August 28, 2025
Published by 
Nicole Vullo on August 28, 2025
Nicole Vullo on August 28, 2025Written By Jen Graziano, Attorney, Licensed Funeral Director NY/CT Coxe & Graziano Funeral Home Recent headlines were made in the State of Indiana regarding a “death doula” and a question of her infringement on the stringent rules and regulations that govern the death care industry. As funeral directors are aware that we are bound by both federal and state regulatory guidelines that affect our ability to discuss funeral arrangements with families. The mere mention of “cost” or “price” trigger a cold and callous passage of price menu into the client’s hands. (That’s a conversation for another day). Despite the federal and state confines we’ve long been placed under, which dictate how we charge, what we can charge for and how we can present said charges, in comes the “doula” with free-flowing discussions on these same topics. It’s a quandary, but […]
August 28, 2025
Published by 
Matt Blackwell on August 28, 2025
Matt Blackwell on August 28, 2025As of today, we are almost 75% of the way through 2025 and here is what we have seen: Rates remain unchanged since the beginning of the year, however optimism towards cuts is rising after a negative revision on employment figures. This, combined with mounting political pressures placed upon the Federal Reserve, has the odds of rate cut in September sitting at 85%. From a demographics perspective, the United States population curve remains as inverted as it has ever been, with over 30% of the population falling into the 55+ age range. Of that 30%, over 16% fall under the 65+ age range. With these factors in play, estimates for death rates in 2026 come in around 9.25 to 9.30 deaths per thousand, with theses figures expected to rise past in subsequent years. Appetite and interest in the profession continue […]
July 25, 2025
Published by 
Luke Potter on July 25, 2025
Luke Potter on July 25, 2025Funeral service owners wear many hats—counselor, manager, operations lead—but one of the most important roles is strategist. Whether you’re five or fifteen years away from retirement, you need to think ahead. The most successful owners plan years in advance, staying ahead of trends, preparing their staff, and organizing their business so that when it’s time to step away, the transition feels like a natural next step—not a fire drill. Long-term thinking creates flexibility and options, whether you’re training a family successor or preparing for a sale. Technology is one of the easiest ways to future-proof your funeral home. Case management systems, digital arrangement tools, and customer relationship platforms are no longer nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation for efficiency. They streamline the front office, reduce errors, and create better visibility into how your business operates. They also make your firm more attractive to […]
July 25, 2025
Published by 
Nicole Vullo on July 25, 2025
Nicole Vullo on July 25, 2025It’s Not a Simple Cremation…Tips on educating client families for better results in the funeral home
Written By Jen Graziano, Attorney, Licensed Funeral Director NY/CT Coxe & Graziano Funeral Home If funeral directors were surveyed and asked how many times they’ve heard a family call say, “I’m just looking for a simple cremation” the numbers would be astounding. These calls seem to come with far more frequency these days. Funeral directors often find themselves in a tug of war, fighting to keep the family yet also fighting to protect their bottom line. To all those who have longed looked with envy upon our industry for its inherent “recession proof” nature, rest assured, we are fighting for our life every day in the battle against a new consumer, a consumer with no regard for the sacred nature of our work. While volume may rise each year for a funeral home, revenue margins per case are noticeably shrinking […]
July 25, 2025
Published by 
Nicole Vullo on July 25, 2025
Nicole Vullo on July 25, 2025How to Stop Fighting the Algorithm and Start Winning the Modern Funeral Consumer Let me paint a picture. It’s 2007. You’ve got your first smartphone, your ringtone is probably “Low” by Flo Rida, and your marketing strategy? A yellow pages ad, maybe a billboard, and—if you were really ahead of the curve—a website that looked like it was designed by your nephew in high school. Fast forward to today. AI is writing love poems, algorithms decide who sees what before they’ve even thought about needing it, and TikTok influencers are selling everything from shampoo to caskets (seriously). So, let me ask you this: has your marketing plan kept up with the times… or is it still buffering? If your strategy could use a reboot, don’t worry. It’s not too late to Ctrl + Alt + Del your old plan and […]