Table of Contents - Connecticut Funeral Directors Association

Transcription

Table of Contents
CFDA
Est. 1889
Volume 49 • No. 1
2016 CFDA Calendar
Page 3
Looking Forward To A New Year
by CFDA Executive Director
John F. Cascio
April 8-10
Page 4
The Funeral Service Profession
Is Changing . . . Are You?
by Howard K. Hill, cfsp, cpc,
2016 CFDA President
Page 5
Federal Trade Commission Issues
Ruling on NFDA Inquiry
by John P. McHugh
February 26th is the Deadline to
Send in Your 2016 Member
Application
ssociate
A
the
Publication of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, Inc.
January/February 2016
Volume 49 • No. 1
Page 6
Local High School Seniors Pursuing
“Helping Careers” Invited to Apply
for CFDA Scholarship Funds
In Memoriam
Page 7
Josh Hughes Joins CFDA Lobbyist
Michael Dugan at Capitol Consulting
Page 8
What the Supreme Court Decision
on Same Sex Marriage Means for
Funeral Service
Page 10
2016 CFD-PAC .
Page 12
10 Tips For Great Customer Service
Page 16
NFDA Releases Results of 2015
Member General Price List Survey
Page 18
Tips for Getting Families to
Pre-Plan Their Funeral
NFDA Discount Advantage Program
Page 22
Tips of the Day
Bob Says . . . So What’s New?
by Timothy Bourdon, President
TJB Financial Services, Inc.
NFDA Professional Women’s
Conference, Cape Coral, FL
April 27-29 NFDA Advocacy Summit,
Washington, DC
May 19
CFDA Scholarship Reception
TBA
June 2
CFDA Appreciation Night
at the Water’s Edge Resort,
Westbrook, CT
July 10-13
NFDA Leadership Conference,
Las Vegas, NV
July 14-19
State Executive’s Meeting,
Las Vegas, NV
September Annual Golf Tournament,
Date TBA
October 23-26NFDA Annual Convention,
Philadelphia, PA
December 1 CFDA Annual Meeting,
Radisson Hotel, Cromwell
Our website: www.ctfda.org
Our email address: [email protected]
the Associate
CFDA Mission Statement
To advance the profession of funeral service
in Connecticut through Public Awareness,
Education, Advocacy and High Ethical
Standards.
Publication of the Connecticut
Funeral Directors Association, Inc.
364 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, CT 06109
phone (860) 721-0234
John F. Cascio, editor, executive director
fax (860) 257-3617
Noelle Frechette, administrative assistant
website: www.ctfda.org
Beverly Matthews, graphic design, production, photography
email: [email protected]
member services, [email protected]
2016 CFDA Officers
President Howard K. Hill, cfsp, cpc, cco
Howard K. Hill Funeral Services
Hartford, CT (860) 247-8793
New Haven, CT (203) 624-4477
[email protected]
Vice President Robert L. Muccino, cpc
Funk Funeral Home
Bristol, CT
(860) 583-4107
[email protected]
Treasurer Matthew R. Adzima
Adzima Funeral Home, Inc.
Stratford, CT
(203) 375-2200
[email protected]
Secretary Edward J. Sheehy, Jr., cfsp, cpc
Riverview Funeral Home
Shelton, CT
(203) 924-6800
[email protected]
Past President Stephen M. King, cfsp
Mystic Funeral Home
Mystic, CT
(860) 536-2888
[email protected]
Policy Board Representative
Pasquale S. Folino, cfsp
Thomas L. Neilan & Sons,
New London, CT (860) 443-1871
East Lyme Funeral Home,
Niantic, CT (860) 739-6112
[email protected]
Executive Committee
Rebecca C. Lautenslager
Shaughnessey-Banks Funeral Home
Fairfield, CT
(203) 225-1031
[email protected]
John “Jay” C. Carmon, Jr. cpc
Carmon Funeral Homes
Windsor, CT
(860) 688-2200
[email protected]
David W. MacDonald
Wallingford Funeral Home
Wallingford, CT
(203) 269-7777
[email protected]
Jacqueline L. Teske
Pietras Family Funeral Homes
Rockville, CT
(860) 875-0703
[email protected]
Jonathan Mannise, cfsp, cpc
D’Esopo Funeral Chapel
Wethersfield, CT
(860) 563-6117
[email protected]
Albert M. DeLucia (Alternate)
Porto Funeral Home
West Haven, CT
(203) 934-5000
East Haven, CT
(203) 467-3000
[email protected]
CFDA Support Team Call CFDA Office for contact information
Lobbyist
Michael Dugan
Capitol Consulting, LLC
Legal Counsel
John P. McHugh, Esq.
Cranmore, Fitzgerald & Meaney
2
Media and Public Relations
Laura Soll Public Relations, LLC
Trust Advisors
Victor Chigas, Chris Chigas or V.J. Chigas
Access Financial Group/ITS
State Board of Examiners for Embalmers &
Funeral Directors:
Darrell L. McClam, Embalmer, Chairperson
Gerald Bosak, Jr., Embalmer
Frank W. Carmon, IV, Embalmer
Agnes M. Pier (Public Member)
Looking Forward To A New Year
by John F. Cascio, Executive Director CFDA
“Live a good life and in the end, it’s not the years in a life,
it’s the life in the years”. — Abraham Lincoln
As we just left the month of
January, we can consider ourselves
very lucky with regards to the weather. However, not with the Lottery!
Was anyone a winner?
*February is HEART month!
Please be healthy as we go into the
next phase of the year towards President’s Day. That is why I started
off my column with a quote from
Abraham Lincoln.
My hope for CFDA is that we can
re-energize and continue the great
things that we have done over the
past years. CFDA is planning ahead
for the next year- ie: Past President’s
Gathering; Regional Meetings,
Strategic Plan/A BluePrint for the
Future.
I am thrilled with our CFDA Board
and volunteers. We have met and
discussed their roles and responsibilities. We welcome anyone who would
like to sign up for a committee!
Our membership applications are
arriving daily. Thank you! CFDA has
been busy planning for what services
we will offer our members in 2016
along with many legislative and regulatory issues we have on our agenda.
Congratulations to those selected to be a part of NFDA’s ‘Meet the
Mentors Program’: Cheryl Demko
Morello from the SheehanHilborn-Breen Funeral Home, West Hartford;
Rebecca Lautenslager from
the Shaughnessey-Banks
Funeral Home, Fairfield;
and Joseph Murray from
the Green Funeral Home,
Danbury.
We are continuing to
work with Lincoln College
and will start up with the school
once it has approved the SHADOW
PROGRAM.
As you can see, CFDA is just
like your businesses. In addition
to keeping you informed with the
24/7 and website, we need to keep
re-examining what we can do better. Take advantage of our endorsed
partnerships, and again, please sign
up for a committee and be a part of
YOUR association.
If you have an ideas, please let me
know.
Keep in touch!
Spring will be here before we
know it.

— John
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
3
A Message from the President
Howard K. Hill, cfsp, cpc, cco
The Funeral Service
Profession Is Changing
. . . Are You?
Legal Corner
John P. McHugh, Esq.
Federal Trade Commission Issues
Ruling on NFDA Inquiry
2. CREMATION
Is there rise a cremation rates in your funeral home?
This past summer, the Staff of the Federal Trade
Commission issued a letter ruling in response to
an inquiry from NFDA Attorney Scott Gilligan.
Attorney Gilligan inquired whether a funeral home
would violate the Funeral Rule by placing a consumer in its casket display room to wait to speak with a
funeral director without first showing the consumer
a casket price list.
The FTC Staff letter opined that this practice
would violate the Funeral Rule because the funeral
home’s obligation to provide the CPL starts before
the arrival of the funeral director in the casket display
room, and that the purpose of the CPL was to ensure
that cost disclosure would be made before showing the caskets. The full opinion is
available on the FTC Funeral Rule website as opinion number 15-1 (June 29, 2015).
3. FACILITY APPEARANCE
How does my facility look? Are there repairs that I need to do? Can it
be changed/updated as in a fresh coat of paint?
February 26th is the Deadline to send in your
2016 Member Application.
In this Associate I wanted to take a different
approach and ask you the members some
questions!
These are intended for you to think about,
answer privately or share in your weekly
office meeting.
1. THE VALUE OF THE FUNERAL SERVICE
What could I have done better? Differently? Or did I do a good job.
Here are just a few of the CFDA Member Benefits
4. WHAT DOES YOUR WEBSITE LOOKLIKE?
Is it consumer friendly? Is it easy to navigate?
5. HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO THE FUTURE A FUNERAL
SERVICE?
Do we know the future of employees that will be graduating? Are they
be being trained properly. Do they have good social skills and a real
understanding of the profession?
As I mentioned earlier yes this is a different approach. Please take some
time out and really look at the questions that I have given you. I hope
these will help you in your day-to-day operation.
As always, it is a priviledge to serve as your President.
— Howard K. Hill
4
The Associate
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Pride in your Industry & Association by displaying CFDA &
NFDA logos on your website and promotion material
• Consumer Brochure: “Funeral Trust & Contracts: Regarding
Medicaid Title 19” available with your funeral home imprint in
English and Spanish
• Endorsed Connecticut Funeral Trust Program, Interment Trust
Services/Access Financial
• CFDA/NFDA partnership with Federated Insurance for
Property/Liability, Workers Compensation, and Financial
Protection Services
• Partnership with TJB Financial: Investments, Comprehensive
Financial Planning, Future Retirement
• Third-Party Merchandise Guidelines Booklet
• The Associate Newsletter, Website and 24/7 Email Newsletters
• Representation in State Legislation
• Representation at the National Level
Educational Seminars designed to qualify for Continuing Education Credits
Enhanced Website with Members Only Section
Membership Manual & Resource Guide on CFDA Website
401k Benefit Program • Directors Choice Credit Union • Legal Counsel
Public Relations Consultant • Advertising & Graphic Design Services Available
Political Action Committee (PAC) Participation • Endorsed Collection Program (Hunter Warfield)
5
CFDAUpdate...
Josh Hughes Joins CFDA Lobbyist
Michael Dugan at Capitol Consulting
Local High School Seniors Pursuing “Helping Careers”
Invited to Apply For CFDA Scholarship Funds
Calling all Connecticut high school seniors
considering a future in one of the “helping
professions.” For the 16th consecutive year,
the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) is accepting applications from all
around the state for its college “Family Support
Services Scholarship” program.
A total of eight $500 college scholarships
will be presented – one to a student in each of
the State’s eight counties.
The CFDA scholarship awards support graduating high school seniors who are pursuing
careers in a profession that provides emotional
or medical support for families. This includes
fields such as counseling, social services, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, medicine, social
work, gerontology, or funeral service.
“The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association created our scholarship program 15 years
ago to encourage young women and men to follow their dreams and enter careers where they
will help people in need – just as funeral directors do every day” explains Howard K. Hill,
CFSP, CPC, CCO, a licensed funeral director
who is the 2015-2016 President of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association. “We
understand how important it is to support others during difficult times and hope to motivate
more graduates to consider jobs where they will
provide assistance and care for others.”
To be eligible for the CFDA “Family Support Services Scholarship” program, candidates
must:
• Be a high school senior who will graduate in
June 2016;
• Be a legal resident of the State of Connecticut;
• Be pursuing a career that provides emotional, medical or physical support for families.
This includes such professions as caregiving,
counseling, social services, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, medicine, social work, gerontology, or funeral service; and
6
• Have maintained at least a B grade point
average in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades.
All candidates must submit the application
form and a current high school transcript and
essay responding to the question: Why did you
decide to pursue a profession that supports
families? The application form must be neat
and legible, and filled out completely.
The deadline for applications for the
CFDA’s “Family Support Services Scholarship” program is FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016.
To download an application and get contest
rules, go to www.ctfda.org. To ask questions
about the college scholarship program and request an application to be mailed, call CFDA at
860-721-0234
In Memoriam
Michael F. “Mikey” Sullivan
January 2, 2016
Son of the late Robert Sullivan
Nephew of Kevin & Tom Sullivan
Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home
Wethersfield, CT
Paul D. Console
January 15, 2016
Brother of Mark Console
Farley Sullivan Funeral Home
and John Console
Talarski Funeral Home
Jonathan M. Mannise
February 3, 2016
Husband of Emily Mannise
CFDA Executive Board Member
D’Esopo Funeral Chapel
Wethersfield, CT
The Associate
HARTFORD, Conn. – Josh Hughes, Esq. has
joined Capitol Consulting LLC a full service
state government relations firm. Hughes is
a Senior Vice President/Lobbyist and Attorney for Capitol Consulting. With 14-years of
government relations experience Hughes has
served clients at all levels of state government.
During Hughes’ State Capitol lobbying career
he has provided leadership, strategic advice and
legal counsel to numerous corporations, state
and national associations as well as nonprofit
organizations.
“Josh brings a solid reputation for providing strategic advice, knowledge of state government and a vast network of contacts to achieve
success for clients,” said Michael Dugan President and Founder of Capitol Consulting. “Josh
embodies Capitol Consulting’s simple principle that there is no substitute for hard work.”
“I’m pleased to join Capitol Consulting
which has a diverse and growing client list,”
said Josh Hughes. “I looking forward to achieving success for the clients we are privileged to
serve.”
In 2010, after nearly 20-years as a State
Capitol lobbyist, Mike Dugan founded Capitol Consulting. Over the years, Capitol Consulting has achieved success for their clients
with experience, integrity and access while
gaining the respect from policy makers at all
levels of state government. Capitol Consulting
has represented corporations, associations and
nonprofits including; Visa, Accenture, eBay,
StubHub, Outdoor Advertisers, Emergency
Physicians, Funeral Directors, Physical Therapist, State Golf Association, Solar Connecticut, the Epilepsy Foundation and The Trust for
Public Land.
“With Josh’s addition to Capitol Consulting
we will continue to grow and provide excellent
lobbying services to our clients,” said Mike
Dugan.
Josh Hughes Biography
In 2016 after 14-‐years as a State Capitol lobbyist, Josh joins Capitol Consulting as a Senior Vice President, lobbyist and attorney. He brings to Capitol
Consulting a solid reputation as a Capitol insider with extensive knowledge of
the legislative process and policymakers.
Over the years, Josh’s network of contacts has provided his clients with access to all levels of state government. He
has a reputation of working tirelessly to
achieving successful results for the clients he is privileged to serve.
During his State Capitol lobbying career Josh has provided leadership and
strategic advice to numerous corporations, state and national associations as
well as nonprofit organizations including Tesla, Caterpillar, the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, Greenskies Renewable Energy,
small alcohol retailers, craft distillers and
small wholesalers.
Prior to becoming a State Capitol lobbyist, Josh worked in the sales department of John Hancock Mutual Funds in
Boston. In addition, he was on the account team of Ingall’s Advertising. The
majority of Josh’s work was on two major Fortune 500 companies and the implementation of their marketing plans
from inception to launch.
Josh received his Bachelor of Arts
degree in American Literature with a
minor in Environmental Studies from
Hartwick College. He received a Juris
Doctorate degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.
7
What the Supreme Court Decision on Same
Sex Marriage Means for Funeral Service
by T. Scott Gilligan, NFDA General Counsel
As expected by most Supreme
Court observers, Justice Anthony
M. Kennedy last summer joined
with the four liberal justices of the
court to find that states may not
ban same-sex marriage. Each of
the four conservative justices on
the court filed dissents, which, in
the cases of Justice Antonin Scalia and Chief Justice John Roberts,
were blistering in their attack on
the majority opinion. Nevertheless, as of June 26, 2015, same-sex marriage is
legal in all 50 states, including 13 states that
still banned it up until the Supreme Court’s ruling. The Supreme Court’s decision raises several questions for funeral service: When does the
Supreme Court decision take effect?
Immediately. As of June 26, 2015, same-sex
marriage is legal in all 50 states. There may be
several days’ delay in some states in issuing marriage certificates as appellate courts will have to
lift the stays of lower-court rulings. There will
also probably be some delays as a few local officials drag their feet in issuing same-sex marriage certificates. However, if a funeral home is
dealing with a surviving spouse of a same-sex
marriage, the funeral home should consider
that survivor to be the lawful spouse.
1. Should the funeral home require the
surviving spouse of a same-sex marriage to
produce a marriage certificate?
No. The funeral home should treat the surviving spouse of a same-sex marriage in the
same way they treat the surviving spouse of
a heterosexual marriage. Of course, if family members were to raise concerns regarding
whether the same-sex couple were actually
married, the funeral home would be within its
rights in requesting the production of a mar-
8
riage certificate. Presumably, the funeral home
would make the same request if family members claimed that a heterosexual couple was not
married. However, in the absence of claims by
the family questioning the validity of the marriage, the funeral home is within its rights in accepting at face value the claim of the marriage.
2. How should the funeral home fill out
the death certificate?
The funeral home will fill out the death
certificate just like it does with a heterosexual
married couple. The surviving spouse would be
listed as the spouse on the death certificate.
3. Will there be any way for family members of the decedent to override the funeral and disposition directions of a same-sex
spouse?
It will depend on your state’s law. Thirty-nine
states have a mechanism in their right of disposition law that allows an individual, during his
or her lifetime, to appoint an agent or representative who would then have the superior right
of disposition, even over a surviving spouse.
However, if the decedent has not appointed a
representative or agent during his or her lifetime, then the surviving spouse of the same-sex
marriage will have the right of disposition in determining the funeral and disposition arrangements for the decedent.
4. Our funeral home is located in a state
that recognizes common-law marriage. How
does the Supreme Court decision impact us?
In Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and the District of Columbia, common-law marriage is still recognized.
In Georgia, Idaho, Ohio and Pennsylvania,
(Continued on page 20)
The Associate
UUUUUUU 2016
CFD-PAC
O V
H
ur oice in artford
and Washington
It Only Works If Everyone Participates
Gold Club, Contributions of $500 to $750
Robert R. Fournier, Jr.
Richard P. Holmes
Morton L. Weinstein
Silver Club, Contributions of $250 to $499
Gerald S. Baxter, Sr.
JoAnn Brennan
Ronald & Leena Charron
Howard M. Holmes
John P. Klarman
David W. MacDonald
Carl J. Miller, III
Michele M. Parente
George F. Sullivan, III
Bronze Club, Contributions of $50 to $249
B. Patrick Callahan
John F. Cascio
Albert M. DeLucia
Clement L. DeLucia
Joseph R. Introvigne, Sr. Kevin M. Lesko
Lissa
Lovetere-Stone
Teresa
C.
McCall
Robert L. Muccino
John C. Carmon
David T. Warren
Total as of February 2016 - $5,750.00
The CFD-PAC helps us keep members of the General Assembly who support our state interests in office. Virtually every other professional group in the country is trying to do the same
thing, and their interests may be very different than ours.
Associations and corporations are prohibited by law from making state campaign contributions.
All CFDA contributions to political campaigns are derived exclusively from personal CFD
PAC contributions.
Contributions to the CFD PAC are used to support candidates running for the State Senate
and House of Representatives.
Together, we send these important messages to the State of Connecticut:
• CFDA is sustained by a politically aware and active membership base.
• We hold our elected officials accountable for their actions.
• We are active participants in the election process.
• We appreciate the great volunteers who serve on the Legislative and PAC Committees.
• We thank our lobbyist, attorney and staff for all their hard work and efforts.
All contributions are voluntary and are not a condition for CFDA membership. The amounts
listed are merely guidelines. You may contribute more or less without concern of reprisal.
Note: State Election Committee regulations prohibit CFD-PAC from accepting contributions from
your funeral firm. Personal Checks only, made payable to CFD-PAC are acceptable.
(S) indicates suppliers
10
The Associate
11
10 TIPS
For Great
Customer
Service
Successful communication is mostly using basic skills and techniques that
are common sense. It’s not brain surgery or rocket science. It involves trying
to be thoughtful and focused when working with customers, according to customer service expert Nancy Friedman, founder and president of the Telephone
Doctor, helps companies improve the customer service experience. Friedman
offers these customer service tips, adapted from her e-book, “71 Secrets to
Service Success: Hidden Gems of Customer Service.”
1. Attitude (It’s Your Choice)
You have little or no control over many
things in life. However, you do have control
over one essential factor — your attitude.
Once you’ve figured this out, it’s easier to
stay positive whether you’re dealing with a
mean, nasty person or the nicest person in
the world.
There is a huge difference between an attitude and a mood: Attitude is permanent, and
a mood is temporary.
2. Don’t Be Too Busy To Be Nice
Being busy does not make it acceptable to
sound rushed, or give you carte blanche to be
rude. Customers want and deserve your full
attention. If you appear too busy, they may
go elsewhere. Work on appearing calm, cool
and collected even when you’re busy. It’s an
acquired trait but an important one.
3. Finish The Day Ready to Begin
Do you want to be more productive? Before you leave work for the day, organize your
work area for the next day. Have a list of calls
or things to do ready for when you get back
to your desk. Place a few items you’re excited
about at the top of the list. You will do those
first and, if you’re excited, your day will start
off in a more positive manner.
4. Skip The Company Jargon
Company jargon should stay within the
company. Using it with outside customers often causes mistakes and miscommunications.
You are far more familiar with terms and abbreviations than the customer, and you’ll annoy and confuse them if you use them.
12
5. Be Disciplined
Show me a top performing person, and I’ll
show you someone with discipline. We are referring to self-control and great work habits. It’s
not easy to be self-disciplined, yet it can be done.
Discipline is different from organization: however, they’re related and good organization helps.
6. Empowerment
It should not take two people to give good
customer service and if it does, the first time is
normally a learning lesson. If more companies
would empower their folks to handle a situation,
things might get done faster and the customer
might be happier than waiting for someone else
to come and make the same decision. When we
empower someone, he or she is liable to make
an error. When that happens, explain to the employee what went wrong, show what could have
been done, and move on.
7. Know Your Objectives
When you get in the car, you usually have an
objective as to where you’re going. When you
talk with a customer in person or on the phone,
it’s critically important to have an objective as
well. Knowing exactly why you’re calling, and/
or what your going to say is important.
Objectives are like maps. If you have a map,
you know where you’re going, but without it,
you might run in circles.
8. Leave a Good, Lasting Impression
You hear so much about making a good first
impression, and that’s certainly important. It’s
also important to make a good last impression.
Closing a call with “uh-huh . . . uh-huh . . .
(Continued on Page 14)
The Associate
13
Treat Yourself as You Treat Your Families
Tips (Continued from page 12)
okay bye” or not shaking a customer’s hand and
thanking him or her for their time in person
can leave a customer with the feeling of casual
dismissal.
9. People Before Paperwork
No matter what you’re doing when a customer comes into the store or your office, put
the paperwork down and work with the customer. Paper will wait. Customers won’t and
shouldn’t. Rapport building starts with immediate attention and a smile.
10. It’s “We” - Not “I” or “You”
Using “we” statements increases your relationship. “You” statements can often be threatening, and, of course, “I” statements aren’t effective, either. When we use the “we” statement
in talking with customers, it creates a more personal relationship and moves the process along.
You offer your families your in-depth knowledge and
support in finding out what best suits their individual needs.
At TJB Financial Services, Inc.,
we also believe that our
clients’ needs come first.
Our Goal: To help you feel comfortable
seeking help with your financial goals,
and to assist you in a knowledgeable,
courteous, and professional manner.
TJB Financial Services, Inc. and the CFDA
We are proud to be the Preferred Provider of Financial Services
to the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association and its Members.
To download a complimentary copy of the
e-book, visit www.telephone-doctor.com/client-relationship/get-a-free-customer-service-ebook/
Printed with permission from American
Funeral Director, April 2015
Please let us know how we may assist you
and the families you serve.
Tim Bourdon and Bob Havens were awarded the Five Star Professional Wealth
ManagersSM Award for 2014. They are both multi-year recipients.
Based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria including:
minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional,
favorable regulatory and complaint history, fulfillment of firm’s internal
review, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, number of client
households, education and professional designations. The award is not indicative of the wealth
managers’ future performance.
For more information please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
Approximately 14% of the award candidates in Connecticut were named 2014 Five Star
Wealth Managers.
Main Office: 9 School Street, Suite 6, P.O. Box 1020, East Granby, CT 06026
www.TJBFinc.com • (860) 844-0300 • Toll Free: 1-877-573-2226
Branch Offices: 18 Main Street, Ellington, CT 06029
110 Washington Avenue, North Haven, CT 06473 • (203) 936-7125
Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth
Financial Network, member FINRA/SiPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.
Fixed insurance products and services offered through TJB Financial Services, Inc.
are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth.
14
The Associate
15
NFDA Releases Results of 2015
Member General Price List Survey
NFDA released the results of its latest Member General Price List Study, which
includes the median cost of a funeral with burial. For the first time, the report
includes a calculation of the median cost of a funeral with cremation.
Median Cost of a Funeral With Burial
Since the 1960s, NFDA has calculated the
median cost of a funeral with burial by totaling the costs of the following items: basic services fee, removal/transfer of remains to funeral home, embalming and other preparation of
the body (casketing, cosmetology, dressing and
grooming), a metal casket, use of facilities and
staff for viewing and a funeral ceremony, use
of a hearse, use of a service car/van, and a basic memorial printed package (e.g., memorial
cards, register book, etc.).
The national median cost of a funeral for
calendar year 2014 was $7,181. If a vault is included, something that is typically required by
a cemetery, the median cost is $8,508. The cost
does not take into account cemetery, monument or marker costs or miscellaneous cash-advance charges, such as for flowers or an obituary.
Over the past decade, the median cost of an
adult funeral in the United States has increased
28.6 percent. This is similar to the 2000-2009
period when the median cost of a funeral increased by 26.6 percent. The percent increase
during the 1980s (1980-1989) was significantly higher (87 percent), reflecting the significant
higher inflation rates during the decade.
National Median Cost of an Adult Funeral
with Viewing and Burial: 2004 vs. 2014
Item
Nondeclinable basic services fee
Removable/transfer of remains to funeral home
Embalming
Other preparation of the body
Use of facilities/staff for viewing
Use of facilities staff or funeral ceremony
Hearse
Service car/van
Basic memorial printed package
Metal casket
Median Cost of a Funeral with Viewing & Burial
Vault
Total with vault
2014*
2004*%Change
$2,000 $1,460 37.0%
$310 $195 59.0%
$695$49839.0%
$250 $174 42.9%
$420 $339 23.9%
$495 $395 25.3%
$318$22541.1%
$143$10042.5%
$155 $95
63.2%
$2,395$2,10014.0%
$7,181 $5,582 28.6%
$1,327$998 33.0%
$8,508 $6,580 29.3%
2004 prices have not been adjusted for inflation
*Median Price - the amount at which half of the figures fall below and half are above.
See Page 18 for Information on the National Median cost of
an Adult Funeral With Viewing and Cremation
16
Survey Methodology
A paper-based survey was
mailed to 5,829 NFDA-member funeral home owners on
June 19, 2015, to gather General Price List and other related
data for the calendar year ending December 31, 2014. For
the first time, members had the
option of completing the survey online. A link to complete
the survey was posted for three
consecutive weeks in the NFDA
Bulletin (electronic newsletter),
and a reminder to complete the
survey was emailed to all main
contacts with a valid email address.
Of the potential respondents,
a total of 1,046 members anonymously completed the survey
(859 via mail and 187 online),
which accurately reflects NFDA’s total membership (with
95% confidence within a range
of +2.8%).
The Associate
17
NFDA Results of 2015
Member General Price
List Survey Continued
National Median Cost of a Funeral With
Cremation
The national median cost of a cremation in
2014 was $6,078. NFDA calculated the median cost of an adult funeral with cremation
by totaling the costs of the following items:
basic services fee, removal/transfer of remains
to funeral home, embalming and other preparations of the body, use of facilities and staff
for viewing and a funeral ceremony, use of a
service car/van, basic memorial printed package, cremation fee, cremation casket and urn.
The cost does not take into account vault,
cemetery monument/marker costs or other
miscellaneous cash advance charges.
Tips for Getting Families
to Pre-Plan Their Funeral
Families that pre-plan their funerals, allow
funeral directors to truly understand what is
important to them and what they want at their
funeral without all the stress that comes with
post-death planning. Rochelle Rietow, FuneralOne, has come up with 7 of the best tips for
getting families to pre-plan:
• Let them know that this is their chance to
put in writing their end-of-life wishes.
• Pre-planning allows families to highlight
memories and hobbies for others to see.
• Families that plan ahead, also take the
pressure off other family members to
make the right decision when they are
grieving.
• By planning ahead, families can begin sav-
National Median Cost of an Adult Funeral
With Viewing and Cremation
Item
2014*
Nondeclinable basic services fee
$2,000
Removable/transfer of remains to funeral home $310
Embalming$695
Other preparation of the body
$250
Use of facilities/staff for viewing
$420
Use of facilities/staff for funeral ceremony
$495
Service car/van
$143
Basic memorial printed package
$155
Cremation fee (if firm uses a third party)**
$330
Cremation casket
$1,000
Urn$280
Median Cost of a Funeral with
Viewing and Cremation
$6,078
*Median Price - The amount at which half of the figures
fall below and half are above.
**65% of respondents use a third-party
(i.e., the funeral home does not own a crematory)
ing and pay for their funeral in advance
and not leave others with the burden of
paying for a funeral.
• When families pre-plan, they lock in the
cost of their funeral at the time of planning, even if the costs go up prior to their
death.
• Let families, who plan ahead, know that
they can make changes and additions to
their pre-planning arrangments anytime
they want.
• Be sure to let families know that all of their
wishes will be carried out and that others
cannot change what has been agreed upon
between the family and the funeral home.
NFDA Discount Advantage Program
NFDA’s discount program provides special
discounts to their members on everyday purchases. Some of the items eligible at discount are:
wireless phones, prescriptions, vacations, travel,
hotels, rental cars, and theme park tickets. The
providers that participate in the program: Office
Depot/Office Max, Sam’s Club, PartnerShip,
NFDA Health Care Savings Program, NFDA
18
Travel Center, Car Rentals - including Budget
Truck Rentals, NFDA Prescription Discount
Card, Teleflora Flower Discounts, Identity Theft
Program, Mobile Health Screening, and FCA
(formerly Chrysler Group) Vehicle Discounts.
More information on the program can be found
at www.nfda.org/discountadvantage.
The Associate
19
Marriage (Continued from page 8)
common-law is no longer recognized, but a
couple will be grandfathered if they were in a
common-law marriage relationship on or before the date on which common-law marriage
was outlawed in the state. If a same-sex couple
in one of those common-law marriage states is
in a relationship that qualifies as a common-law
marriage, funeral homes should treat the survivor as the surviving spouse for right of disposition purposes.
5. With regard to the right to disinter a
body, will the Supreme Court’s decision
be given a retroactive effect?
The legal authority to disinter a body
will depend on the law of the state in which
the body is interred.
Most states do allow a spouse to disinter the remains of the deceased spouse and
relocate to another cemetery or to cremate
them. In many cases, the spouse would
need the approval of a probate court or local government agency. However, spouses
are generally given the right to seek and/or
carry out a disinterment. The question that
now arises is whether a surviving spouse of
a same-sex marriage whose deceased partner
was buried in a state that did not recognize
same-sex marriage at the time of his or her
death would be recognized as the spouse for
disinterment purposes.
For example, if a same-sex married couple relocated to a state that did not recognize same-sex marriage and one of the couple died and the funeral arrangements were
carried out by the decedent’s family, may
the surviving spouse now exercise the right
of disposition and relocate the remains
from where the decedent’s family originally
interred them? While a case like this has not
yet been decided, it would appear that the
survivor should be recognized as a spouse
under state law and be given whatever
rights of disinterment the state affords to a
surviving spouse.
20
6. How will this decision impact benefits provided to spouses, such as Social
Security survivor benefits or spouses’
graves in veterans cemeteries?
The federal government was already providing those benefits to surviving spouses
of same-sex marriage in the 37 states that
recognized same-sex marriage. However,
for same-sex married couples residing in the
13 states that did not recognize same-sex
marriage prior to June 26, 2015, they were
not provided these benefits. Now, they will
receive all benefits that are afforded surviving spouses under Social Security, VA laws
and regulations, and other federal and state
benefit programs.
7. Will the Supreme Court’s decision
ever be overturned?
There would be just two ways to overturn
the decision. The first would be a constitutional amendment. However, at least in
today’s environment, it is extremely doubtful that such an amendment could ever be
passed. A constitutional amendment would
require two-thirds approval by Congress
and three-fourths of the states would have
to ratify it. Given that same-sex marriage
was already legal in 37 states before the Supreme Court’s decision, it is doubtful that
opponents of same-sex marriage could ever
garner the ratification of such an amendment by three-fourths of the states.
The other option for overturning the
Supreme Court’s decision is a subsequent
decision by the Supreme Court to do so.
That, of course, would probably require
the replacement of one or more of the liberal justices by more conservative justices.
However, even in that scenario, the Supreme Court is usually very reluctant to
overturn a prior decision that recognizes a
fundamental right.
Originally published in the Memorial Business
Journal, July 2, 2015.
The Associate
21
Tips of the Day
Presented by Timothy Bourdon,
President, TJB Financial Services, Inc.
Bob Says . . . . . . So What’s New??
Timothy J. Bourdon
Robert C. Havens
TBJ Financial
Services, Inc.
“The Preferred
Provider of
Financial Services
for The CFDA
and its Members”
22
After the last riveting article we submitted regarding succession planning, and knowing
that you were all on the edge of your seat with the suspense and action packed descriptions of
mathematical equations and valuations, we thought we would lighten up this month.
Hopefully you recently received the email John Cascio sent out regarding my visits to as
many of you who will be able to spend some time with me, to hear about TJB’s 2016 plan in
support of your business. I have already begun these visits, and the first thing I ask is what
I decided to entitle this article, “Bob Says……..So What’s Up??” Having worked with most
of you for the past 22 years I would like to say I feel blessed to be able to sit and chat with
all of you across the state. I truly have the greatest job in the world, because I get to spend
my work hours with longtime friends, sharing thoughts and ideas about the industry we love
being a part of.
In case you missed the email from John I mentioned earlier, I have included it with this
article. So, when I come a knockin’, please let me in. I don’t want to push it, but I wouldn’t
turn down a cup of coffee if one is available. I look forward to visiting with many of you this
year. Be well, and stay warm!!
As our preferred provider for financial services, beginning this week, and continuing
through the year, Bob Havens will be contacting you to arrange for a time he can visit with
you to present the benefits TJB Financial Services will bring to the CFDA and its members
for 2016.
For the past 22 years Bob has supported, and has been an active participant in funeral service in Connecticut, in particular to members of the CFDA. Approximately 16 years of that
time Bob represented Access Financial Group, providing hands on service to participants in
our master trust program. Of course, during the past 6 years, Bob has managed the funeral
services division for TJB Financial Services. Bob and Tim Bourdon have developed a unique
approach to the funeral services industry in Connecticut, combining their financial planning
skills and knowledge of our profession. TJB Financial Services meets the needs of funeral
home owners as small business owners, provides business and personal financial planning,
and brings financial education to our members, as well as to the families you serve. This is
accomplished through workshops, personal consultation and articles of interest, such as the
CFDA Associate column.
So, when Bob calls to set up a visit, I ask that you find some time in your busy schedules
to meet with him. The brief time it takes to hear about TJB’s exciting agenda for our membership for 2016 is an hour well spent. I won’t give away what Bob will be discussing with
you, but I know a high priority on his list is to get your input on what you would like the
content of the 2016 CE credit workshops to be about. They will in fact design their workshops through the year totally based on what is important to you.
Along with our preferred providers, and our team of expert consultants, the CFDA staff
will continue to bring you the best support team for the exceptional service you bring to your
communities. Together we will make 2016 another exemplary year, setting the standard for
funeral service not only in our state, but nationally. ~ John Cascio
TJB Financial Services, Inc. 9 School Street, Suite 6, East Granby, CT 06026
Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network,
Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor.
The Associate
23