Recognized by the Canadian Farm Business Management Council as an authority on Succession Planning, Reg feels there is no better way to make a living than helping people.
For over a decade, Reg’s clients have found him through word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied farmers. Here’s what they have to say:
I give Reg complete credit for our family being able to remain a family unit. Without his assistance I really imagine that Craigmillar Farms Ltd and the Penman family would have become another farm family torn apart forever!
After a family member passed away our family (and our farm corporation) was overwhelmed. Like almost all families, we have an assortment of personalities and when emotions are involved we tend to be a little strong-willed. A few years prior, we had heard Reg speak at a seminar in Consort.
We contacted him and I was so impressed. He knows farming and is amazing at reading people’s personalities and frustrations. He offered us a number of options of how we could divide our corporation FAIRLY and connected us with folks to sort out all of the financial and tax requirements and implications. He taught us that working with a family is totally different than working with an estate.
There are no quick fixes but Reg delivered what I believe every family desires—fairness and solutions.
Carol Penman – Retired Farm Wife – Czar, Alberta
I met with over a hundred advisors and farmers in more than a dozen countries. Reg stood out because of the way his approach to succession puts people first.
Communication and teamwork is critical for family farm success. Reg's passion for family and business unity makes family businesses more efficient and more enjoyable to be a part of.
Andrew Baldock, Nuffield Scholar and Farmer, Australia
Reg has never brought me the same plan twice. He may have the same process that he uses but his end product is uniquely structured to the specific needs of that family. He is clearly passionate about agriculture. He wants to set up the next generation to succeed and he understands what success looks like.
His mediation skills are a major asset with complicated family dynamics. He is a valuable resource, excellent at what he does without trying to be a jack of all trades. He knows what he does not know and will assemble the best team to support his clients.
When clients use Reg, things really start to happen. He looks after everyone and gets results.
Kimberly Shipley, Chartered Accountant, Red Deer, Alberta
Meeting Reg was the biggest game changer for our farm – ever! He came into our lives at a critical time and we are blessed that he did – and I thank God for that!
G Ruzicka – Rancher – Viking, Alberta
Olthuis Family - Barrhead, Alberta
Cor Van Raay
May 30, 1936 - July 29, 2021
Assisting Cor Van Raay was one of the highlights of my career! I used to refer to him as the "Bill Gates of Canadian Agriculture."
He was a leader, innovator, visionary and an amazing man who did amazing things and he told me that this came naturally to him.
Cor was a cattle and grain farmer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who positively impacted others. He believed in giving back to the community and attributed this to his success in work and life.
You will be missed by many.
Rest In Peace Cor.
A Tribute to Cor Van Raay
I have been attending conferences for 16 years and haven’t heard much new in the last 10 years or so… I have learnt more new concepts from Reg in two days than I have in the past 10 years!
Nicholas Smith, Lawyer, Author “Advising the Family owned Business” Chairman of the International Centre for Family Businesses U.K
Through nearly 60 years of operation, three generations, and farming members passing away throughout the years, our farm had become a very complex operation. With nearly 16,000 acres of cropland shared between 5 different tax entities, we had reached a point where change was needed but it was not clear where to start. The national accounting firm we were using claimed it was the most complicated file they had ever worked on.
I heard Reg speak at a local farm information seminar and knew immediately if there was any hope for us, he was it! His ability to relate to incoming and outgoing generations through understanding and personal experience is absolutely unmatched and utterly necessary for success. He gets you all to talk about the things you need to but don’t want to; he persuades you to consider solutions for problems that seemed unsolvable; he leads you to common ground when you felt there was none.
No one else I know has the unique skill set and life experience that Reg does in this field and no one else brings them to YOUR kitchen in the way that Reg does. Regardless of the outcome, reaching out to Reg to come to your kitchen table is the best decision you could make for your business and your family
G. Cochran – Farmer – Melfort, Saskatchewan
Reg has a special gift - where he can connect with the younger and older generation at the same time. He is very open, honest, and I have never met anyone with the skills that he has. A lot of people claim to do succession planning, Reg is the only one that I have met that can actually put a complete Succession planning document together!
Josh S. - Farmer - Mountain Road, Manitoba
Reg’s method in managing my husband’s concern was nothing short of miraculous. His down-to-earth personality lead to a much better succession plan than I have been fretting over for years.
