BROTHERS IN THEIR 40s. ALREADY PLANNING THE TRANSITION OF THEIR OPERATION.

PREPARATION CAN'T BEGIN TOO SOON, THEY SAY. Every family has its own needs and criteria when selecting advisors for transitioning their farm or ranch to the next generation. FCSAmerica is now partnering with Nationwide and its Land As Your Legacy program to help families find the right fit for their operation and goals. "Many farmers and ranchers have good local options for transition planning, and we support using these services," said Tony Jesina, senior vice president of related services at FCSAmerica. "However, our financial officers often are asked who they recommend as a resource to help with critical decisions affecting the future of their operation." "Our referral program with Nationwide gives our customers an additional option to consider," Jesina said. "We like the fact that, like FCSAmerica, Nationwide is a cooperative with a long history of serving agriculture. In fact, the majority of its directors are farmers and ranchers. Land As Your Legacy is Nationwide's way of giving back to agriculture." ONE FAMILY'S TRANSITION STORY The Beel brothers aren't retiring from their cow-calf operation anytime soon. Twins Frank and Henry are 46; Adam is 40. And while they expect some of their children - eight in all - to join the family business, there is no immediate need to make room for a fourth generation. The oldest, a senior in high school, has four years of college ahead of him, likely followed by at least a couple more years of working off the ranch. Still, the brothers decided it was time to think about their transition plan. "We have heard horror stories about families that waited too long and didn't do enough to prepare for transitioning their operation," said Frank Beel. "We didn't want that to happen in our family." STARTED WITH A FINANCIAL PLANNER The Beels began their transition planning in 2017. A Land As Your Legacy presentation led the family to Nationwide and its independent financial planner for north-central Nebraska, where the Beels ranch. Frank said the family settled on their financial planner for several reasons: He has a farming and ranching background, as well as experience in transition planning; he is close enough to attend family meetings as needed; and, just as importantly, the family finds him personable and relatable. TRANSITION PLANNING HAS CHALLENGES Henry Beel said his family is fortunate because the brothers, all equal partners in the operation, get along. That has been a real advantage in transition planning. Even so, the family acknowledges there are challenges. "It's easier to go out there and put out fences and check cattle," Henry said. "The difficult thing is sitting down and talking." Brandon Dirkschneider, the independent financial planner working with the Beels, schedules regular meetings with those involved in the transition plan, "otherwise nothing gets accomplished." This includes family members as well as accountants, lawyers, crop insurance agents, lenders - any key player who has a role in protecting the interests of the current generation and positioning the next generation for success. Among the first things the Beels did was identify their goals for the broader family operation, which includes a variety of entities, and their individual families. All three brothers are married and have children. They prioritized the order in which they would tackle agreed- upon goals for the operation, with a buy-sell agreement among the major to-dos. They did the same within their individual families, filling gaps in areas such as disability and long-term care insurance to ensure their loved ones and the operation are protected. FOCUSED ONGOING CONVERSATIONS "With three families and three different ideas, we don't make decisions overnight," Frank said. But Brandon helped to keep the conversations moving forward and the family focused on goals. "Nationwide got us thinking about the bigger picture and issues that are hard to discuss," Henry said. "We're taking baby steps and knocking off our list one step at a time, taking the most important first." Already, he said, "I feel a lot better that we have a written plan in place. We know how it will be handled." While there is more work to be done, Frank said the family "feels more secure. We're more confident about how things are going to work out." HOW THE NATIONWIDE PARTNERSHIP WORKS

• FCSAmerica will refer interested customers to an approved Nationwide representative based on geographic territory. There is no cost for referrals.
  

• The Nationwide representative will schedule a meeting and gather relevant information.

  
  

  This information is then submitted to a Land As Your Legacy team that includes certified public accountants and attorneys well versed on the latest laws and regulations. The team will evaluate and assemble a comprehensive transition plan, which the area Nationwide representative will review with a customer. Nationwide does not charge for the effort and materials involved in putting together the plan.

  
  

• Customers who decide to implement part or all of the plan will involve their own attorney, tax advisor and other members of their team as necessary. Customers would incur costs associated with this work.
  

HOW DOES NATIONWIDE BENEFIT FROM OFFERING LAND AS YOUR LEGACY?

• While the comprehensive plan is provided as a no- cost obligation, it can require funding mechanisms that could include life insurance, long-term care insurance, etc. There is no obligation to purchase any product through Nationwide, but the company is hopeful that it will earn the opportunity to sell those products to customers.
  

• Land As Your Legacy is part of Nationwide's give back to the ag community, which is foundational to its roots.