These employees have reached the following milestones this month, and we celebrate and appreciate their longevity with us. Congratulations!
Clint Shoemaker – 12 Years, Vicky Noel – 6 Years.
Wow! 50 years has gone by fast. I started with Guaranty on June 3, 1974. I had just graduated from K-State in May of that year. Following graduation, I went back home to the family farm in Iowa to unload college stuff and load up stuff to sparsely furnish a basement apartment in Beloit. I was single and still very green to life. Especially life on my own. But I had a job and could then pay the rent and buy a few groceries. Best of all God was unfolding His plan for me and, though unknowingly, I was mostly cooperating with Him.
50 years later I have a wife, kids, grandkids, a house, a couple cars and still a job with Guaranty. That chronological success is okay. I am thankful that God has allowed me to stay with Guaranty and live in Beloit for 50 plus years now. BUT I am more grateful for my wife Janet and our kids and grandkids. And I am more grateful for the Guaranty family God has allowed me to work with through the years. AND I am more grateful for you Guaranty’s customers and friends. My family, the Guaranty family and you make the 50-year milestone pale in comparison.
One of the lessons I get from the Bible is God measures success by the people we help along the path of our life. Not so much by the number of years we spend in a particular job. I did not set out to be the head of a 16-member family or a bank president. I just wanted to serve. Preferably in a rural area. But banking is not how I thought I would serve.
During the early part of my senior year at K-State the job placement center’s ag man, Vern Giesler, asked me to go to Beloit for an interview for a bank job. I told him I didn’t want to be a banker. But God seemingly planned for me to be a banker in Beloit. Because I drove to Beloit, passed the interview and got the job offered to me soon after. About the same time, I got another job offer. I called my dad and asked him which job I should take. He said you’ll have to decide that. I don’t remember much about how I decided which job to take. God and His plan are all I can say about how I decided on banking in Beloit. Glad I mostly cooperated with God and that He got me here. It’s been and is a great life.
Best I can tell God is not done with me doing my daily bank job here. So, I’ll carry on for a while yet. He got me and us through 50 years. He’ll get us the rest of the way.
Jeremiah 29:10-12 has come alive for me as I look back to 1974 from today. That passage reads, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope…” God had the plan and kept me on His plan. If He had not kept me on track, I would surely have wandered off and missed the “good” He had planned for me.
Thank you for being a part with me in the last 50 years.
Doug Johnson
President
Matthew 17: 25 …Jesus asked, “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes – from their own children or from others?”
The answer was “from others”. Unlike in Matthew’s day, thankfully, America remains a constitutional republic where we elect those who represent us in government and vote on our tax codes.
President Biden’s proposed changes to capital gains tax rates and regulations for 2025 have sparked significant interest and concern among farm, ranch, and small business families across the United States. The proposal includes a fundamental shift in how capital gains taxes are applied, potentially affecting both the sale and inheritance of agricultural assets. With the federal capital gains tax, Kansas tax, and the 3.8% federal net investment income tax, Kansans could pay upwards of 50.3% tax (which still isn’t as bad as California’s 57.9%). Here’s a breakdown of what the proposal entails and how it could impact agricultural and small business families.
Understanding Capital Gains Tax Changes
Currently, capital gains taxes are triggered when assets like real estate, depreciated machinery, certain livestock, business properties and stocks are sold, based on the difference between the purchase price and the sale price. For assets held until death, the tax liability is reset to the market value at the time of death, which means heirs inherit these assets with a stepped-up basis, avoiding capital gains taxes on the increase in value during the decedent’s lifetime.
President Biden’s proposal seeks to eliminate this stepped-up basis provision for gains but may exempt the first $1 million ($2.5 million per couple) of gains, essentially making capital gains due on both sale and death. In an age where a quarter of ground or a combine can bring close to $1 million, even this exemption may not provide the protection modern farms and ranches need. These tax changes are intended to generate revenue to fund other Presidential policy initiatives.
Implications for Farm and Ranch Families
The proposals have been light on details, though some lip service has been given regarding exempting family owned businesses property, as long as the assets remain in the same use after, as before, the owner’s death. Farm and ranch families, whose wealth is often tied up in land, equipment, and livestock, could face several challenges under this proposal:
Mitigation Strategies
In response to these potential challenges, farm and ranch families are considering various strategies to mitigate the impact of the proposed changes:
Seeking Professional Advice
Given the complexity of these proposed changes, farm and ranch families are advised to seek guidance from estate planning attorneys, financial advisors, and tax professionals. These experts can help families navigate the potential impacts of the proposed tax reforms and develop strategies to protect their agricultural legacies while optimizing tax efficiency. Feel free to ask us at Guaranty how we can help.
Conclusion
If you have watched the news lately, you know there is a lot of potential for change on the horizon…good or bad?? In 1894 the income tax was structured in a way to protect struggling farmers. However, a year later the federal income tax was struck down as unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. It required an amendment to the U.S. Constitution taking effect in 1913 to allow a federal income tax.
The current proposals to change capital gains tax rates and eliminate the stepped-up basis provision could have profound implications for farm and ranch families. As discussions continue and potential reforms take shape, it’s as crucial as ever for agricultural families to stay informed and proactive in their planning efforts. By seeking professional advice and exploring strategic options, farm and ranch families can mitigate risks, preserve their operations, and ensure a sustainable legacy for future generations in the face of ever-changing tax policies. It is also an critical time to make informed votes educating ourselves where the candidates stand on issues important to each of us.
Shannon McDowell, JD, CTFA
Vice President & Trust Officer
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Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Guaranty State Bank & Trust Co and GSB Financial Resource Center are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using GSB Financial Resource Center, and may also be employees of Guaranty State Bank & Trust Co. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, GSB Financial Resource Center or Guaranty State Bank & Trust Co. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are: Not Insured by FDIC or Any Other Government Agency | Not Bank Guaranteed | Not Bank Deposit or Obligations | May Lose Value