October 5, 2016
Published by 
Dan Isard on October 5, 2016
Dan Isard on October 5, 2016Selling memorialization to cremation families involves not only implementing a “good, better, best” pricing strategy but also learning how to reach people who, unlike traditional burial families, do not automatically choose final disposition as part of the process. How to increase yourniche and inurnment sales If you have not updated your cemetery master plan in the last 10 years, you are making a grave mistake (pun intended). The cemetery of the 19th century was a simple land-use master plan. You had an acre of land with between 1,000 and 1,200 graves. Each grave equaled one interment. However the master plan of today should focus on inurnment rather than interment. If you want to increase your number of urn placements you have to change your master plan. We have learned so much about the mind of the cremation-choosing consumer in the […]
October 5, 2016
Published by Dan Isard on October 5, 2016
Dan Isard on October 5, 2016Figuring out what your cemetery could be worth on the open market is a good idea if you plan to retire in a few years. But your local commercial real estate appraiser might never have valued a cemetery in his life. Cemetery Impossible Figuring out what your cemetery is worth and how its sale can fund your retirement Dear Cemetery Impossible, I own a 60-year-old cemetery started by my parents. It was a farm before we established the cemetery. I have about 100 acres, of which 10 are fully sold out. Within the remaining 90 acres, six are plotted and the balance remain undeveloped. I do about 200 sales a year with 150 interments. The cemetery is all ground interment with no above-ground options. I am reaching retirement age and thinking about selling. I had it valued by a local […]
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 17, 2016
Published by 
Stephanie Ramsey on August 17, 2016
Stephanie Ramsey on August 17, 2016HR Reality Check: Yep, the Stories are True! HR CASE STUDY #3 Scenario: Barliabov-Water Funeral Home is a small family-owned funeral home with only five employees. The firm’s licensed embalmer recently broke his wrist while playing softball at a family reunion. When the employee reported to work on his next regularly scheduled workday, he provided a note from his doctor advising that he could not lift more than 15 pounds for the next two weeks or he would risk the bone not setting properly. The employee asked for an accommodation by the employer that would allow him to work his normal schedule. Barliabov-Water informed him that they could not make an accommodation and that he was free to use his sick leave and vacation time to cover the two-week period he was unable to lift more than 15 pounds. The […]