June 25, 2026
Published by 
Foresight on June 25, 2026
Foresight on June 25, 2026Written by the lawyers of WRW Legal, PLLC: Wendy Russell Wiener, Lauren Pettine and Hank Thompson. Our clients’ favorite advice to receive from us is: do nothing. It is advice we give with some regularity when circumstances call for it. But, more often our advice is to take action. I can think of no better action to highlight here than the action related to decedent identification. Throughout the summer each year I travel from convention to convention, trade show to tradeshow usually speaking on how funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories can avoid liability – both regulatorily and civilly. My advice is always the same. The single most effective way to avoid all kinds of liability is the easiest and it’s FREE! It’s simply to slow down. I have coined the phrase “the Wendy 30” which is your reminder that everyone […]
June 25, 2026
Published by 
Taylor Weber on June 25, 2026
Taylor Weber on June 25, 2026What happens when a consumer tells you they don’t want a traditional funeral chapel, don’t want cremation, and don’t want a conventional burial, but still want something meaningful? It’s a question the profession can’t afford to ignore. Green burial, alkaline hydrolysis, natural organic reduction, direct cremation providers, and online-only platforms aren’t fringe concepts anymore. And while some of these aren’t moving the needle on volume just yet, they matter less for what they’re doing today and more for what they’re revealing about where consumer preferences are heading. It’s Not About the Method — It’s About the Feeling When families ask about green burial or online arrangements, they’re rarely leading with the method. They’re leading with a feeling — they want something honest, personal, affordable, and guided. The 2025 NFDA data backs this up: 56% of recent customers cited transparent pricing […]
June 25, 2026
Published by 
Axel Jean-Francois on June 25, 2026
Axel Jean-Francois on June 25, 2026A few months ago we sat down with the balance sheet of a single-location funeral home we’ll call “Holloway Family Funeral Home”. By every measure that matters, it was healthy. Cash sitting well over 150 percent of plan. A current ratio north of six. Debt flat, untouched, exactly where it was the year before. If you read Part 1 of this series, you know what that means. Holloway had the foundation. The chassis was solid. They had room to breathe, room to make a decision instead of being forced into one. Then we looked at the income statement, and the illusion broke. The Collision The plan called for around 160 calls in the quarter. Holloway came in around 110. That’s not a miss you shrug off. It collided directly with the one line item that can ruin an owner’s sleep. […]
June 25, 2026
Published by 
Jarod Bernat on June 25, 2026
Jarod Bernat on June 25, 2026How to approach a transfer of ownership realistically and effectively. Succession planning in the funeral service profession rarely entails just a business transaction. It is personal; emotional; and deeply tied to family legacy, community reputation and identity. For many funeral home owners, their business represents multiple generations of service. For the next generation, however, it represents opportunity, responsibility and, oftentimes, a very different vision for the future. Setting realistic expectations for both sides of the succession plan is the key to a successful transition. Without clarity, assumptions can cause resentment, and even good intentions can lead to fractures in a relationship. With clear communication and structured planning, however, succession can strengthen both the relationship and the business. For both the current owner and the future successor to approach succession planning with realism and foresight, they must adhere to the following […]
June 25, 2026
Published by 
Matt Blackwell on June 25, 2026
Matt Blackwell on June 25, 2026There is a version of every transaction that looks straightforward on paper. Financials are organized, disclosures are complete, and the process unfolds largely as expected. And then there is real life. Over the years, we have worked with business owners who were incredibly prepared and others who discovered along the way that there were pieces of their business they had not thought much about in years. A tax matter that was still unresolved. A contract that had been interpreted one way internally but looked different to a buyer. A compliance issue that seemed minor until someone outside the company started asking questions. None of these situations are unusual, and very few are deal breakers. They are simply reminders that every business has complexities, especially those that have been built and managed over many years. What often makes the difference is […]