Funeral Director Daily

What’s fueling Matthews International’s growth

By Funeral Director Daily / July 19, 2023 /

        Most of us in the Death Care business recognize Matthews International as a trusted supplier in the monument, cemetery, cremation, and casket business.  However, this recent article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gives us some insight into what has been fueling the company’s rise in stock price and potential future growth prospects.…

What keeps ’em coming back. . .do you have the data?

By Funeral Director Daily / July 18, 2023 /

    The funeral home business is well known for its retention of retaining families served over the generations of deaths.  Most of us call this “Heritage” business and any great funeral home will find a way to keep the families they have served happy so they don’t look any where else the next time…

Tomorrow night is Peer Support Night

By Funeral Director Daily / July 17, 2023 /

      One of Funeral Director Daily’s sponsors, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), will again be helping to host the Peer Support Network online meeting tomorrow night, July 18, at 8 pm Eastern, 7 pm Central time.   Here’s what CANA says about this month’s meeting in a recent press release on…

It’s legal to sell body parts. . . .Congress introduces “Body Broker” bill to give some respect to the process

By Funeral Director Daily / July 17, 2023 /

    The following quote came out of a National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) e-mail on June 26, 2023, that announced the introduction of the “Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act” bill into Congress, “In almost every state, it is legal for anyone, even if they do not have training, to sell the human remains…

Can Artificial Intelligence prevent suicide?

By Funeral Director Daily / July 14, 2023 /

      If you have been a funeral director for any length of time the odds are that you have served a family of a suicide death at some point.  I served several over my years as a funeral director and those times were very difficult and stressful for me.  And, I had somewhat…

Another argument for Preneed. . . .

By Funeral Director Daily / July 13, 2023 /

      Americans are taking a loan, early withdrawal, or hardship withdrawal from their retirement plans at record rates according to this article from Yahoo Finance.  And, one of the top reasons why, according to the survey, is to pay for a funeral.   According to the survey released by by the non-profit Transamerica…

Is Private Equity really paying 14 x for InvoCare?

By Funeral Director Daily / July 12, 2023 /

      This article from the Australian Financial Review states that, even as the due diligence period is being extended for giant private equity firm TPG Global in their pursuit of Australia’s largest Death Care company, InvoCare, it is purported that TPG’s offer is more than 14 times the forward forecast EBITDA for InvoCare.…

Here’s some good news from our profession

By Funeral Director Daily / July 11, 2023 /

      I like it when I read about good things happening in the Death Care business.  Sometimes, like this story, the good news grows out of bad deeds. . . but, in the end, it’s how our profession can step up and help that makes me feel good about what we do.  …

CANA convention will feature “Quick take on Current Issues” panel

By Funeral Director Daily / July 10, 2023 /

      The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) will soon be convening their 105th Cremation Innovation Convention in Washington D.C. from August 9-11.  The organization composed of members from the funeral home, cemetery, crematory, supplier, and consultant world will feature a roster of outstanding individuals and topics in their learning workshops throughout the…

Health care costs may drive increased expenses in 2024

By Funeral Director Daily / July 10, 2023 /

    According to this recent article from Yahoo Finance, businesses, including funeral homes, may find their employee health care costs rising by up to 7% in 2024.  And, that is on top of increases of 5.5% in 2022 and 6% this year.   According to the article, “. . .hospitals and providers will often…