January 11, 2018
Published by 
Dan Isard on January 11, 2018
Dan Isard on January 11, 2018Dear Dan, I just switched to a new casualty insurance broker. Unfortunately, my carrier doesn’t know the funeral business and I now find myself educating the whole company about it. The good news is the agent is Greek, and they have big funerals that will come my way. The big issue is who do I cover? There are two stockholders and me; do I cover each of us? Also, my broker told me we can cover our 1099 employees. Sometimes, I employ these people as pallbearers. Should we do that also? Compfused in Compton Dear Compfused, Allow me to answer your questions one at a time, but let’s also make sure we start at the beginning with the matter of understanding workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ comp is form of insurance issued by private insurance companies required for […]
December 19, 2017
Published by 
Stephanie Ramsey on December 19, 2017
Stephanie Ramsey on December 19, 2017Scenario: David Jackson owns a three-location funeral business in the central United States. He employs more than 20 people. This past summer, David brought on a part-time employee to assist with administrative tasks. The priority was to file the large amount of paperwork that everyone at the primary location had neglected. This part-time employee (Jessica) had worked for the funeral home part time during high school and her summer breaks from college. Jessica was very personable and didn’t seem to mind all the hours she spent filing. At the end of summer, David was confronted by one of his female funeral directors wanting to know why she wasn’t paid as much as another male funeral director. During their conversation, David was made aware of how this employee knew her male counterpart’s salary. Apparently one of the reasons Jessica didn’t mind […]
December 13, 2017
Published by Dan Isard on December 13, 2017
Dan Isard on December 13, 2017I am fascinated by the continued upsurge in the pet deathcare segment of our profession. Consumers not only have embraced offerings to memorialize their beloved companions, but also have hosted celebrations of life similar to those held for the loss of a human loved one. Pet deathcare providers are expanding their reach in large metro markets and small towns across the United States. Now everyone in America has the opportunity to honor their non-human loved ones. As anyone associated with our profession knows, we are experiencing shifts in consumer behavior that directly impact our businesses. The exodus from burial to cremation as the leading choice of disposition after death has created challenges for providers both economically and from a service perspective. However, keep in mind that one constant will remain: When you lose someone you love, whether human or an animal, […]
December 13, 2017
Published by Dan Isard on December 13, 2017
Dan Isard on December 13, 2017Dear Cemetery Impossible, I have been offered land at a very attractive price and I think it can be converted to a cemetery. The property is already zoned so that a cemetery is an acceptable use. There are two other cemeteries about 10 miles away from this site. I am a long-time reader of this magazine even though I do not currently own or work in a cemetery. I have been around funeral service a long time, working as a casket salesman. A popular country and western music star heard of my plans and told me he will buy a family mausoleum if I do this. Will that bring in more business? I am ready to invest all I have. What am I missing? Wishing on a C&W Star Dear Wishing, First, what you’re missing is all the things […]
December 5, 2017
Published by Dan Isard on December 5, 2017
Dan Isard on December 5, 2017A Cautionary Tale Tax planning is legal. Tax fraud is not. Dear Dan, I’ve read your articles my entire professional career. I’m writing now in hopes that you can help me. I used to think tax planning was easy. If I had a good year, I didn’t open envelopes with payments in them for the last two weeks of the year and paid all of my expenses. Therefore, by December 31, revenue was down and expenses were up. I would then deposit the payments in early January so they’d be next year’s problem. If the following year was good, I stopped opening envelopes the first week of December and paid all bills. When I started this planning process about seven years ago, it seemed like a smart idea. Unfortunately, we’ve grown. Now I don’t open envelopes any time after September! […]