Jordan Kreke - Legacy Life Planner

09/25/2024

Anytime we can support EIU baseball, see the boys, and play golf, you can’t lose.

Big shoutout to a hometown stud Dalton Boruff who will pitch at EIU this year for stepping in last minute. Good luck this year!

Thanks to Donnewald Distributing for donating all the beer for the outing.

I’m loving the direction of EIU baseball and the university as a whole. Can’t wait to win it next year!

09/23/2024

I had the opportunity and pleasure to speak at the PBR All-Star game last weekend in Miami.

The event showcased PBR’s best 44 high school baseball players throughout the US. Most of them will be playing for power 5 schools next year or will be drafted and sign an MLB contract.

Because athletes of this caliber have the opportunity to earn significant income from NIL and MLB draft, it is more important than ever to educate the kids and their parents on what’s to come.

We spoke on two avatars: one player would sign a large NIL deal and one player would sign a professional contract with an MLB team. The big ideas for each one were….

- impact of taxes
- what to save, spend, & invest
- protecting future income earning ability
- protecting privacy, LLC’s, powers of attorney, & co-habitation / pre-nup agreements

Each family has their own situation or scenario so we had many great questions. It goes to show that proactive planning and education can only lead to a win-win with no surprises.

It’s a blessing to connect my baseball passion and my career to help the next generation of baseball players & their families.

04/18/2024

Farmers are the ultimate entrepreneurs.

Every farmer I've ever met is a jack of all trades, and it astonishes me every time.

Do you want to know about the weather, engines, government policy, soil, crops, inflation, international trade, animals, structure & routine, mental clarity, fixing anything? Ask a farmer!! Great insight on all of these topics.

Think about the history of agriculture and how long family farms have existed.

In Colonial America, agriculture was the livelihood of 90% of the population. This dated back to the 1620's when England settlers planted barley, peas, and Indian corn.

The game has changed but the industry still sits on a crucial foundation and principles that help families grow to pass on the torch.

I've been lucky enough to learn from and work with some of the best farmers in Illinois. Here are a few qualities I take from each one of them...

1. Routine.

Farmers do not rely on a weekly calendar to keep their routine in check or an alarm clock for that matter. They know what to do every morning before the sun comes up. They know when to plant their crops by the weather and season. They understand what needs to get done by what time in order to be successful. It is deeply ingrained into their human DNA to stick with a proven routine that works.

2. Dedication.

The family counts on each member of the family to serve a purpose on the farm. How many farmers have you heard say "when I was a kid, I did the milking or feeding at 5 am every morning?"

It's not even a question. The work has to be done. If you want to eat, Little Johnny or Betsy has to do it! That's not to mention the sacrifice each parent goes through to miss kid sporting events or vacations because they are in the field.

3. Patience.

Most farmers have seen it all. Tractors break down when they need it the most. Crops don't produce the yield to break even. It freezes in April or May destroying the crop. Flooding.

Family members seriously injured on the farm. Large operating loans with high interest rates. Money fluctuations. Through all the ups and downs as a farmer, these seasoned vets hold it together better than most.

4. Culture.

This is how we do it. If you don't like it, go find something else. From age 2 to 42, the patriarch and matriarch understand what it takes to build a culture on hard work, accountability, and respect. Farmers are humble and kind.

As a coach, I know what I'm going to get in return from a kid that grew up on a farm. That in it of itself is refreshing.

🌽 These qualities, the image below, and our vast history of farming leads me to believe some businesses could take notes from our family farms.

One thing family farms could get better at is succession planning and their health just like they do for their crops. 😉

Planting season is in full swing. I wish my farmer clients, friends, and connections a successful season of growth.

03/01/2024

Big fan of this program. It was developed for farmers by farmers.

Nationwide is the largest insurer of farms and have developed this program for them at no cost. We offer a customized transition plan to families looking to start the process.

Now you all are saying what’s the catch, right? Well I’m an honest guy and want no stone unturned. One of the best ways to help provide the next generation with liquidity to continue farm operations is life insurance. It turns out that Nationwide is one of our preferred partnerships for this tool but not the only one.

My firm will only provide the options and some of them may not require life insurance. We are completely independent from all insurance companies and other providers. We represent you, not them.

The big takeaway here is we organize all your documents (business, personal, and financial), analyze the family tree and how you want it to continue, and give you multiple ways to do just that. It’s really pretty fun. If you implement any of the strategies provided to you, then you may incur some costs, product, tool, or service involved in the strategy (example revocable or irrevocable trust, insurance, retirement account, etc).

It’s all about value to my people. This is value. That’s why I’m a part of it.

To the best year ahead and good weather.

Godspeed!

02/13/2024

Farmhouse Dinner Table > Social Media New World.

Change my mind.

Last week, I was invited into a farm family’s home to talk about legacy planning.

I arrived and felt a warm welcome by all the pets and the entire family.

We sat at the dinner table for 2 hours. I asked to hear the family’s entire story dating back to the Grandpa's chicken farming days in the 1950s.

The story telling that went on in those 2 hours brought me back to why I got into this business and how this passion started 10 years ago.

In my road warrior baseball days, I found a passion for talking to strangers about their journey in the airport, at the field, and in restaurants. My business & helping people talk through what they want directly relates to this. Hear the story, ask the questions, pinpoint the problem, and offer solutions.

I asked some really tough questions. We went from smiling and laughing to tearing up with a crackled voice.

You don't get the truth, the real & deep answer on social media most times. Being in person at the dinner table, we all connected in a way that social media will never be able to accomplish.

Upon leaving the farm, I was able to tour the operation and talk more about how we can help keep the farm going through the bloodline.

We will create a customized plan to outline the family tree and how each of the business entities and finances transfer down to each generation.

This family is taking the first step in defining a clear vision for their farm through our process. According to Ag America, only 23% of farms have a succession plan.

For the 77% of farms that don't have a plan, I hope to sit at your farm dinner table to have the same engaging conversation.

01/29/2024

100% bullish on the next generation of kids!

Yesterday, I volunteered at my old high school, Breese Mater Dei, for baseball open gym.

Here are my 5 takeaways.

1. Team beats Individual.

I greeted each kid with a fist bump introduction and saw eyes of fear, timidness, solitary but from others confidence, determination, and unity.

As we started, I watched those individuals that were confident explain to the timid players how MD baseball operated. I watched those players that were scared come alive with another teammates encouragement.

Alone is scary, together is powerful.

2. Young talent promises a bright future.

We watched a group of freshman boys come into an overwhelming gym full of upperclassmen and perform like it was the backyard. The kids possessed a new life of energy, different skill sets, and competition for the veteran players.

Young talent in organizations pushes the older, comfortable players to a work for a higher standard of excellence.

I'm coming for ya is a good thing!!

3. Positive energy produces green lights.

One or two sour patches can crush a team. Some kids (and adults) don't realize the influence simple body language, comments, or actions has on the outcome or future production.

Be that radiating presence that enlightens every situation with encouragement. Those kids are leaders that make every team better on all levels.

In the words of Matthew McConaughey, "Green Light".

4. Intense focus when your name is called.

I threw what felt like 2,500 baseballs yesterday to about 25 guys during batting practice sessions. Before the session, I had a few stern words for them that will 5x their at-bats this season.

When you walk into my tunnel, I better see a determined soldier with a plan to hit 7 of the hardest baseballs ever hit. The time you have with me is not about quantity, it is about quality. Nothing else exists in your eyes besides you and the baseball coming out of my hand.

Imagine if we treated every meeting or personal touch with this mentality.

5. Coach kids so you can see what really matters in life.

If you know me, you know that it's hard to match my energy and drive to make each other better. Yesterday I walked into a gym full of immediate spark, fellowship, and excitement. In my element.

I witnessed the kids subconsciously live the greatest part of life....

➡ Camaraderie
➡ Committed Teamwork
➡ Enjoyment

Pretty simple. Mutual trust in friends that work hard while having fun.

After the time together, we all felt gratitude for each others presence, the work we each put in, and the willingness to come back for more.

The next generation of kids are hungry.

They work hard and love feedback.

They are passionate and care deeply.

We can all learn from kids.

Matthew 18: 1-3

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

11/15/2023

Now that harvest is coming to end, we encourage our agribusiness / farm friends to give thought to the succession of your farm and the land you have acquired.

We offer a friendly process that will walk you through steps to make the transition smooth. If nothing at all, at least you get educated on how it can be done and what options you have without spending a dime.

Your land and cattle (like our Sugar in the picture) aren’t just a business, it’s your legacy. Pass it on.

Schedule a brief intro meeting below. Godspeed!

https://calendly.com/jordan-kreke

10/31/2023

This time of the year is perfect for checking off those to-do items for the farm like estate & transition planning. Our process is smooth and easy....

1. Conduct an intro meeting on current business, personal, and financial situation.
2. Determine goals and vision for the farm.
3. Engage with our advanced team to outline the farm operations, successors, & financials to assess the risks and gaps to fill.
4. Sit down as a family and discuss the plan. See sample plan in link below.
5. Implement any tools to enhance the succession of the farm.

This is a no-obligation, value add process for every farm, land owner, and agribusiness. It's frictionless and provides you with the data you need to keep the family harmony, pass on the farm, and save on taxes. Let me know if I can help!

Farm succession plans focus on the future of your farm and are an integral part of a farm estate plan. Learn more about farm succession planning here.

10/06/2023

If you run a business and have employees, I am offering to bring lunch and give an educational tutorial on benefits (life insurance, long term care, and disability insurance).

Business value is created and maintained from strong employees. The largest intangible capital throughout many businesses are the people.

Take care of your people. 👏

09/08/2023

📣 Business owners 📢

What is your company's transition plan?

1. No plan

2. We have a written plan, but it is not communicated to our management.

3. We have a plan, but it is not documented.

4. We have a written plan and it is communicated to management but not the employees.

5. We have a written plan and all staff is aware.

The numbers are staggering that are in the #1 answer.

It adds value to your company to have a formal, written transition plan.

08/29/2023

📚Book recommendation📚

Know What You’re FOR

By: Jeff Henderson

Jeff has lead multiple organizations on the marketing front from Chick-fil-A to the Atlanta Braves.

Multiple tidbits of guidance throughout this book on the future of sales and marketing.

🔥The two big questions are this….

What do we want to be known for?
What are we known for?

“When the answers to these two questions match, growth happens.”

If we are for the community and for the customer, you’ll deliver happiness everytime.

Enjoy. Btw see coffee cup. Football starts soon.

Go Bears!

08/23/2023

Options for old cash value life insurance policies....

1. Reduce death benefit and let it ride.

2. Tax-Free 1035 exchange to a Hybrid Life / Long Term Care

3. Tax-Free 1035 exchange to an annuity for lifetime income

4. Life Settlement - 3rd party purchases the policy and pays premium

5. Donate to charity

6. Terminate or Surrender it for the cash (potential taxable gain)

Am I missing anything?