Who’s writing the reviews? That’s one question that businesses, including funeral homes and cemeteries, don’t want potential consumers asking. I recently read an article in Funeral Service Times “that indicate(s) 89% of people refer to product or service reviews before making purchases.” If true, that is an incredibly high proportion of shoppers and…
Last week Johnson Consulting Group (JCG) released their annual “Sales and Customer Service Trends” report for 2026. The report is compiled by customer surveys that over the past five years and have included 654,327 sales and survey records in that time period. Here are some key takeaways from this year’s findings according…
I love Easter. Even outside of the religious realm I can remember as a child that when mom started decorating the house for Easter — Spring, and nice weather, soon returned to us in Minnesota. Those times reminded me that it would not be long and the cold, wet weather would be…
I feel a little bit vindicated today. In mid-March I hypothesized that Death Care stocks may be overlooked as a “defensive position” by the market. At that time I researched that thought using only the first ten days (March 2-March 12) of the Iran operation “Epic Fury” as my timeline and wrote this article…
I’m a big fan of “permanent memorialization” for the simple fact that that memorialization of that type continues to give creedence to a “life that was lived”. I’ve seen the graves and permanent memorialization sites of President John F. Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery, Paul Revere in the Granary Burying Ground of Boston, President…
BUSINESS
Is the “Choice” of cremation a mirage that may disappear??
On a rainy Monday Minnesota morning earlier this week I was doing my run indoors on the treadmill while I watched CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” business news broadcast. On that show Softbank CEO…
The NFL “Fan Experience” will soon include cremated remains permanent placement
This recent article from the Jacksonville Daily Record makes note that the new Jacksonville Jaguars’ football stadium that will be the home of that franchise in the National Football League (NFL) has agreed to…
The advantages of “Involvement”
About two weeks ago I decided to take in the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association convention. Now, I have not attended that particular convention for 5-7 years and decided to this year only because a…
FINANCE
Funeral homes in Michigan change hands
“It’s been a good run.” That’s what funeral director John Kaatz said according to this newspaper article announcing the sale of four funeral homes that he was associated with. Kaatz, who succeeded his…
Everstory Partners recognized as a “Great Place to Work” — Again!
StoneMor Partners left the world of public companies and was taken private by Axar Capital Management in November 2022. At the time StoneMor was arguably, by revenue, the second largest company in Death Care. …
Security National Financial Corporation 1Q 2026 Memorial Group: The Good and the “Not so Good”
Security National Financial Corporation (SNFC), the Utah-based company that serves the Death Care profession through their funeral homes, preneed insurance, and other financial tools issued their 1st Quarter 2026 financial report last week. …
REGULATIONS
The advantages of “Involvement”
About two weeks ago I decided to take in the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association convention. Now, I have not attended that particular convention for 5-7 years and decided to this year only because a…
Connecticut budget includes money for victims of allegedly stolen pre-arrangements
Earlier this month, as you can read in this article from NBC Connecticut, the legislature of Connecticut passed their state budget which included the “Act Concerning Unlawful Funeral Service Practices”. The state appropriated…
Memorial Day 2026 — “Freedom isn’t free”
As we stop today to reflect on the memory of not only our military personnel from the Revolutionary War on, we remember that the holiday was officially started to pay respects to those…
CEMETERY
The NFL “Fan Experience” will soon include cremated remains permanent placement
This recent article from the Jacksonville Daily Record makes note that the new Jacksonville Jaguars’ football stadium that will be the home of that franchise in the National Football League (NFL) has agreed to…
Crowne Vault shares initiative creating “a path for permanent placement” of cremated remains
Crowne Vault, the Indiana-based company that is a leading presence in serving the Death Care profession with American-made cremation vaults is supporting a new initiative for the profession that hopes to bring…
Memorial Day 2026 — “Freedom isn’t free”
As we stop today to reflect on the memory of not only our military personnel from the Revolutionary War on, we remember that the holiday was officially started to pay respects to those…
CREMATION
Is the “Choice” of cremation a mirage that may disappear??
On a rainy Monday Minnesota morning earlier this week I was doing my run indoors on the treadmill while I watched CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” business news broadcast. On that show Softbank CEO…
The NFL “Fan Experience” will soon include cremated remains permanent placement
This recent article from the Jacksonville Daily Record makes note that the new Jacksonville Jaguars’ football stadium that will be the home of that franchise in the National Football League (NFL) has agreed to…
Crowne Vault shares initiative creating “a path for permanent placement” of cremated remains
Crowne Vault, the Indiana-based company that is a leading presence in serving the Death Care profession with American-made cremation vaults is supporting a new initiative for the profession that hopes to bring…
PRENEED
Connecticut budget includes money for victims of allegedly stolen pre-arrangements
Earlier this month, as you can read in this article from NBC Connecticut, the legislature of Connecticut passed their state budget which included the “Act Concerning Unlawful Funeral Service Practices”. The state appropriated…
Consumer Preneed motivations from Homesteaders survey results
Preneed insurance provider Homesteaders Life Company released their 8th annual Preneed Motivators survey last week. According to this press release from which you can download your own copy of the survey results, “. .…
SCI Earnings Call: CEO Tom Ryan answers on Preneed and Managing
Service Corporation International reported on their 1st Quarter of 2026 about ten days ago and then followed that up with an Earnings Call with stock analysts that follow the company. As usual Funeral Director…
PRODUCTS
Is the “Choice” of cremation a mirage that may disappear??
On a rainy Monday Minnesota morning earlier this week I was doing my run indoors on the treadmill while I watched CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” business news broadcast. On that show Softbank CEO…
The NFL “Fan Experience” will soon include cremated remains permanent placement
This recent article from the Jacksonville Daily Record makes note that the new Jacksonville Jaguars’ football stadium that will be the home of that franchise in the National Football League (NFL) has agreed to…
Crowne Vault shares initiative creating “a path for permanent placement” of cremated remains
Crowne Vault, the Indiana-based company that is a leading presence in serving the Death Care profession with American-made cremation vaults is supporting a new initiative for the profession that hopes to bring…
