In this episode of First Bankers Trust Spotlight, we sit down with Valerie Howell of the John Wood Community College Workforce Development Center and John Reinhardt III, CPA, Instructor of Accounting at John Wood Community College, to preview the upcoming Vault Session: Understanding Your Financials + QuickBooks Crash Course.

This conversation is focused on helping business owners, entrepreneurs, managers, and anyone responsible for financial decisions better understand their numbers and feel more confident managing the financial side of their business.

Valerie shares how workforce development supports local businesses and why ongoing learning is important for business owners - not just employees. John brings the accounting and QuickBooks perspective, breaking down common bookkeeping mistakes, why financial clarity matters, and how QuickBooks can be used as a practical tool to better manage a business.

Whether you’re a new business owner, existing business owner, entrepreneur, manager, bookkeeper, or someone thinking about starting a business, this episode offers practical insight to help you better understand the story your numbers are telling.

The First Bankers Trust Spotlight features real conversations with the people shaping business, banking, leadership, and community.

Real People. Real Conversations. Real Impact.

https://Apply.FirstBankers.com

https://www.FirstBankers.com

In this episode of First Bankers Trust Spotlight, we sit down with Natalie Oswald of Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu & Mitchell for a practical conversation about business and farm succession planning.

For many business owners and farm families, planning for the future can feel complicated, emotional, or easy to put off. Natalie helps break down what succession planning really means, why it matters, and how having a clear plan can help protect your legacy, your family, your employees, and the future of what you’ve worked hard to build.

We discuss common mistakes and misconceptions, why people often wait too long to start planning, what families and business owners should think about first, and how professionals can work together to create long-term stability.

We also preview the upcoming Business and Farm Succession Planning Lunch and Learn, hosted by First Bankers Trust Company in partnership with Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu & Mitchell and Gray Hunter Stenn.

Whether you own a business, are involved in a family farm, or simply know this is a conversation your family needs to start having, this episode is a helpful reminder that succession planning is not just about paperwork — it’s about protecting what matters most.

First Bankers Trust Spotlight features real conversations with the people shaping business, banking, leadership, and community.

Real People. Real Conversations. Real Impact.

https://info.firstbankers.com/podcast

Apply.FirstBankers.com

In this episode of the First Bankers Trust Spotlight, we sit down with Brenda Seals and Sherry Schaffnit from the First Bankers Trust mortgage team for a helpful conversation about home buying, mortgages, and how to make the process feel less overwhelming.

Brenda and Sherry break down what buyers should know before they start looking, when to talk to a lender, common mistakes that can slow down the process, and why working with a local mortgage team can make a difference.

We also talk about today’s interest rate environment, affordability, first-time homebuyer advice, and the idea of “date the rate, marry the house” as one way buyers can think through the market.

Whether you’re buying your first home, thinking about moving, or simply trying to understand the mortgage process better, this episode offers practical insight from two experienced lenders who help customers through these decisions every day.

Learn more and subscribe at https://info.firstbankers.com/podcast

First Bankers Trust Spotlight features real conversations with the people shaping business, banking, leadership, and community.

Real People. Real Conversations. Real Impact.

In this episode of the First Bankers Trust Spotlight, we sit down with Shawn Ryan, Relationship Manager with Buck Land Funding, for a conversation about land financing, the outdoor lifestyle, and what buyers should know before purchasing hunting or recreational ground.

Shawn shares his perspective on what Buck Land Funding does, who they serve, what he’s seeing in today’s land market, and some of the common mistakes people make when they start looking for land.

We also have some fun along the way — including a few stories from the hunting and outdoor world, plus a chance to get to know Shawn beyond his role with Buck Land Funding.

Whether you’re actively looking for land, dreaming about owning hunting ground someday, or just enjoy conversations about business, banking, and the outdoors, this episode is worth a listen.

The First Bankers Trust Spotlight features real conversations with the people shaping business, banking, leadership, and community.

Real People. Real Conversations. Real Impact.

This episode was originally recorded as part of The Vault, now known as First Bankers Trust Spotlight.

In Episode 2, we sit down with Michele Walgren of MHC Funding to talk about the manufactured housing community industry, the financing side behind it, and why this space continues to grow in relevance across today’s market.

We discuss common misconceptions, what operators and investors should be paying attention to, how the lending environment has evolved, and why manufactured housing communities play an important role in affordable housing and long-term investment strategy.

Whether you’re familiar with the industry or hearing about it for the first time, this conversation offers practical insight and real-world perspective from someone deeply involved in the space.

https://info.firstbankers.com/podcast

🎙️ Real People. Real Conversations. Real Impact.

Welcome to the first episode of The First Bankers Trust Spotlight (formerly The Vault)—a podcast from First Bankers Trust Company featuring real conversations about money, business, and the people building strong communities across the Midwest.

In this episode, we kick things off by introducing what The Vault is all about, why we created it, and what you can expect in future episodes.

Then, we sit down with Jim Obert, who spent decades serving both First Bankers Trust and the local community. Jim shares his perspective on how banking has evolved, what hasn’t changed, and why relationships and trust still matter more than ever.

Whether you're a business owner, professional, or simply interested in how strong communities are built, this conversation offers practical insight and real-world perspective you can take with you.

▶ Follow The First Bankers Trust Spotlight for more conversations with local leaders, industry experts, and the people behind the scenes driving success.