Slacking into the New Year

By Funeral Director Daily January 5, 2026

  We’ve noticed at Funeral Director Daily that readership drops by about 33% in the last half of December.  It was particularly noticeable this year as we reached a record of over 21,000 page views in November only to see the latter half of December come in with run-rates of page views at less than…

Bill back on the table to increase Social Security Lump-Sum Death Benefit

By Funeral Director Daily January 2, 2026

  Back in September 2024 Funeral Director Daily let you know that the Social Secuirty Survivor Benefits Equity Act had been introduced to the the United States House of Representatives.  While the bill failed to go anywhere at that time – possibly because of the impending Presidential election and eventual change of leadership – as…

The Trend for 2026: Technology keeps on coming

By Funeral Director Daily December 31, 2025

    I’ve been thinking about this “Trends” article for the past month.  I was going to originally title the article “Back to the Future” on the premise that I’ve seen two trends emerging this year in Death Care.  Those trends were (1) The movement “back” towards more simple and natural burials and other disposition…

2025 Business Story of the Year: “Rise of the Regionals”

By Funeral Director Daily December 30, 2025

  If you would ask Gemini Artificial Intelligence what percentage of funeral homes will be sold in the next five years, here is the answer that you will be given:   “While an exact percentage is hard to pinpoint, a significant portion of funeral homes, potentially around 35-40% of owners, plan to retire or sell…

A review of 2025 from a “Change/Trend” perspective

By Funeral Director Daily December 29, 2025

    Tomorrow Funeral Director Daily will unveil its “2025 Business Story of the Year” where I will tell you what I believe is an interesting trend in the Business and Finance of the Death Care profession.  It is a trend that I believe will change Death Care ownership in larger volume and faster than…

BUSINESS

Daughter completes acquisitions of family’s firms

By Funeral Director Daily | June 4, 2026

    According to this article from the Delaware County (PA) Daily Times Bridget Monaghan Wibble has completed the purchase of the historical Oliver H. Bair Funeral Home that was owned by her father since…

Is the “Choice” of cremation a mirage that may disappear??

By Funeral Director Daily | June 3, 2026

  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

By Funeral Director Daily | June 2, 2026

  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…

FINANCE

Daughter completes acquisitions of family’s firms

By Funeral Director Daily | June 4, 2026

    According to this article from the Delaware County (PA) Daily Times Bridget Monaghan Wibble has completed the purchase of the historical Oliver H. Bair Funeral Home that was owned by her father since…

Funeral homes in Michigan change hands

By Funeral Director Daily | May 26, 2026

  “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!

By Funeral Director Daily | May 22, 2026

  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. …

REGULATIONS

The advantages of “Involvement”

By Funeral Director Daily | June 1, 2026

  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

By Funeral Director Daily | May 28, 2026

    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”

By Funeral Director Daily | May 25, 2026

    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

By Funeral Director Daily | June 2, 2026

  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

By Funeral Director Daily | May 29, 2026

      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”

By Funeral Director Daily | May 25, 2026

    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??

By Funeral Director Daily | June 3, 2026

  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

By Funeral Director Daily | June 2, 2026

  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

By Funeral Director Daily | May 29, 2026

      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

By Funeral Director Daily | May 28, 2026

    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

By Funeral Director Daily | May 27, 2026

  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

By Funeral Director Daily | May 11, 2026

  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??

By Funeral Director Daily | June 3, 2026

  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

By Funeral Director Daily | June 2, 2026

  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

By Funeral Director Daily | May 29, 2026

      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…