inability to talk with your family members honestly. If you can talk out the issues, concerns, dreams, and assumptions with each and every person affected by the decisions you will ultimately make – you will have the basis foryour farm succession plan.

Farming Children versus Non-Farming Children

Are the parents willing to treat all of their children fairly and equitably in their estate plan?

How will this be carried out?When will this be carried out?

As the children were being raised, some children worked harder than others and may have actually contributed more to the parents’farming operation and their estate.

Spouses of Children

Are the in-laws considered or even treated as “family” in the “family” business? Do in-laws involved in the family business have a say? Are there pre-nuptial agreements in place?

Favourite Children

This is a rather delicate issue to discuss within the family (especiallywith parents) because often times Mom and/or Dad have alreadyidentified “certain favorites” among their children.

This process will require much thought, many hours of discussion by the parents and children, and even seeking out the needed help of a professional consultant.

It is the responsibility of the parents to initiate this estate planning process. Mom and Dad have to take action andget this process started now.

• Facilitate dialogue & communication with family members and identify their goals, needs and aspirations.

• Retire comfortably with guaranteed funds for your retirement.

• Your farm to be passed on from one generation to the next in the manner you choose.

• Have money available for the transaction at all times to avoid delayed settlement.

• Have every member of your family taken care of.

• Eliminate the need for borrowing from the bank for the process of farm succession.

• Have all transactions carried out in a tax neutral way.• All family members know what is happening, who is to

inherit what, when, and the process to achieve it all.• Have agreements that outline the future and are signed

off by all parties.• To have a flexible farm succession plan that can be

changed as your personal circumstances invariably do.

• How the farm owners will retire from the farm with guaranteed funds for their retirement.

• How and to whom the farm will be passed on from one generation to the next.

• How funds will be made available for transactions.

• How every member family will be taken care of.

• How financial decisions about the farm will be made.

Our goal at Steinman Financial Network

After you have worked with Steinman Financial, that all your family can happily sit together at Christmas Dinner and feel good about the FARM SUCCESSION PLANNING they have completed with our firm.

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