October 2025
Debbie and Don Burroughs
BFG Spotlight - Debbie Burroughs
After nearly 40 years in the banking industry, Debbie Burroughs retired in 2021—and she never dreamed that only eight months later she would take another job.
Returning to work wasn’t Debbie’s original plan, but that changed when BFG management asked Lisa Carter, her close friend and former coworker, to see if Debbie would consider joining her on the team at Benson Financial Group.
“I wasn’t necessarily bored in my retirement,” she said. “But I’d already cleaned out the closets and gotten all of that done, plus I knew it was a great place to work.”
After meeting with BFG leadership about a part-time position, Debbie and her husband, Don, prayed about it.
It was an opportunity she couldn’t resist—and more than three years later, she’s glad she didn’t. As a part-time client services assistant at Benson Financial Group, Debbie enjoys working with clients, while still savoring the trimmings of retired life. She also offers extra hours when she knows she is needed.
Since she started, the BFG team has experienced great growth and expanded into a second location in Quincy. The Hannibal office has now broke ground on 5,000-square-foot addition.
“The growth here has been amazing, and I have enjoyed being a part of that,” she said. “I feel blessed that this will be my last place of employment before fully retiring. It’s ending my career on a good note.”
Debbie grew up on a small farm in Shelby County, Mo. with six siblings and attended school in Shelbina. Later, a single mother of three, Debbie worked part time for Shelbina’s newspaper as a typesetter, doing ad layout and working in the darkroom.
In 1983, Debbie was hired as a teller at MCM Bank in Shelbina. As one of over thirty applicants and with no banking experience, Debbie was surprised when she was offered the job—but God’s plan was soon apparent.
Debbie steadily climbed the ladder to a career in banking that spanned four decades at two financial institutions.
At MCM, she held positions as a teller, loan officer, branch manager and finally a consumer loan manager. In 2000, HNB Bank approached her about a position. Before retiring in 2021, Debbie was a loan officer and eventually a vice president.
Debbie’s strengths have made her an asset to each position she has been in.
“I am a problem-solver and can usually calm difficult situations, so they often came to me for conflict resolution,” she said. “Overall, I just enjoyed working with our customers and meeting their needs. I felt fulfilled in the banking environment.”
As a single mother of three, Debbie made sure she kept her priorities straight—God, her children, and then her job. As God blessed her work, she also saw Him move in her personal life when she met her husband, Don in 1989.
Debbie had no interest in a husband unless he was hand delivered by God.
“My friend used to always me ask if I had found a husband yet, but I insisted ‘If God wants me to find a man, He will drop one right here in Shelbina,’” she said. “And that’s exactly what happened.”
The two met at a singles group event, which Don drove from Hannibal to Shelbina to attend.
“We played on the same volleyball team at the picnic,” Debbie remembered, with a laugh. She later discovered Don had arranged for them to play on the same team, to spend the evening with her.
“I was specific in my prayers, asking Him to send me someone who loved God and loved my kids—and it would be great if he loved me too,” she said. “I found all of that in Don.”
Three months later Don and Debbie married and became a family of seven—bringing together Don’s two girls with Debbie’s three boys, their ages ranging from 9 to 12 years old.
Don, who retired from the former Hannibal Architectural Woodworking, continues to craft beautiful wood creations at home, and Debbie enjoys reading, crocheting and walking. They are active members at Clover Road Christian Church.
Now with 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, their schedule is also filled with sporting events, band concerts—and recently the wedding of a granddaughter.
“We love spending time watching our grandkids do what they love,” she said. “Some are getting older now, but the younger ones still keep us plenty busy.”
In the unexpected twists and turns of life, Debbie finds encouragement in this verse:
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. –Romans 8:28
“God didn’t say some things, He said all things,” she said. “In everything I go through—including things I never thought would happen in my life—I can always know that God is in control.”
/When & Why Do Roth Conversions Make Sense?
By Aaron Hill, BFG Financial Advisor
It’s not uncommon for a household nearing or in retirement to have most—or all—of their retirement savings in a pre-tax position in their retirement savings account(s). While you shouldn’t beat yourself up for this, there may be strategies to give you balance and efficiency in your financial plan for the years ahead.
Enter ROTH CONVERSIONS.
While you have earned income, you can contribute to a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA. But it’s not too late EVEN AFTER your income earning years. You can still shift funds from a pre-tax position to a tax-free position via Roth conversions.
Roth IRAs (named after Senator William Roth) came into existence in the late 1990’s when authorized by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. Contributions to these retirement savings accounts receive no preferential tax treatment in the year of funding but allow for tax-deferred growth and tax-free qualified distributions in later years.
When a conversion takes place, you are taking a taxable distribution from your IRA or 401(k), and instead of transferring it to your bank account, you transfer it to your Roth IRA or Roth 401(k).
So, why would I want to take a distribution that I don’t need and pay taxes now, you may ask?
- Roth conversions allow all future growth to occur tax-deferred and then distribute tax-free upon distributions, assuming rules are met for a qualified distribution. (Five-year rules for conversions and distributions can become rather complicated, we suggest consulting with your financial advisor before taking a distribution.)
- With Roth Conversions, you gain flexibility to manage taxable income later. For larger distribution needs during retirement—such as home repairs, a new car, travel expenses, or big gifts—tax-free distributions from a Roth IRA help control tax brackets, control Medicare premium surcharges (IRMAA), and could minimize taxation of Social Security benefits.
- If you’re in a lower bracket now, you can “fill up” lower tax brackets with Roth Conversions, by paying today’s “known” tax rate instead of the unknown tax scenarios of the future. Currently, we are in a very low federal income tax environment from a historical perspective. Conversions may be advantageous if you believe your tax rates could increase in the future due to policy changes or household spending. Because of this, some individuals who are still working complete Roth Conversions (but again, it’s best to consult with your financial advisor and tax professional first!).
- Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s require you to start Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) at a certain age. This takes away your individual discretion, and if your account balance is large enough in your pre-tax account, your taxable income may climb into higher marginal tax brackets after you reach RMD age. Roth IRAs (for original owners) don’t have RMDs, and this allows appreciation to grow for longer, giving you the control.
- Roth IRAs can be a powerful wealth transfer tool as well. If you are married and one spouse outlives the other for many years, completing Conversions early while filing under the married filing jointly status can be an effective hedge against the more restrictive tax filing single status that often occurs later in life for one spouse. This is especially important if you don’t anticipate lifestyle changes after one spouse passes away.
- Also, non-spousal individual beneficiaries (many times children) will eventually have 10 years to liquidate IRA accounts that they inherit (under new Secure Act provisions). If you leave Roth funds, those distributions become tax free to your beneficiaries.
There are many reasons to consider Roth conversions. Call your advisor today to see if it is right for you.
A Roth IRA conversion—sometimes called a backdoor Roth strategy—is a way to contribute to a Roth IRA when income exceeds standard limits. The converted amount is treated as taxable income and may affect your tax bracket. Federal, state, and local taxes may apply. If you’re required to take a minimum distribution in the year of conversion, it must be completed before converting.
To qualify for tax-free withdrawals, you must generally be age 59½ and hold the converted funds in the Roth IRA for at least five years. Each conversion has its own five-year period, and early withdrawals may be subject to a 10% penalty unless an exception applies. Income limits still apply for future direct Roth IRA contributions.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual circumstances.
/Pat and Connie Benson to Serve as Co-Chairs for WGCA Sharathon
Pat and Connie Benson were selected by WGCA to serve as the first-ever co-chairs for the Christian radio station’s 38th annual Sharathon.
Sharathon is a two-and-a-half-day broadcasting event being held Oct. 22-24, where the station seeks their audience’s support for their mission to glorify God over the radio waves. Pat and Connie will join them on-air to rally for listener support.
“This year, we wanted to find someone local to join our efforts to fund the upcoming year, and to share why our mission is so important,” Sierra said. “After the support and friendship they’ve offered our station over the years, choosing Pat and Connie as co-chairs was a no-brainer.”
Fully funded by listeners, WGCA (88.5 FM) relies on the event as their one big fundraiser each year, minimizing interruptions to their regular programming.
Sierra Alfred, donor relations director and on-air host, said Sharathon is short but it’s also sweet.
For that span of days, the entire WGCA crew gathers to become listeners themselves, as the phone lines light up with testimonies of how God is impacting the communities they serve.
“Most of the year, we speak into our microphones without a lot of feedback, but this is when we get to see what God has been doing,” she said. “During Sharathon, we’re deeply encouraged by the testimonies our listeners share, and we’re reminded of why we do what do every day.”
Pat & Connie Benson at WGCA
Pat and Connie went live on the airwaves at WGCA on Sept. 22 to discuss Sharathon.
As avid supporters and listeners of WGCA, also known as The Mix, Pat and Connie are honored WGCA chose them to help raise awareness of a mission they truly believe in. They refer to gifts to WGCA as “kingdom gifts” with lasting impact and eternal significance.
“We worship in a lot of different ways, and one of the greatest ways for me is through music. Many of the song lyrics speak to me like a pastor delivering a message,” Pat said. “God often uses these songs to encourage, change hearts, and bring people closer to Him.”
Connie agreed, and believes Christian radio keeps listeners tuned in to God as He is glorified in WGCA’s song list and programming.
“What we take in is so important because we are commanded to think on what is pure and holy,” she said. “The music on 88.5 feeds your soul while you’re driving or working—or just anywhere throughout the day.”
Pat and Connie are also grateful to give back to the community they love by helping share the Gospel through locally owned public broadcasting, delivered by local on-air personalities.
Sierra said this is rare.
“A lot of stations have people several states away doing their shows, but we have a live and local morning show, and all of our on-air staff is local,” she said. “I live the farthest away and I'm in Hannibal.”
Pat and Connie connected with WGCA after their daughter, Kyley Adams, nominated Connie for the station’s Mother’s Day contest. Connie was one of three winners that year.
Impressed by the authenticity of the station’s mission, Pat and Connie got to know the WGCA leadership and crew—and although they were already listeners, they have been proud supporters since.
“We always knew that they were a spirit-filled organization, but as we got to know the leadership and crew over the years, our trust and respect has just grown,” Pat said. “WGCA is doing Kingdom work every single day.”
Donations to The Mix can made anytime to on their website at wgca.org or by following this QR code.
From left Jeriod Turner, Connie Benson, Pat Benson, and Justin Gibson.
On Sept. 4, the entire BFG team and project leaders from Klingner & Associates and Bleigh Construction Company gathered for an official groundbreaking in Hannibal.
/We Are Expanding!
With a growing team and client base, Benson Financial Group is adding 5,000 square feet to the Hannibal office.
The expansion will include an additional floor along with extended space on the first floor to accommodate a growing team and client base. The exterior will also get an upgrade.
“We have seen tremendous growth in the last few years, and we’ve outgrown our current building,” Jeriod Turner, BFG partner and financial advisor, said. “This is an exciting time for us.”
The remodel has been on the agenda for more than a year. Klingner & Associates began the design phase early this year and Bleigh Construction broke ground on the project in September.
“We are grateful to partner with two outstanding companies on this project,” Jeriod said. “We are also thankful for this community and our clients who are so good to us. Without them, none of this would be possible.”
Benson Financial Group will conduct usual business operations and hours throughout construction, but temporary rearranging will be necessary to avoid areas of work.
“We ask clients to be patient with us as we work through construction, and we apologize for any inconveniences,” Jeriod said. “But in the end, we can’t wait to welcome everyone into our new building.”
Quarterly Celebrations
New Team Members
Benson Financial Group is excited to welcome two new team members—Logan Cain, financial coordinator in Hannibal, and Amanda Tuley, administrative assistant in Quincy.
Recent Promotion
We also celebrate the promotion of Kristina Corzatt, who has advanced from administrative assistant to financial coordinator in Quincy.
Work Anniversaries
Jen Kovar, Executive Assistant — 2 years
Amanda Hall, Administrative Assistant — 13 years
Rebecca Luebrecht, Marketing Manager — 7 years
Happy Birthday to Our Team Members!
August: Amanda Tuley
September: Kristina Corzatt, Megan Duncan, and Becky Speckhart
Are you joining our October Seminar?
Giving With Purpose: Personal, Charitable, and Strategic Insights
Join us for an enlightening seminar created to explore the full spectrum of giving, from the strategic to the heartfelt. Our Financial Advisor, Aaron Hill, will guide you through both the how and why of personal and charitable giving, offering insights that span lifetime contributions and legacy planning.
/Upcoming Holidays & Closings
Wishing everyone a wonderful start to the Fall season!
