Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Risk Management Association was founded in 1914 as the Robert Morris Associates and in 2000 they changed the name to The Risk Management Association or The RMA. They know more about key critical ratios than any other organization on earth. Over 3000 banks and 17000 other kinds of financial organizations contribute the essential financial data from their loan inventory to RMA's Annual Statement Studies to calculate key critical ratios for every major industry type (and for most subsets of business vis-a-vis the SIC and NAICS). With over 150,000 loans per year, that is statistical relevancy.

This organization is your banker's banker.

• History of The Risk Management Association: The original firm began because the family wanted to redeem their good name and that of their great grandfather. He was a classic American patriot and entrepreneur. He earned and lost fortunes in his lifetime. He is one of the primary financiers of the American Revolution. He signed the Declaration of Independence. If George Washington did not prevail, he would have been executed along with the rest of the other signers.
  
  Do you recognize the name, Robert Morris? He was the principle financier of the American Revolution. Ostensibly the first Secretary of Treasury -- but when that position was first created during the American Revolution, it was the Superintendent of Finance. After the revolution, he turned down the offer to continue on, and Alexander Hamilton assumed the role.
  
  The primary role of that position was to address the collapse of public credit.
  
  Now here is the American twist. By 1781, Morris was regarded as the wealthiest person of his day. By 1798 he was in debtors prison (until 1801) because of failed land speculations.
  
  Some things never change. We are a country of flagrant entrepreneurs. It is in our blood, our genes, our very being. More... a concise account

• Episodes of the show: In may episodes of the show, the owners talk about their problems with banks. They all admit that they either went to the bank to early or they went unprepared (i.e. they didn't learn bank-speak). In one episode, you learn from Anne Beiler that she turned to the angels for help in the early stages. Forever indebted to her "chicken-farm banker," you should know that Auntie Anne's currently enjoys banking relationships with local banks – Bank of Lancaster County and HomeTowne Heritage Bank, and a large national bank – Wachovia.
  
  Before going to a bank for money, understand what it is that a banker wants. For every loan document, they use the statistical data of the RMA. Although we have a section about money and it can be useful, we all need to know about RMA --The Risk Management Association.
  
  This is real insiders' information on your financials so take note.

• Corporations. Oscar Handlin addresses the issue about our entrepreneurial legacy. It starts, oddly enough, at Harvard University and with old King George.

• Work with The RMA: The Risk Management Association should be within your "Favorites" listings!
  
  Do you know the average key ratios within your industry? We need to be tracking ours in the TV/Production Industry, so get to know a banker and ask! They all have copies of The Annual Statement Studies. Then to really make a study of it, keep an eye out for the next seminar by RMA in your area. It'll be the best money you'll spend to understand the organic nature of your business, and learn what it is that your banker so quickly knows about your industry.
  
  For more, track: RMA's seminars, history, and Journal. You need to be reading articles like this one by Kathleen M. Beans on small business scoring (i.e. used by the SBA for their Low Docs) and these online courses so you can keep your CFO on the edge!