Banks are already tightening up on ag lending, and that’s your red alarm. This creates instability as banks pull out of lending due to perceived high risk.

Farming Without the Bank – Book & resources: https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com/book/

Understanding sound farm management and agricultural finance is now more important than ever to mitigate risk management. Let's navigate the ag lending landscape together.

Mary Jo breaks down when (and if) you should use the minimum premium option on policies with Paid-Up Additions (PUA) and why, in most cases, paying the full premium and then borrowing against cash value is the smarter play, especially when banks are pulling back, collateral requirements are rising, and commodity prices are shaky.

If you’ve been tempted to “just pay the minimum” on your whole life premium, this episode explains why that move can quietly cost you years of growth.

She shares a personal $2,000 short-pay mistake that still drags on her policy 16 years later, and revisits Nelson Nash’s strategy during 23% interest rates: premium in, borrow, pay notes down, and migrate debt to the policy over time.

Key Takeaways:

∘Full premium today = more dividends + faster compounding tomorrow ∘Minimum premium “flexibility” is for worst-case cashflow crunches, not a habit ∘Policy loans can make tractor/land/operating payments while keeping your policy compounding ∘Banks pulling back = expect harder renewals + more collateral requirements ∘Consider how (or whether) to list cash value on bank forms—educate your banker ∘Nelson Nash moved high-interest bank debt to his policy over ~13 years, start where you are 

📘 Read Nelson Nash’s Becoming Your Own Banker and Mary Jo’s Farming Without the Bank 🗓️ Clients: Email to get on Mary Jo or John’s calendar for a strategy session ✉️ Quick question? Email us and request a call-back ✅ Before you cut premiums, talk it through, don’t starve your compounding

Links Mentioned: Becoming Your Own Banker – Nelson Nash (official resource): https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com/product/becoming-your-own-banker/ Farming Without the Bank – Book & resources: https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com/book/

In this episode, Mary Jo dives into one of the biggest mistakes she sees farmers and ranchers making—rushing to pay off debt at the expense of cash flow. She explains why keeping money liquid provides flexibility, freedom from the bank’s control, and better long-term planning. Through real client stories, she shows how choosing liquidity over debt payoff can mean the difference between staying in business and being forced back to the bank. From operating notes to side-by-sides to land loans, Mary Jo breaks down how to think differently about utilizing money and why Infinite Banking is really about control, not just debt freedom.

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com 

In this episode, Mary Jo breaks down why multiple policies aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re necessary if you want to grow real wealth, keep taxes off your back, and take back control from the banking system. From MEC limits to managing premiums, she lays out the blunt truth about when and how to start extra policies, what pitfalls to avoid, and why building your own banking system looks a lot like how the banks operate—with more branches, more deposits, and more control.

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com 

In this episode, Mary Jo tackles the hidden dangers of life settlements and why they often hurt elderly policyholders more than help them. She explains how companies profit by preying on the uninformed—while simple solutions like borrowing against a whole life policy are overlooked. Mary Jo calls on listeners to share this knowledge with parents, grandparents, and neighbors to protect them from costly mistakes.

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com 

In this passionate episode, Mary Jo delves into the ethical issues within the agricultural finance industry, sharing her frustrations with financial consultants who exploit struggling farmers by charging exorbitant fees. She contrasts her own approach, which prioritizes genuine aid and financial education over profit. Mary Jo discusses her deep-rooted drive to protect and empower vulnerable people in the agricultural industry, and her commitment to providing high-quality support to all clients regardless of their financial status.

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com 

If you're still judging what works based on what your neighbor did (or didn't do), this episode is for you. Mary Jo calls out the small-town mindset that keeps farmers stuck—from refusing to leave the county, to writing off ideas without understanding them. She dives into why it's dangerous to assume something "doesn't work" when you've never asked the right questions, never left your operation, and never learned what others across the country are doing differently. Whether it's grazing practices, estate planning, or Infinite Banking—it's time to stop sitting at the coffee shop and start expanding your thinking. Because if you want to grow, you've gotta go. Literally.

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com 

In this episode, Mary Jo shares her candid thoughts on the inefficiency of writing out goals and drafting mission statements, advocating instead for actionable steps and a positive mindset to achieve business success. Through a detailed client case study, she discusses leveraging resources and strategic thinking to maximize returns in farming and ranching. Mary Jo challenges conventional wisdom and encourages listeners to focus on solutions rather than getting bogged down by goals and mission statements.

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com 

In this episode, Mary Jo explores the significant impacts of bank control on farming operations and presents the Infinite Banking Concept as a solution. By controlling their own finances, farmers could make strategic decisions without bank-imposed selling deadlines, increasing profits and reducing stress. The discussion also touches upon the broader implications of financial control, such as influencing market prices, promoting generational wealth, and even addressing serious issues like farmer suicide.

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com 

In this episode, Mary Jo and John continue their study through Nelson Nash's Becoming Your Own Banker book. They address common misconceptions about money, interest, and banking systems, emphasizing the importance of viewing money as valuable and leveraging whole life insurance to become your own banker. The discussion includes the biblical basis for earning interest, the mechanics of banking, and the critical aspects of creating a personal banking system.

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com 

Are you a farmer worried about losing your family farm to banks, bad estate planning, or expensive buyouts?

Mary Jo Irmen joins Tracy Brunet on the Impact Farming Show to reveal how Infinite Banking for farmers can protect your farm, simplify farm succession planning, and keep your operation in the family for generations.

In addition to providing an overview of the Infinite Banking Concept, they discuss specifically how it is instrumental in making transition planning work, how it helps in "fair and equal" situations with off-farm children, and how it factors into old-age care for the farm founders.

Mary Jo becomes fiery several times in this episode, including when discussing why farmers work so hard to build their operations over decades, only to have them destroyed by eventually being parcelled out and rendered no longer viable.

Key Takeaways:

◦ Why most estate plans fail and lead to losing the farm.

◦ How infinite banking gives farmers control over their money.

◦ The “discounted dollar” strategy that can save operations during a buyout.

◦ Why fair doesn’t always mean equal in farm succession.

◦ How to avoid banks dictating your farm’s future.

Timecodes: (00:00) Mary Jo’s journey from skepticism to Infinite Banking

(03:12) Growing up on a farm and seeing bank control firsthand

(06:05) Why traditional advice keeps farmers broke

(13:46) Infinite Banking explained simply

(16:13) How banks control your operation without you realizing it

(19:56) Understanding the real cost of money

(24:29) Why the stock market isn’t a safe retirement plan for farmers

(28:12) Why invest in what you know instead of Wall Street

(31:41) How life insurance policies work in Infinite Banking

(44:19) Estate planning mistakes that ruin farm transitions

(49:35) The “vulture” problem in farm succession

(55:27) Why “fair” can still destroy the farm

(1:02:34) Why some farm kids build from scratch instead of waiting to inherit

(1:07:52) Using policies to pay for nursing home costs 

(1:09:51) Closing thoughts and links

📚 Get Mary Jo’s book: https://farmingwithoutthebank.com/book