More for Your Money | Adams Bank & Trust Newsletter | 2nd Quarter 2024

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE WITH OUR TRUST DEPARTMENT

As a family bank, we like to take care of multiple generations of our customers. Our Trust Department is just one more way we can serve your needs throughout your life.

Adams Bank & Trust has been in the trust business since 1967. We were the tenth bank in Nebraska to receive a trust charter. Our staff is experienced in law, accounting, real estate, agriculture, business administration, tax issues, investments, and insurance.

HOW CAN A TRUST HELP?

✔ Serve as Trustee, Conservator, Guardian, Personal Representative/ Executor or Agent.

✔ Preserve assets for minor children or children with special needs.

✔ Keep family assets separate with remarriages.

✔ Help families pass down farms and businesses.

What is the difference between a trust and a will? Both are legal documents that ensure your wishes are followed for the distribution of your assets. Your will only comes into play after your death, but a trust can ensure the management of your assets both during your lifetime and after your death.

What are the components of a trust? The grantor is the person who sets up the trust. The trustee is the person or financial institution in charge of the trust. The trustee manages the property or assets on behalf of the beneficiary of the trust.

When can a trust be helpful? Trusts are tailor-made for individual situations and can help you prepare for all of life’s events and circumstances. Depending on the need, our Trust Department can fill not only the role of Trustee, but also of Conservator, Guardian, Personal Representative/Executor or Agent.

A trustee can step in to manage assets on a temporary or permanent basis if a person is unable to handle their own affairs. This may be due to an illness or accident, or there may simply be a gradual decline in cognitive abilities.

by TODD ADAMS chief executive officer

A trust can be particularly helpful to serve those needs for people who don’t have children or children who live nearby.

A trust can be a way to preserve assets for minor children or children with special needs.

Trusts can also provide financial protection for people who may have certain challenges in their lives. Maybe managing financial affairs just isn’t in their skill set. They may have a drug, alcohol, or gambling addiction. They may be in a bad relationship or have people in their lives who aren’t good influences.

Trusts can help keep family assets separate in remarriages and blended families. Trusts can aid in the succession of family farms, businesses, and other family property. A life insurance trust can provide liquidity at the time of death to equalize an estate or protect family assets.

We approach trust relationships on a team basis. If one of us isn’t available, there are multiple in-house professionals who can address any needs that come up. Rest assured that your affairs are being handled by experienced employees who are looking out for your financial welfare. We are bonded, and we are regularly examined by state and federal examiners.

We are here to care not only for the trust property but also for the people themselves. It is our goal that the trusts we manage are life-enhancing rather than lifechanging vehicles.

As you plan your estate, and your attorney feels a trust is right for your situation, we look forward to helping you.

THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR OPERATIONS TEAM by

STEVE KRAUSE president

No one works harder than the fraudsters who want to scam you out of your money. Unless it’s our support staff on Adams Bank & Trust’s operations team.

These professionals are tireless in their behind-the-scenes efforts to protect and educate our customers. I’d like to highlight the vital work of these “unsung heroes.”

MINDI WILSON assistant operations officer

As the bank’s Assistant Operations Officer, Mindi Wilson has seen so many types of fraud. But she knows she hasn’t seen them all. Every day, she sees the criminals using new methods and technology, making scams more and more devious.

Wilson says fraud is the cost of the world we live in. “Everything we do is online, and all that information is so accessible. Consumers want convenient access to so many things, but those conveniences open up possibilities for fraud left and right.”

The bank’s operations team deals with everything from check fraud and check washing schemes, to overpayment and lottery scams, to heartbreaking romance and friendship scams.

In many cases, Wilson says, it is older citizens who are being targeted. “They’re especially vulnerable in many ways. The thieves know they may have a

Our Chief Operations Officer Michelle Kalin, Assistant Operations Officer Mindi Wilson, and their team work diligently to provide support and education.

When scams are detected, they work quickly to close customer accounts that have been compromised and pursue recovery of funds when possible. They attend many hours of training and work

little extra money because they’ve worked hard and saved their whole lives. Plus, they came up in a different, pre-digital world, and may be more trusting.”

WATCH OUT FOR THESE RED FLAGS FOR SCAMS

“Don’t contact your bank.”

“You’ve won a prize, but you need to pay a fee to collect.”

“You need to go buy gift cards and send them as payment.”

“You’ve overpaid for something, but you need to take these steps to be refunded.”

One of the biggest security concerns Wilson has is the ease of accessing personal information through online obituaries. “Scammers can quickly learn everything from where people were born to the names of their grandchildren. They can even watch the online service and then later contact the surviving spouse and pretend to be a friend who was there.”

closely with law enforcement and other authorities.

We dedicate these bank resources to help protect your money and confidentiality, and to play our part in stopping illegal activity.

As a community bank, truly knowing our customers gives us an extra advantage in protecting you and your information.

Wilson says she cannot stress enough the importance of educating family members and friends. “Tell your parents and grandparents NOT to click on links in texts, emails, or virus notifications that pop up on their computer. Help them understand that just one click can enable scammers to take over their device. Share that they should always reach out for independent verification using the phone number from their last statement if they receive some message from a cell phone company or virus software subscription.”

Above all, Wilson says, the bank never wants customers to feel embarrassed to ask for help. “Use the bank as a resource. If something doesn’t seem quite right, call us to get an outside view. Reach out immediately if you think you may have been scammed.”

Unfortunately, these examples just scratch the surface of the types of frauds the bank sees attempted. To stay on top of fraud prevention, please see Adams Bank & Trust’s resources section at www.abtbank.com/blog_directory/ fraud-prevention.

Every year, Adams Bank & Trust presents special awards to recognize excellence in our employees. A selection committee makes the final decisions from nominations submitted by their co-workers. This is a testament to these team members’ attitude, work ethic, and leadership, and we’re very proud of them. We want to congratulate all of the winners and nominees for their outstanding service to their customers, fellow employees, and the bank.

Steve Krause, President

INDIVIDUAL SERVICE EXCELLENCE - SALES

YOAKUM AWARD

FITZGERALD senior vice president ag banking

BEST OF SUCCESS

INDIVIDUAL SERVICE EXCELLENCE - SUPPORT

EXEMPLARY YEARS OF SERVICE

GROWTH AWARD

ANGELA YOUNG mortgage processor

RONDA ANDERSON commercial relationship coordinator

GAIL EWERT executive assistant

MARK SCHMIDT senior vice president commercial banking

SCOTT PETERSON president consumer banking

AMANDA ANDERSON item processor

CORINNE PASCALE deposit operations specialist

JULIE HOTHAN personal banker

BRIAN

AMBER MCENTIRE vice president retail banking

JES WIEGEL lending assistant

SARA HAGGARD executive assistant

CURTIS CARLSON vice president commercial banking

DEB JASNOCH trust officer

AMANDA WHITE vice president mortgage banking

CASH

BANK & TRUST BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 2024

Cash in our vault, plus cash on demand from other banks where funds are deposited. $ 106,736,474

GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY BONDS

Marketable investments in bonds and other securities of the U.S. Government and its agencies. 421,874,598

FEDERAL FUNDS SOLD

Funds load to other banks for daily cash needs and payable on demand. 0 LOANS AND LEASES

Total of all money loaned to customers for all types of loans, such as agriculture, commercial and consumer.

BUILDINGS, FURNITURE AND FIXTURES

Book value (after depreciation) of buildings, computers, equipments, etc.

OTHER ASSETS

Interest on loans earned but not collected, expenses that have been prepaid, etc.

845,477,648

17,043,830

26,496,369

TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,417,628,919

DEPOSITS

Money on deposit by customers of the bank in the form of checking accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit. $ 1,148,830,212

OTHER LIABILITIES

Borrowings by the bank, interest on deposits that has accrued, payable at a future date, other expenses accrued but not yet paid, deferred taxes, etc.

CAPITAL

Par value of the investment of the stockholders for the purchase of stock.

SURPLUS

93,468,704

41,000,000

Additional money contributed by stockholders to provide extra financial strength. 17,000,000

UNDIVIDED PROFITS AND RESERVES

Bank earnings left in the bank to provide added strength to meet possible future losses on loans and to replace buildings and equipment as they wear out.

TOTAL CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

Total capital available for the safe operation of Adams Bank & Trust.

117,330,003

175,330,003

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL ASSETS $ 1,417,628,919

RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. MEMBER FINRA/SIPC

DON’T GET CAUGHT OFF-GUARD BY HYPE

How does something end up on your social media feed? It’s not necessarily because the content creator is an expert who went to school in his or her subject matter, has a real-life track record, is licensed, or has met any sort of regulatory criteria. Rather, you’re served content at the whim of an algorithm. It’s ranking what it thinks you might want to see and serving you more of the same.

Like practically every other subject, the investment world turns up on Facebook reels and TikTok videos, couched in the same click-bait language: “5 Easy Steps To Early Retirement” or “The Hot Stock Tip You Can’t Afford To Miss.” It can be easy to keep watching and fall down that rabbit hole.

But there’s a reason we aren’t all billionaires. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Skepticism is one of your biggest allies in staying the course of your financial plan and keeping emotion out of your financial decision making.

It sometimes seems as though we as a society no longer have a healthy sense of skepticism. Skepticism is one of your biggest allies in sticking to your financial plan and keeping emotion out of your financial decision making. You don’t want to believe everything you read or hear, even if it’s presented in an entertaining or convincing way.

How do financial influencers make money? In an

by JACOB HOVENDICK rjfs branch manager

attention economy, it’s worth remembering the financial “influencers” you see on social media aren’t necessarily making money through investing, but through the hype they create. If they get enough followers or subscribers, they can monetize their content streams. But their prognostications don’t have to come true in order to make money or to remain on that platform. Even if they sometimes do accurately predict an outcome – a broken clock is right twice a day, but that doesn’t mean it’s keeping time.

Contrast the “anything goes” social media environment with the rigorous compliance and disclosure requirements that licensed financial professionals are subject to when we advertise or put out information.

Contrast the “anything goes” social media environment with the rigorous compliance and disclosure requirements that licensed financial professionals are subject to when we advertise or put out information. Of course, some of the tips on social media may be useful and well-intended to improve peoples’ financial lives. Not being licensed doesn’t equate not being smart.

How much attention should you pay to market news and trends? With the S & P 500 reaching a historic milestone over 5,000 in the first quarter of this year, there’s been no shortage of hype surrounding the financial markets, which makes the influencers’ job of capturing attention that much easier. When

Adams Bank & Trust is not a registered broker/dealer, and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, are not insured by bank insurance, the FDIC or other government agency, are not deposits or orbligations of the bank, are not guaranteed by the bank, and are not subject to risks, including the possible loss of principal. Investment Advisory Services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.

you see historic returns in the news, you might experience the fear that you’re missing out on opportunities. However, like a car speeding down the interstate at 75 miles per hour, the stock market must periodically stop and refuel.

Because no one can really know when markets are going to be in bull or bear territory at any given point, it’s important not to allow yourself to get caught off-guard by any hype, letting your emotions lead you into rash decisions.

Even when markets are good, it’s not a prudent strategy to chase returns or buy products you shouldn’t be owning based on your goals and risk tolerance.

Even when markets are good, it’s not a prudent strategy to chase returns or buy products you shouldn’t be owning based on your goals and risk tolerance.

If you do fall off course, can you recover from investing mistakes? While recovery is possible following many missteps, if they’re made over the longer term, recovery costs valuable time. You may get back to where you haven’t hurt yourself, but you haven’t done anything to help your position.

For the majority of people – staying the course and staying invested within your investment plan is likely the best place to be.

How should your plan account for your time horizon for retirement? It all depends on your age and stage.

In your 20s and 30s , you have more time to weather fluctuations in the market, and you may be able to be more aggressive in your investment planning.

In Your 40s and 50s , a growth investment approach may be suitable for this transition period, as you balance saving for retirement with family commitments like your children’s college education or major purchases such as a larger home.

In your 60s and beyond , your portfolio will likely become more conservative as you approach and enter retirement. Multiple investments offer income once you stop receiving a paycheck.

How can personalized, professional advice help you achieve your goals? Your advisor can sit down with you one-on-one to explain investment products and their suitability to your age and stage in life.

Unlike an algorithm or social media influencer, we take the time to get to know our customers and your circumstances and goals before helping you make important investment decisions.

Opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change. This information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. This information is not intended as a solicitation. The material is general in nature. Investing involves risk; investors may incur a profit or loss regardless of the strategy or strategies employed. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will ultimately meet its objectives. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Asset allocation and diversification do not guarantee a profit nor protect against a loss. Working with a financial professional does not ensure a favorable outcome.

For assistance in reviewing or creating your investment plan, please call any Adams Bank & Trust office or call toll free at 800.422.3488 for an appointment with a Raymond James Investment Representative.

Jacob Hovendick , RJFS Financial Advisor and Branch Manager Jan Acker, RJFS Financial Advisor | Khara Martinosky, RJFS Financial Advisor