As I’ve said before on these pages — I retired from full-time funeral directing about four years ago and continue as a part-time minority owner of the firm I was affiliated with for over 33 years. A lot of things have changed over that time but – as many of you will agree – probably…
On June 23 Weekly Hub reported the consensus of analysts who cover funeral industry public company Carriage Services (CSV) are anticipating an announcement of earnings of $0.40 per share when announced in about a month on July 25. They suggest that this would be a slight increase from the $0.37 EPS from the companies last…
Just the other day an article on SeekingAlpha.com came out reporting on the status of public funeral home consolidator Service Corporation International (SCI). As I’ve said before I’ve always kept up with the public companies in the death care industry because by following them I’ve learned things that have improved my own small business. I…
Chicagoan Michi Kustra had a great career with the global ad agency Leo Burnett in Chicago. She was building a corporate resume by climbing up the ladder working in e-commerce as a senior level marketing and merchandising executive. Clients of hers included Spiegel Catalog, retailer Herman Miller, and high end office furniture company Office Designs.…
BUSINESS
Employees may need their Employer or Manager to be more than a Death Care mentor
I feel very fortunate that I grew up in a household that valued knowing what was going on in the world around us. We always were encouraged to watch the national evening news to…
It’s not all about your “Platform”. . . Be a “Pillar” for long-term success
I attended church on Sunday and heard a sermon that I thought worthy of sharing with my funeral home colleagues. The sermon ended up being about the difference between “building a Platform” and “becoming…
Funeral homes can add service lines to increase revenue streams
Funeral homes and cremation providers have seen the revenue numbers that they bring in flatten as more consumers have continued to prefer less expensive services, such as cremation, over traditional burials for the…
FINANCE
Security National Financial 2Q Results: Cemetery carries the Cemetery/Mortuary segment
Overall, Security National Financial Corporation (SNFC), the Utah-based company with its base in the Death Care industry, had a positive 2nd Quarter of 2026 with Earnings before Taxes increasing 8.6% (7.3% After Taxes)…
Matthews International Earnings Call: “Challenges, Challenges”
On August 7, Matthews International, a leader in the Death Care supply and equipment business, held their quarterly earnings call to give their opinion of the company’s Fiscal 3rd Quarter 2026 results and answer…
Carriage Services 2nd Quarter Earnings Call: Dealing with lower volumes
On August 6, Carriage Services held their quarterly earnings call to give their opinion of the company’s 2nd Quarter 2026 results and answer questions from analysts who cover the company. We’re ten days removed…
REGULATIONS
NFDA, Selected Independent Funeral Homes to pursue merger
Yesterday we received this press release from the National Funeral Directors Association that stated a Letter of Intent was signed between the Boards of Directors of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and Selected…
CEMETERY
CREMATION
The New Math
As you read this today I will soon or already have given a presentation at the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) International Convention. I was asked to speak on the Fads, Trends,…
PRENEED
Pure Cremation exec: Is the “At-Need choice” death market contracting?
The number of deaths in the United States is expected to grow 26.3% from 2019 (the last year prior to the pandemic) until 2040 by certain estimates. Estimates for the number of deaths in…
Anthem Partners announces strategic partnership with Family Shield Credit
In a press release from earlier this week funeral home operator Anthem Partners announced that they have formed a partnership with Family Shield Credit in order to provide families with “flexible, budget-friendly payment options while…
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…
PRODUCTS
Funeral homes can add service lines to increase revenue streams
Funeral homes and cremation providers have seen the revenue numbers that they bring in flatten as more consumers have continued to prefer less expensive services, such as cremation, over traditional burials for the…
Chptr, iHeart Media, Tribute Technology work to get more media exposure for funeral homes
In a press release from Chptr, that you can access here, and also in a press release from Tribute Technology, that you can access here, we learned that Chptr partnered with iHeart Media to…









