Farming Without the Bank Podcast

Ep. 319 - Passion for the Underdog


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Are you paying tens of thousands for "help" that just sends you back to the bank—without cash flow, without clarity, and without confidence? Mary Jo gets loud (for good reason) to protect the underdog in agriculture.

👉 Follow Mary Jo Here: https://www.youtube.com/@MaryJoIrmen?sub_confirmation=1

👉 Get the book: https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com/book/

In this episode, Mary Jo calls out predatory consulting in ag, breaks down why cash flow beats fancy paperwork, and shows how real Infinite Banking is done—ethically, transparently, and with education.

From breaking out your enterprises to negotiating with banks and choosing the right rooms for growth, this is a wake-up call for producers tired of being taken advantage of.

Key Takeaways:

  • If you're paying big fees and still can't read your P&L or balance sheet, you're being shortchanged.
  • Break out every enterprise (cattle, custom work, farming, trucking) to see what actually makes money.
  • Cash flow first. Don't go back to the bank without a plan that funds itself.
  • Watch your operating note rate, many should be ≤ ~8.5%; push back on 9–10%+ and refinance where possible.
  • Infinite Banking is not just any life policy; it requires expertise, proper design, and ongoing education.
  • Choose rooms where you're the smallest producer—learn up, don't level off.
  • Nice folks get exploited; learn to advocate for yourself (or bring someone who will).

Chapters

00:00 Predatory "help" & farmers getting gouged 00:41 Why I'm loud: passion for the underdog 01:06 If nobody steps up, who will? 02:14 Protecting people others pick on 03:07 The bankruptcy case: big fees, no clarity 05:06 Cash flow ideas are more important then bank optics 06:21 How I get paid (and how I treat clients) 08:23 Beyond IBC: business, margins & marketing 09:08 CO₂ pipeline fight & standing up for landowners 10:15 Titles don't impress me—results do 11:19 Bad programs & picking the right room 13:35 Life insurance rant: IBC done right only 15:12 Clips vs context: why I sound "loud" 16:07 Personal responsibility & due diligence 16:58 Rates & banks: stop overpaying 18:22 Don't let "being nice" cost you 20:07 Confidence, advocacy & protection mode 21:20 Vet people; watch outcomes, not talk 22:09 Don't pay to re-enter a broken system 23:02 Helping create cash flow (no policy needed)

If this hit home, drop a comment with your situation, like & subscribe, and share this with a producer who needs backup.

When you're ready, we'll help you build cash flow and learn IBC the right way.

Links Mentioned:

Website: https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com

Book: https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com/book/

#FarmingWithoutTheBank #AgFinance #CashFlow #InfiniteBanking #WholeLife #FarmBusiness #Ranching #Agriculture #EthicalAdvice #SmallBusiness

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Farming Without the Bank PodcastBy Mary Jo Irmen

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