Growing something lasting: continuity for the next generation

Roberts + Morrow is a professional services network all under the one umbrella. The team includes accountants, auditors, lawyers, superannuation specialists, financial planners and even IT experts. This network is spread across offices in Armidale, Tamworth, Glen Innes, Narrabri and Brisbane, as well as IT offices in Armidale, Townsville and the Hunter Valley.

Sam Notley is a Partner at Roberts + Morrow, where he has passionately supported farmers across generations and through some of the toughest seasons they have faced. Sam points out that often the role of the accountant is considered limited to the numbers. This view is not one Sam has conformed to. He wants to be at the kitchen table with his clients, getting to the heart of what they want and what they need to make it happen.

“Good advisory work, especially in agriculture, is so much more than satisfying tax requirements. It’s about understanding the pulse of farm life; the highs, the lows, the blood, the sweat and the tears.”

Sam has worked closely with his farming clients as they look to transition the farm to the next generation. A process that can be daunting and very personal for most. One such family is the Perry family at Trent Bridge Wagyu, located in the stunning Aberfoyle area on the Northern Tablelands. For many years now, Sam has supported Charlie Perry and his family in growing his family’s large-scale seedstock and feeder operation of Wagyu cattle, with a focus on genetic analysis, phenotyping and fertility. Growing an operation like this is not for the faint of heart. Decisions have been made about purchasing more land, launching a sale initiative, introducing more management power, succession planning for a continuing and sustainable future, all the while navigating those frequent challenges, like the weather and the markets.

“Succession planning is a journey all on its own. It's bringing everyone who's involved, into the planning process, all the stakeholders, all those attached financially and emotionally. It takes time. It's more than a conversation with mum and dad or a conversation with off-farm son or off-farm daughter, it's about taking baby steps each and every week. But most importantly, it’s about bringing it up regularly, giving people the chance to speak, because when it's too late, it's too late.”

Success in farming isn’t just about the figures or tax implications. It’s about making sure the next generation have something they can confidently continue to develop. That’s what Sam is passionate about, helping families like the Perry’s grow something lasting.

Thank you to the Perry family of Trent Bridge Wagyu for being a part of this column. The annual Trent Bridge bull sale will be held 4th September, 185 Elite Sires, on farm and online via AuctionsPlus.