September 26, 2016
Published by 
Dan Isard on September 26, 2016
Dan Isard on September 26, 2016FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Foresight Names Mandy M. Rohde, CPA, as Director of Accounting Services Phoenix – September 21, 2016 — Today, Daniel M. Isard, president and founder of The Foresight Companies, North America’s premier financial and management consulting firm serving funeral homes and cemeteries, announced that he hired Mandy Rohde, CPA as Director of Accounting Services. Dan stated, “After conducting a nationwide search for a Director of Accounting Services, Mandy Rhode, has been identified as the most qualified person to lead our company’s accounting team as we provide accounting services to the next generation of funeral home and cemetery business owners and managers.” Mandy will continue the work created by Diane DeClercq who is retiring. Diane served in this capacity for almost a dozen years and helped launch Foresight’s “Real Time” accounting concept. “Mandy brings a sound education and skill […]
September 1, 2016
Published by Dan Isard on September 1, 2016
Dan Isard on September 1, 2016Dear Dan, I have an iPhone, an iPad and a Facebook page for my funeral home and myself. I’ve even read a tweet or two. Today, however, I’m feeling old and out of touch. I am in service to a family that asked me to set up a crowdfunding account. They said this fund will pay all of the funeral expenses. The death was of a teen, so they asked that I cash-advance the cemetery. They bought a nice casket and vault, but I have no idea what I am doing with crowdfunding. Signed, I Am Definitely Not Hep Dear Definitely Not Hep, Let’s start with an explanation of crowdfunding. Then, if you decide to move forward with this fundraising arrangement, I will move for your commitment and the removal of all power to make independent financial decisions. Crowdfunding is […]
August 10, 2016
Published by Dan Isard on August 10, 2016
Dan Isard on August 10, 2016Pricing Services The 2016 NFDA International Convention & Expo is coming closer, and as you line up your schedule and choose which workshops to attend, you will realize that this article and one of the workshops have a similar title. Fortunately for you, if you read this article and attend the workshop, you’ll get a three-dimensional presentation of these ideas. It seems ridiculous that we are still having expert discussions on pricing for cremation. Just as we don’t have burial calls and cremation calls – we just have calls – we don’t have burial pricing and cremation pricing – we should just have pricing! And once again, to understand how to protect this profession for the future, we must understand the past. Prior to 1984, the funeral profession priced itself like many merchandise-driven businesses. A consumer purchased the merchandise and […]
August 2, 2016
Published by Dan Isard on August 2, 2016
Dan Isard on August 2, 2016MANAGEMENT It might seem that steady sales should bring in a steady income, but it’s not that simple when you run a cemetery. It all depends on how you collect payment and whether you control costs. What can you do when your cemetery’s sales are good but its cash flow is not? Dear Cemetery Impossible, I own a mature cemetery with 100 years of history. We are about half sold out. We sell nearly 100 interment graves in advance of need a year and complete about 75 actual interments. However, I find that I just don’t have any cash flow. My salesman is driving a Mercedes and I have a Taurus. What am I doing wrong? Sincerely, Troubled in a Taurus Dear Troubled, Times have changed, but most operating cemeteries have not adapted. Whether you are operating a for-profit or […]
July 29, 2016
Published by Dan Isard on July 29, 2016
Dan Isard on July 29, 2016Dear Dan, I am 54 years old and finally ready to buy out my father. I really should say Dad is 78 years old and finally thinks I am ready to buy him out. Regardless, my lawyer is telling us that we should use a cross-purchase agreement and my accountant is telling us to use a corporate redemption agreement. I don’t see the difference. Both ways, I own the business and Dad retires (finally). I’m sure you know the difference and can sim- ply tell us which to use. Signed, Finally Ready to Buy in Findley Dear Finally Ready, Your question is a very common one, and most people don’t know which agreement to use. Let’s start by explaining each route. A cross-purchase agreement is an agreement between shareholders – if one party sells, the other party buys. A corporate […]