By Stephen Walter, attorney and co-founder of Sunset As the first professional a family hires after a death, when the service ends and the casseroles stop and the questions turn to the estate, and they come to you, it’s important to have an understanding of the big issues families will…
Read MoreBy Stephen Walter, lawyer and CEO of Sunset There's a form of fraud most families have never heard of until it happens to them. Criminals call it "ghosting": using a dead person's identity to open credit cards, take out loans, or file tax returns. It works because a person can…
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By Thomas A. Parmalee Deathcare professionals guide families through their darkest hours, orchestrating beautiful services, offering a shoulder to lean on and providing dignified farewells. But there is also an unspoken reality: When families return home after a funeral, an overwhelming wave usually hits—one that makes it harder to cope…
Read MoreBy Thomas A. Parmalee For decades, funeral directors have navigated a delicate tension: helping families create meaningful tributes while confronting the hard limits of immediate liquidity. Credit cards, insurance assignments and informal payment plans have long served as imperfect tools — often placing the funeral home in the uncomfortable position…
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By Brent Thomas, Chief Customer Officer, Dead Ringers For any deathcare business — whether you’re a funeral home, cemetery, cremation provider or pet loss service — your phone system isn’t just another utility. It’s your first impression and often the first human connection a family has with your organization. Yet…
Read MoreBy Thomas A. Parmalee Everstory Partners has released its 2025 Year in Review, outlining a year focused on operational strengthening, property investment and continued positioning within an evolving deathcare marketplace. Lilly Donohue, CEO, said in a post in LinkedIn announcing the availability of the report, "I’m incredibly proud of the…
Read MoreEvery year, more than 3 million American families face the loss of a loved one — and the complex financial and administrative tasks that follow. From closing bank accounts to claiming life insurance and transferring retirement funds, families often spend more than 500 hours navigating estate settlements, frequently encountering delays,…
Read MoreBy Alan Creedy Funeral directors know from experience that, even when a death is expected, there is a period immediately following that death that we can call time of acute loss. During this time the brain goes into emergency mode. Memory, judgment and decision making are temporarily impaired. Families may…
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By Alan Creedy There’s an old saying: “Tell one person a secret and you have a 50% chance it stays a secret. Tell two, and that chance drops to zero.” One of the seller’s greatest sources of leverage is the ability to walk away from a deal. Once a potential…
Read MoreBy Thomas A. Parmalee A newly formed funeral service company that includes a well-known figure in the funeral profession and a few fresh faces is gearing up to make its first purchase. Memora Partners, which is family owned, has enlisted the services of John McQueen, who is renowned for bringing…
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By Thomas A. Parmalee Phillip Mason still remembers the day that changed everything. “I was helping a family navigate a funeral bill,” he said. “They applied for the financing option we offered at the time – and were declined. I watched them put the cost on five different credit cards…
Read MoreBy Johnson Consulting Group It’s no secret that many funeral home owners are approaching a crossroads – whether to pass the business to family, transition to employees, or sell to a third party. If you’re one of them, the time to start planning is now. At Johnson Consulting Group, we…
Read MoreBy Andrew Kennedy, Senior Loan Officer – Live Oak Bank For funeral home owners, understanding and cultivating strong business credit is not just a financial best practice – it directly impacts your ability to navigate the unique demands and opportunities within the deathcare industry. From securing capital for facility upgrades…
Read MoreBy Andrew Kennedy, senior loan officer, Live Oak Bank During the sale of a funeral home, the seller and buyer must navigate a specific legal process. After diligently conducting due diligence and signing a letter of intent, a purchase agreement for the funeral home marks the official start of the…
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