A New Publication — and New Services from FCSSW

by Gary R. Dyer, President and CEO, Farm Credit Services Southwest

I am pleased to announce that our association just mailed The BottomLine, our new customer magazine. The goal of this new publication is to provide useful information to our members.

In upcoming issues, our readers will discover much of value that will help make it easier for them to manage their businesses. For example, future articles will provide helpful financial, tax and estate planning tips, and we’ll also feature informative columns, such as “Ask Ken,” where we encourage you to send us your financial planning questions. (See Financial Tips for these and other tips.)

The Ken, in this case, is Ken Lassen, our new Vice President of Agri-business Financial Services, who works closely with Frank Gray, our Director of the same program. This new program is an important step for FCSSW and provides a wealth of services that address the needs of today’s agribusiness owners.

We've been listening
In customer focus groups and during our Young Farmer/Rancher Executive Institute, customers asked for business planning tools, such as family business planning, investment planning and risk management. And we listened.

We added experienced professionals to our staff and developed a complete package of business planning tools to help our customers achieve financial security. These services help ensure the competitive strength of FCSSW, while delivering benefits many times over for our owner-borrowers.

Ag-planner IV for family businesses
I am particularly excited about our family business planning services. We contracted with Dr. Donald J. Jonovic, a nationally recognized expert on business planning for family agribusinesses, to develop a step-by-step program for FCSSW. The result is “Ag-planner IV,” an effective and practical tool that can help farmers and ranchers, their family members and their advisers identify and answer the key questions about the future of their family and their ag operation.

Ken Lassen will use Ag-planner IV to lead families through important issues that impact the success of their businesses, such as fair and equitable compensation programs for all family members or a game plan for transitioning from one generation to the next.

Profits to our membership
Remember: Because FCSSW is a member-owned cooperative, all profits come back to our members through reduced rates and a future patronage refund program, which we hope to launch in 2001. At that time, we’ll be able to adequately cover more of our overhead costs because of our new financial services. The net effect will be a positive financial return for our customers who, at the same time, are taking advantage of expanded services.

The first step
Our loan officers may be talking to customers about how we can help their businesses. If you or our customers want to learn more about our financial services, Ken or Frank will work with you to learn where you are now and to discuss a customized road map that can guide you toward your financial and business goals.

Because both Ken and Frank earn salaries, not commissions, you can be confident that their focus is on helping you find the products and services that will help you be successful.

The hard sell is not part of the picture. At Farm Credit, it never is. Gary Dyer, President and CEO Farm Credit Services Southwest

This message appeared in a recent issue of The BottomLIne, the Farm Credit Services Southwest customer newsletter. Click here if you would like us to add your name to our mailing list.

Equal Housing Lender - Equal Credit Opportunity Lender - Equal Opportunity Employer.

© 2000-2006 Farm Credit Services Southwest, ACA, PCA, and FLCA. All rights reserved.