Land & Everything Else

Behind every innovation in land and agriculture, there’s a story of persistence, feedback, and people. In this episode, Acres.com co-founders Carter Malloy and Ben Maddox sit down with Brodrick Lothringer, our host for this episode, at the Land Investment Expo to share how their platform is reshaping the way professionals access and understand land data.

They reflect on the scrappy beginnings of AcreTrader, the challenges of turning scattered records into usable insights, and the culture of curiosity that continues to drive Acres forward. Along the way, they explain why advice can be more powerful than feedback, and how staying people-focused has become just as important as advancing technology.

In this episode:

• The origins of AcreTrader and the launch of Acres.com
• Why quality data and human input remain essential in an AI-driven world
• The role of culture, character, and curiosity in building teams
• How land use is evolving beyond farming into energy, housing, and technology

Connect with us!

• Carter Malloy on LinkedIn
• Ben Maddox on LinkedIn
• Acres
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel

Financial conferences can be game-changers for advisors, but they can also be overwhelming. In this episode, PodPony founder Brodrick Lothringer talks about what makes these gatherings valuable, where they fall short, and why showing up ready to learn matters.

This conversation covers the mix of association, custodial, and newer conferences like Future Proof and T3, while also digging into the culture that surrounds them, from late-night networking marathons to the challenges of keeping events professional. 

Topics we cover:

• Which events stand out in the wealth and land space
• The role of alcohol, ego, and behavior at conferences
• How to get real takeaways instead of just checking a box
• The strange but true stories that come with being on the road

Connect with us!

• Brodrick Lothringer
• PodPony
• Dr. Craig Lemoine on LinkedIn
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel

John Heneghan, founder of Servant Financial and longtime partner in the Promise Land Opportunity Zone Fund, joins us live from the Land Investment Expo. With decades of experience in wealth management and alternative investments, John shares how his journey took him from CFO work to founding Servant Financial, and why faith and purpose guided the name of his firm.

We dive into his investment philosophy, from farmland and private funds to the role of Bitcoin as a modern “digital gold.” John explains why he started allocating Bitcoin into client portfolios, the research behind that decision, and how strategies like rebalancing make even volatile assets part of a long-term plan. He also touches on Bitcoin mining, the future role of crypto in global currencies, and how he helps clients embrace diversification with both tradition and innovation in mind.

In this episode:

• Lessons learned from managing a $400M family office portfolio
• How Bitcoin fits into a diversified portfolio as “digital gold”
• What the future of crypto could mean for U.S. reserve currency

Connect with us!

• John Heneghan on LinkedIn
• Servant Financial
• Ailie Elmore on LinkedIn
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel

Jonathan Shively’s career started in the high-pressure world of institutional equity brokerage, working with global funds and billion-dollar portfolios. But a personal leap into farmland ownership reshaped how he thought about investing. Now, as Director of Capital Partnerships at Peoples Company, he helps connect farmers and landowners with the capital they need—while giving investors access to one of the most resilient asset classes out there.

In this conversation, Jonathan shares how his career path took him from London’s finance circles to duck hunting in Arkansas, why farmland behaves differently than the stock market, and what high-net-worth clients really look for when adding land to their portfolios. He also offers his candid take on where the farmland market may be headed in the next year.

Takeaways:

• How a background in equity brokerage translates to land investment strategy
• The appeal of farmland for portfolio diversification and inflation protection
• Why patience and customization matter in high-net-worth farmland deals
• The current outlook for quality land versus lower-grade parcels

Connect with us!

• Jonathan Shively on LinkedIn
• Peoples Company
• Ailie Elmore on LinkedIn
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel

Garrett Jackson never imagined a career in finance when he was growing up in rural Kansas. In fact, his dream was always to become a doctor. However, some science courses made him realize that might not be his thing, even though the desire for helping others was unchanged. That desire, alongside some life twists, led him to discover personal financial planning.

Today, Garrett leads a trust office in Kansas and helps urban investors and rural families with the challenges of land, legacy, and funds. 

Key takeaways:

• Waiting for the perfect moment can lead to lost opportunities
• The skills shaped by growing up in a rural community
• Trust work involves way more than just money

Connect with us!

• Garrett Jackson on LinkedIn
• The Trust Co.
• Dr. Craig Lemoine on LinkedIn
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel

Tax law changes, corn yields, and non-correlated assets might sound like a random jumble of words, but they all point to one thing: farmland.

On this episode, we’re talking with Dr. Bruce Sherrick and Steve Bruere from Peoples Company to dive into the "Big Beautiful Bill", that newly passed legislation that's shaking things up for both agriculture and investors.

They break down policies like the Section 45Z energy credits, which could mean big things for fuels made from crops, and the expansion of opportunity zones, which might open new doors for farmland investments. 

So, whether you manage money for high net worth clients, run an investment fund, or are just curious about the dirt beneath our feet, this episode is a must-listen.

Connect with us!

• Dr. Bruce Sherrick on LinkedIn
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Steve Bruere on LinkedIn
• Peoples Company
• Dr. Craig Lemoine on LinkedIn
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel

California’s agriculture is just different. There’s an incredible diversity of products, it’s very exposed to changes in policies, and it suffers from water constraints almost every year. It really deserves special treatment.

In this episode, live from the 2025 Land Investment Expo, we talk with Curtis Buono from Peoples Company to talk about all the things that make California’s farmland market so unique. It’s not just about the agriculture, but also about its impact on investment opportunities for anyone interested in land here. 

Key takeaways:

• California is the top agricultural state in the country
• Water management is still a challenge
• Climate, labor, and trade risks shape the land value

It might be a good time to invest in the West!

Connect with us!

• Curtis Buono on LinkedIn
• Peoples Company
• Ailie Elmore on LinkedIn
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel

Estate planning is not always about “who gets what”. In fact, most of the time, it’s about the complications that arise when a family tries to decide it. In this episode of Land and Everything Else, Dr. Craig Lemoine welcomes Chicago attorney Tim Ritchey to talk through it all. They go from farmland and rental properties to blended families and sibling drama, and warn you about what can happen when life throws curveballs you are not prepared for.

Tim also dives into a sensitive topic in estate planning: elder abuse. These are two words nobody wants to hear together, but it happens, and most of the time, it comes from a family member.

If you own land, have investments, or are responsible for making decisions in your family, this conversation is for you, whether you are building your wealth or you are already there. 

Key takeaways:

• If you don’t make a plan, the state has one for you.
• A will is not enough to keep you out of probate.
• The right documents can prevent legal chaos.
• If your life changes, your estate plans should too.

Connect with us!

• Tim Ritchey on LinkedIn
• Peck Ritchey
• Dr. Craig Lemoine on LinkedIn
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel

One of the best ways of standing out as a financial advisor is connection. In this episode, Shana Orczyk Sissel—founder and CEO of Banríon Capital Management—shares how alternative investments can deepen client relationships while offering invaluable portfolio diversification. From private equity in sports teams to impact-driven funds, we explore how alts open the door to meaningful conversations that traditional assets often miss.

Key takeaways:

• Most advisors underutilize alternatives, despite institutional investors allocating 20 to 35 percent
• Alts create personal connections by aligning with clients' values and interests
• New platforms and regulatory shifts are making alternatives more accessible than ever

Connect with us!

• Shana Orczyk Sissel on LinkedIn
• Banríon Capital Management
• Dr. Craig Lemoine on LinkedIn
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel

In this episode, we unpack the emotional baggage, regulatory blind spots, and real-world complexity that make alternative investments both fascinating and frustrating.

From farmland and fractional art to NFTs and Opportunity Zones, Dr. Craig Lemoine, Ailie Elmore, and Brodrick Lothringer explore what it takes to move beyond the standard portfolio. They explain why liquidity isn't always your friend, how client education can bridge the alt knowledge gap, and why holding onto "Meemaw's peach orchard" might not be the best investment strategy. If you've ever wondered why alternatives are so misunderstood, this is the conversation that brings clarity with a side of humor.

Key takeaways:

• Illiquid assets can offer valuable returns if matched with the right strategy and time horizon
• Emotional decision-making often clouds judgment in alternatives more than in traditional investments
• Advisors need better tools and confidence to talk about alts rather than avoiding the topic altogether

Connect with us!

• Brodrick Lothringer on LinkedIn
• Ailie Elmore on LinkedIn
• Dr. Craig Lemoine on LinkedIn
• Agriculture Focused Financial Planning
• Land & Everything Else YouTube Channel