The straight line

Summary of the “Tax Reform Act of 2014” discussion draft.

This year due to the number of students that applied for the scholarship, and their outstanding achievements, we elected to offer three scholarships. The scholarships were awarded to this year’s graduates from Waukee High School who plan to attend a post secondary school and pursue a degree in accounting. The three candidates each received a scholarship in the amount of $1,000.

Founder of Gardiner Thomsen CPAs, Dan Gardiner, was inducted into the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives Hall of Fame on November 26th, 2013. Presenting the award for Dan was long-time client, Jim Carlson, General Manager of First Coop Association of Cherokee, Iowa. His sons, Daniel “Mark” Gardiner and Dennis Gardiner, accepted the award on his behalf and really appreciate all of the kind words their colleagues and friends wrote about Dan to help make him a nominee for this award.

Gardiner Thomsen understands how important security is to you, which is why we have recently put into place a new method of exchanging important documents and secure data with our clients. We recently released an article explaining how this works but we want to make sure you know where to access the login to ensure that this is user friendly for everyone.

• Sales mainly lower, some steady with increased average prices. • Significant reduction in grain volumes: up to 45% decrease compared to 2012. • Lower revenues, primarily grain related. • Overall, most clients were more profitable in 2013 compared to 2012. Local savings were down, offset by significant increases in regional earnings.

More mergers of cooperatives due to retiring managers, smaller struggling cooperatives, and smart combinations to gain critical mass. Increased consideration in returning more earnings to the patron-owners than what has been done in the past few years – revisiting the question: “How much retained savings is enough?” Continued capital investments in grain, agronomy and feed facilities; particularly with the strength of many of the cooperative’s balance sheets.