Commodity Prices Trap Farmers In Debt (Ep. 335)
Farming Without the Bank Podcast
Release Date: 01/02/2026
Farming Without the Bank Podcast
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info_outlineMost farmers still buy equipment the old way—cash or bank loans—losing years of compound growth. What if the problem isn’t your policy… It’s when the money runs through it?
👉 Follow Mary Jo Here: https://www.youtube.com/@MaryJoIrmen?sub_confirmation=1
👉 Get the book: https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com...
In this episode, Mary Jo breaks down the “before asset” idea: running money through your whole life policy before you buy equipment, cattle, or cover operating expenses. She explains why premium is what makes you money, why loans themselves don’t, and how to think differently about “I can’t make the payment this year” when you are the banker.
Whether commodity prices are down or cattle checks are big, this mindset shift can change how you finance your entire operation.
What you’ll learn:
Why paying a premium creates wealth, not just taking policy loans
How to run purchases through your policy first without losing tax write-offs
What to do in bad years when you can’t make a full loan repayment
Why life insurance is not an investment—and why that matters
How negative thinking and “keyboard warriors” keep people broke
A simple way to create your operating line inside the policy
Chapters
(00:00) – Policy loans vs bank loans: what really changes
(00:46) – Premium as a “before asset,” not an afterthought
(02:31) – Why money should run through the policy before you buy
(04:58) – Cash vs policy example: financing equipment the smart way
(08:18) – “I can’t make the payment!” and how flexibility really works
(12:53) – Life insurance isn’t an investment (and why that’s good)
(16:04) – Mindset, inflation, and the negative “keyboard warrior” trap
👍 If this helped you think differently about your money, hit Like and subscribe for more real-world Infinite Banking conversations for farmers and ranchers.
💬 Got questions about premiums, policy loans, or timing money through your policy?
Drop a comment below or send Mary Jo an email—your question may end up in a future episode.
🎧 Want more? Check out the Without the Bank podcast, where Mary Jo and Tarisa walk through Nelson Nash’s books and real client scenarios in detail.
Links Mentioned:
Becoming Your Own Banker by R. Nelson Nash
https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com...
Building Your Warehouse of Wealth by R. Nelson Nash
https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com...
Mary Jo’s book on Infinite Banking for farmers/ranchers
https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com...
“Without the Bank” podcast