Regulations

Bill introduced to raise Social Security Death Benefit

By Funeral Director Daily / October 7, 2024 /

      It’s been almost 100 years since Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Bill into law in 1935.  And, contrary to what most people believe, there was a “Lump Sum Death Benefit” (LSDB)  applied to that bill that took effect at that time.  However, the original LSDB was discontinued in 1939 at…

The Crematory Dilemma: Continued consumer choice vs. the NIMBY attitude

By Funeral Director Daily / September 25, 2024 /

    For over a year and a half Funeral Director Daily has followed the application process of the Evans Funeral Chapel in trying to locate and build a new crematory in the White Marsh area of Baltimore (MD) County.  It now appears, because of a zoning change for the land in question, that the…

NFDA joins others in quest to delay implementation of Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)

By Funeral Director Daily / September 24, 2024 /

  In early September the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) joined with hundreds of other groups to delay implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) which is set to be implemented on January 1, 2025.  According to Google artificial intelligence (AI),  “The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) went into effect on January 1, 2024. The CTA requires…

I’m set for New Orleans. . Are you?

By Funeral Director Daily / September 13, 2024 /

  Just over a month from now, from October 19 thru the 23rd, I’ll be in New Orleans attending the 2024 National Funeral Directors Association National Convention.  I procrastinated but still got registered under the “Early Bird” registration that saved me $150 right off the top.  . . . . I also reserved my hotel…

It’s Fall. . . .time to think about your Continuing Education credits

By Funeral Director Daily / September 5, 2024 /

    It’s funny how it happens. . . Yesterday was Summer and on Labor Day Monday I woke up to 50 degree temperatures in my Minnesota community.  It made for a great Monday morning run but also reminded me of the new season upon us.   When the calendar turns to September I get…

Mobility, remote locations may cause lack of services for consumers

By Funeral Director Daily / September 4, 2024 /

    There is no doubt that there is a trend of greater mobility to preferred residential locales for retired citizens and we also know that the choice of cremation services, especially direct cremation with no services, over earth burials causes loss of margin for traditional funeral homes.  This article from CBC Canada titled “Grieving…

Could American funeral homes survive a “Right to Disconnect” law?

By Funeral Director Daily / August 28, 2024 /

    It’s a common complaint almost everywhere. . . . . cell phones keep us connected to our work, and our bosses, more than most want to be.  Many people in today’s world long for a “work/life” balance. . . . . especially in professions like funeral directing which can be a 24/7 proposition…

“Place” is very important

By Funeral Director Daily / August 26, 2024 /

    Earlier in August I came across this feature article titled “One of Oregon’s most prominent families appears to want another family’s burial plot” from Willamette Weekly of Oregon about a disagreement in ownership of grave lots involving two families.  And, Service Corporation International (SCI) as the cemetery owner finds themselves right in the…

Court rules that Non-Compete ban cannot be implemented

By Funeral Director Daily / August 23, 2024 /

    Back in April Funeral Director Daily brought you this article which was titled “Federal Trade Commission bans non-compete agreements”.  The article went on to explain that the Federal Trade Commission made this decision as a regulatory agency and explained the upcoming results of the decision like this:   “This is a comprehensive ban…

Federal Trade Commission strengthening “Star Rating” enforcement

By Funeral Director Daily / August 16, 2024 /

    Do you ever see companies, or maybe your competitors, with “Star Rankings” and reviews that seem better than the rest?  Well, it appears that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has and they are doing something about it.   According to an article that I read, FTC Chair Lina Khan made the following statement,…