Success

“I used to put responsibility on myself or our accountant for a financial picture or plan, but I didn’t feel I was an expert in that area. Having our Ag Finance Specialist work with us has been a big relief. It’s provided the tools that we need to complete the picture. The plan works very well in conjunction with insurance and marketing – it’s all linked together. Having someone to partner with on the financial aspect gives us the tools that we need to plan better. We’ve told our Water Street advisors what’s important to us and what we need to invest in on the farm. They’re helping us be able to make that happen.”

Drew Miller – Davenport, NE

“We use our breakeven from the financial analysis a lot when we’re making marketing decisions. I like how the financial analysis compares you to your peers and you can see how you’re trending from year to year – whether you’re improving.”

Tom Kaminke -- Long Point, IL

"I used to work at a bank.  I know a lot of my farm customers had trouble with marketing and bookkeeping.  I'm a decent bookkeeper, so it's not like I needed that extra help, but I'm definitely in better shape than I was, even with the bookkeeping that I've done in the past.  They've taken some things in different directions that I've never thought of and looked at my business in a different way than I have myself in the past.  They'll actually give you some suggestions - not investment ideas or anything, but just ideas for taking that profit and thinking about where to reinvest it, whether it be updating equipment, or possibly purchasing farm ground, for example.  Water Street's idea or course, is to keep you as a client because they want you to be successful in the future.  They want you to build your business and I think they've really helped me in doing that." 

Willis Kuhns -- Arthur, IL

"It seems what Jami does is takes the financial information out further for projection into the future to help a little more with cash flow and also with where we are today and what we might need to do as far as selling.  A lot of times I maybe could do it, but it's just nice the way she puts out the spread sheet and helps out with that.  Since joining Water Street, I'm able to spend a little more time working in the shop and checking crops and stuff instead of fretting and stewing over finances and marketing."

David and Dwight Jolly -- Versailles, IN

"We have taken advantage of a great opportunity - an annual financial analysis.  It helps us answer questions about the overall health of our operation.  We prefer to have a professional evaluate potential purchases such as land purchases or machinery upgrades and the financing options available with purchases.  We put our advisory team through many questions.  They are always interested in our view first.  Then they share their input or validate our plan.  The bottom line is that we feel comfortable with the decision in the end." 

Aaron Schafer -- Pana, IL

"The folks that we work with here at Water Street Solutions are really good people.  If we have questions, we call up and get them answered very timely.  Recently I had lunch with my market advisor and my financial advisor to talk about purchasing inputs for next year.  We sat down and looked at the costs and evaluated the expense on the interest side - we had to pay it all up front in this situation.  It helps to talk through decisions and get an added perspective.  When you have three people working on the problem it is a little easier to solve than just yourself sometimes.  Water Street Solutions gives me many options and helps me make informed decisions.

We are a five generation farm that has grown quite a bit in the past ten years.  It becomes more complex each time you grow.  We focus on corn and beans because of the way the economy and agriculture has been the last several years.  We continue to grow our operation and we're using good people."

 Dave and Patti Gregerson -- Ute, IA

"When it comes to making purchases that help with expansion of the operation, we receive an in-depth analysis before making any investment.  Our Ag Finance Specialist is very thorough in helping us weigh the pros and cons before a purchase.  He provides several alternative solutions and keeps us focused on the long-term goals of our operation. 

We were evaluating replacing trailers.  While it is nice to have a new piece of equipment, Water Street Solutions helps us make sure our investment is going to help expand the operation.  Our Ag Finance Specialist keeps a close eye on our working capital.  He helps us understand the impact a large purchase will have on our long-term financial plan."

Wally and Jeannie Linneweber – Vincennes, IN

“Working with an Ag Finance Specialist and Market Advisor has made us more confident and gives us another set of eyes with different opinions. We’ve been introduced to a world of knowledge and the most passionate group of people all in one place that we’ve ever seen. Water Street is very sincere about helping a single group of people – farmers.”

Nathan Kramer -- Stapleton, NE

"I've learned that working capital and machinery expense per acre are probably the two biggest things to watch.  I've also learned how big purchases affect your working capital in a positive or negative way.  Some purchases can affect your working capital in a positive way."

Jason Foltz -- Shelbyville, IN

"I like it quite a bit because of how it ties in the financial aspect, the marketing aspect and the insurance.  All three of them tied together -- which are all intertwined.  Nobody else that we've ever used prior to this ever looked at the other two."  Jason Foltz comments