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.

I drove all the way from Whitehorse to Red Deer to meet up with Reg and get our plan done – and it was worth every penny! He gets it that farming is our life. He doesn’t pretend to know it all and have all the answers – but someone on his advisory team does. Reg’s process was defined and practical. His solutions were very effective and true to life.

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

Reg’s expertise and due diligence in getting to a resolution for all of us was exceeded only by his true kindness and insight into the “human” side and his compassion was appreciated.

The best thing my wife and I ever did was use Reg to complete our succession plan. She passed away at the age of 58 in August 2016. Okay, maybe it wasn’t the best thing we ever did, but it did make the hard times easier to deal with.

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.

My brother and I took over the family farm in 1970. Our family had been on that land for 118 years. There was a lot of history and memories tied to the land but we’d known for a while that we needed to go our separate ways. Reg provided us with a steady hand to come to an equitable solution. I give Reg all the credit there.

Other consultants that I spoke with followed a set-out pattern and said this is the way you have to do things—I ended up with generic advice. Reg looks at your situation, relates to what you’re going through, and finds what works for you. It was nice to talk to someone with experience in agriculture and a banking background. He knows how to ask the right questions without a gov advisor way of doing things.

We had a family meeting—the hardest thing of the whole deal—with everyone there. Some people don’t deal with confrontation well but Reg managed the process and he reads personalities and motives real quick. Before I had to manage all the personalities, but having Reg there set me free. The kids were happier because they weren’t worried about what would happen. After that, my family got Reg to do our estate plan. Two kids don’t farm, they’re married and away—it was a process, but fair in the end. We all talk to each other and help each other out, we have a good relationship. It was a big adjustment, but we are all doing well.

Reg is not your typical consultant. He’s down to earth, easy to work with...we’ll always be friends.

Estate planning can be daunting and frustrating—as a result, important jobs get postponed. As an Estate Planning Solicitor I’ve had mutual clients with Reg Shandro for years, and I’ve seen him do excellent work helping families get together, gather information, discuss family relationships, and make a plan. When Reg’s clients come to see me they are informed and ready to make decisions with confidence. It is never a lot of fun to plan for death. Reg helps ease the discomfort. Clients are generally at ease, smiling and sometimes outright laughing with relief when we meet to conclude their planning. I never hesitate to pass Reg’s card along.

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.