FD Talks

FD Talks Episode 40: Connecting with Veterans: A Conversation with Miss Ohio 2023 Oct 18, 2024

Did you know that according to a survey by the Department of Veterans Affairs, only 29% of veterans understand the burial benefits available to them?

Your funeral home can play a key role in educating and building relationships with local veterans.

In this episode, host Rob Davidson and Madison Miller, former Miss Ohio winner and daughter of a funeral home owner, discuss how funeral homes can connect with veterans. Madison shares her experience growing up in the funeral profession and why funeral homes should support veterans in their community.

FD Talks Episode 39: Emotional Intelligence: The Key to Managing Stress and Burnout Jun 19, 2024

Funeral directors do a lot for their businesses and families. But sometimes, all their responsibilities pile up and lead to workplace stress, which can cause lasting burnout.

Fortunately, emotional intelligence can help you lower workplace stress and improve your service to families.

Host Rob Davidson sits down with Dr. Melanie Carr, author of Emotional Intelligence for Funeral Directors: The Secret to Less Stress and Burnout at Work, to discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and what you can do to grow in this area.

FD Talks Episode 38: How to Be a Leader Worth Following May 01, 2024

As a funeral professional, you are responsible for leading families during their greatest times of need. That’s why you must be a leader worth following.

Host Rob Davidson welcomes Kris Seale, President and Chief Executive Officer of Funeral Directors Life, back to FD Talks. Kris shares advice he's learned after nearly 40 years of leading people and what helped him grow his leadership skills.
Find out how to become the leader your funeral home and families need you to be.

FD Talks 37: Embracing Rest in Your Funeral Home with Sabbaticals Apr 04, 2024

What would happen if you gave your funeral home’s staff a 30-day sabbatical?

Your staff needs to be rested and focused to best serve families, which can be challenging after long seasons of stress and burnout. But if your funeral home operates with a small staff, you may not think your funeral professionals can be gone for weeks at a time.
In this episode of FD Talks, host Rob Davidson and Kris Seale, President and Chief Executive Officer of Funeral Directors Life (FDL), discuss the benefits of giving funeral professionals a sabbatical.
Learn how giving your staff time to rest could improve your care for families.
Visit www.dig.family to learn more.

FD Talks Episode 36: What You Need to Know about Funeral Home Websites | Part 2 Feb 27, 2024

Can a custom website help you increase your preneed leads? Will it rank you higher on Google and improve your ability to reach new families? What’s at risk if you don’t prioritize your website?

The latest FD Talks podcast covers all this and more as host Rob Davidson continues the conversation on funeral home websites. Drew Seale, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Funeral Directors Life, and Curtis Funk, Chief Executive Officer at Tukios, are back to offer their insights and share how funeral homes have found success using their website.

Learn more about prioritizing your website here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/services/marketing-services/

FD Talks 35: What You Need to Know about Funeral Home Websites | Part 1 Jan 31, 2024

As more consumers turn to the internet with questions about funerals, your website should easily offer answers.

But it's not enough for your website to educate and connect with families – it should turn curious visitors into consistent leads for your funeral home.

The newest FD Talks dives into the importance of funeral home websites and their role in improving your service and growing your business.
Host Rob Davidson is joined by Drew Seale, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Funeral Directors Life, and Curtis Funk, Chief Executive Officer at Tukios, to discuss the benefits of a quality and custom website in part one of this two-part series.
Discover how to make your website your new digital storefront here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/services/marketing-services/

FD Talks Episode 34: 2023 Recap: 7 Key Funeral Home Lessons to Remember Dec 19, 2023

There were so many great guests featured on FD Talks this year, and each one had helpful tips on how to best serve families and manage your funeral home.

In the final episode of 2023, we recap the seven most important lessons we learned on the podcast this year. Hear from funeral experts on how to prepare for another year of caring for families by meeting your community’s needs, using a digital marketing strategy, growing as a funeral professional, and more.

See how these lessons can help make 2024 a year to remember for your funeral home, and thank you for making 2023 a great year for FD Talks!

If you’d like to learn more about a topic you heard on this podcast, request a consultation here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/request-consultation/

FD Talks Episode 33: The Biggest Disconnects Between Funeral Homes and Families | Part 2 Nov 01, 2023

Do you know how quickly most families think a funeral should occur after the death? What about if most families think a funeral is necessary with cremation?
The answers may surprise you.
The latest FD Talks podcast continues the conversation about common disconnects between funeral homes and families revealed in a recent consumer study. Host Rob Davidson welcomes back Todd Carlson, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer at Funeral Directors Life, as the pair dive deeper into what funeral directors need to understand about families to avoid unintentional dissatisfaction.
Download the free report below to gain more insights to help you make more informed decisions about your funeral business here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/report/

FD Talks Episode 32: The Biggest Disconnects Between Funeral Homes and Families | Part 1 Sep 27, 2023

“If you want to sell Mrs. Jones what Mrs. Jones buys, you need to see Mrs. Jones through Mrs. Jones' eyes.”

When it comes to funerals, families' knowledge and preferences have changed. And in order to best serve your community, you need to understand how families view funerals and what they expect from you.

In part one of this FD Talks two-part series, host Rob Davidson welcomes Todd Carlson, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer at Funeral Directors Life. The two discuss common disconnects between families and funeral homes and how these disconnects can unintentionally cause dissatisfaction.

Learn how understanding families' assumptions about funeral options, prices, timelines, technology, and more can help you provide the best care to families and adapt to their changing needs.

FD Talks Episode 31: Revealing the Secret Benefits of Google for Funeral Homes Aug 31, 2023

When a family searches “funeral home near me,” they likely use Google and follow Google’s suggestions. That means if your business isn’t one of Google’s first results, you may miss out on serving them.

Host Rob Davidson welcomes Haley Laurence, Digital Marketing Supervisor at Funeral Directors Life, to the FD Talks podcast to discuss the importance of promoting your business with Google Ads. Get answers to common questions like:

What are Google Ads?
How can you be the top Google result?
Is Google advertising cost-effective?
And more!

Find out how Google Ads can help you reach families first.

And download your free copy of the Digital Marketing 101 eBook to learn more: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/digital-marketing-101-ebook/

FD Talks Episode 30: Grow Your Preneed Program with These Marketing Strategies Aug 03, 2023

More and more families today are interested in starting the preplanning search online. Do you have a plan to reach them there?

This FD Talks episode features Rob Davidson’s discussion with John Davenport, Vice President of Sales for Service Group of Oklahoma, and R.T. Delhomme, Vice President of Operations at Martin & Castille Funeral Home in Louisiana, about new marketing strategies that can help grow your preneed program.

Learn how you can increase your brand awareness, grow your market share, receive a higher return on your marketing investment, and more with these proven strategies.

For more funeral home marketing tips, download our eBook: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/digital-marketing-101-ebook/

FD Talks Episode 29: How to Get Real Results with Digital Marketing Jun 29, 2023

According to the World Bank, 92% of Americans use the internet. That means reaching consumers online is the best way to spread awareness about your funeral home’s services.

But how should you do that?

Rob sits down with Mitchell McLean, Vice President of Digital Marketing at Funeral Directors Life, to discuss the state of digital marketing for funeral homes today.

Learn how an effective marketing strategy can grow your preneed program and discover the surprising social media platform that’s generating high return for funeral home clients.

To learn more about digital marketing, download our eBook: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/digital-marketing-101-ebook/

FD Talks Episode 28: The 7 Types of Funeral Consumers and How to Serve Them May 25, 2023

The average funeral consumer falls into 1 of 7 categories. And each group has different expectations of how funerals should be…and how they expect you to interact with them.

Josh McQueen, Vice President of Marketing & Product at Directors Investment Group (DIG), returns to the FD Talks podcast to identify these 7 consumer segments, based on a recent study done by McKee Wallwork + Co. and DIG. They discuss:

How families have changed in the last decade
Important information about the 7 types of consumers
How you can discover which segments live in your community
And more!

Get more insights in this free report that you can use to help you make better, more informed decisions about your funeral business. >> The New Funeral Consumer Report - FDLIC

FD Talks Episode 27: How to Grow as a Funeral Professional with ICCFA Apr 27, 2023

One of the biggest problems funeral directors face today is the evolving needs of families. In order to adapt to them, you need to grow in your craft.

In this FD Talks episode, Rob Davidson sits down with Gary Freytag, President and CEO of Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum and the current ICCFA president, and Kevin Gaffney, Chairman of the Membership Committee Board at ICCFA, to discuss growth in the profession.

They cover the importance of trying new ideas, the benefits of an ICCFA membership, and more. Listen now to start growing today!

To learn more about an ICCFA membership, contact Cindy at cindy@iccfa.org or visit https://iccfa.com/join/.

FD Talks Episode 26: Breaking Down 5 Key Findings from a Recent Consumer Study Mar 30, 2023

You’ve likely heard that cremation rates are at an all-time high. But did you know that in the last decade, family preference for cremation has only risen 2.3%?

Host Rob Davidson sits down with Josh McQueen, Vice President of Marketing & Product at Directors Investment Group (DIG), to uncover 5 crucial findings about funeral consumers and their preferences, based on a recent study done by McKee Wallwork + Co. and DIG.

They break down statistics and data to reveal how families really feel about:

The funeral profession as a whole
Comfort around planning online
Disposition options
And more!

Get more insights in this free report that you can use to help you make better, more informed decisions about your funeral business. >> https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/report/

FD Talks Episode 25: Why Your Funeral Home Needs to Offer Livestreaming Now - 10 Dos and Don'ts Mar 08, 2023

Funeral livestreaming isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, 42% of people feel comfortable attending a funeral online. That’s why you need to offer a livestreaming option now.
Host Rob Davidson sits down with Tyler Ward, Digital Sales Manager with Encore Livestreaming, on the FD Talks podcast to discuss 10 dos and don’ts of funeral livestreaming. They cover:

What equipment to use
How to use livestreaming as a competitive advantage
The problems with “free” livestreaming platforms
And more!

If you want to try livestreaming on your own, download the livestreaming “Quick Start Guide” here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/fdtalks/25/#guide

Or learn more about Encore livestreaming here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/encore

FD Talks Episode 24: Prices Are Up…So, What About Growth Rates? Dec 07, 2022

The interest rate environment is on the rise (along with prices and inflation), but what does that mean for your funeral home? And what can you do about it? Host Rob Davidson invited Todd Carlson, Executive Vice President of Sales and Chief Sales Officer of Funeral Directors Life, to FD Talks to discuss:

A special announcement from Funeral Directors Life about our preneed funeral growth rates
How to choose the right preneed product for your funeral home
Inflation mitigation strategies

You can take this information and apply it to your funeral home today!

FD Talks Episode 23: The Acquisition of American Life & Annuity Sep 15, 2022

Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company (FDLIC) recently finalized the acquisition of American Life & Annuity Company (ALAC) in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

President and CEO of FDLIC Kris Seale and ALAC President Claude Holloway join FD Talks host Rob Davidson for a conversation about the acquisition process, including how it came to be and what’s next for both companies.

FD Talks Episode 22: Learning More About "Journey to Serve" Mar 31, 2022

According to a report by the National Funeral Directors Association, one of the most common funeral home needs is an increase in staff. Many funeral directors believe that finding the right people will be their greatest challenge over the next five years. As a result, the Journey to Serve campaign was created to help funeral homes recruit veterans and lead them from one selfless position of service to another.

On the latest installment of FD Talks, host Rob Davidson speaks with Lee Wiensch, CFRE and Executive Director at Funeral Service Foundation, and Jim Price, President of ICCFA Educational Foundation. The three discuss:

What makes veterans a great fit for the funeral profession
How Journey to Serve was created and how it’s being received in the funeral profession
How funeral homes can use these tools to welcome veterans to their staff
And more!

FD Talks Episode 21 | Livestreaming Funerals: Easier and Better Than Ever Feb 10, 2022

Livestreaming has been available to funeral homes for years, but few funeral professionals understood its importance. It wasn’t until the pandemic that many funeral homes saw the need to livestream funerals so that all families could virtually attend, despite a world of social distancing.

In our first episode of 2022, FD Talks host Rob Davidson and Ron Clyde, Director of Special Projects at Funeral Directors Life, talk about why livestreaming is important to families. They also discuss Encore, a new livestreaming service from Funeral Directors Life, and how any funeral home can use this technology.

Learn more about Encore

FD Talks: Episode 20 – The Community Outreach Perspective | Hospice Care and Funeral Service Series | Part 2 Nov 22, 2021

Though most people may be unfamiliar with their local hospice organizations, these caregivers provide meaningful end-of-life-care for families and their loved ones. Families also benefit from a strong relationship between funeral homes and hospice facilities.

The latest episode of FD Talks continues the conversation on the partnership between funeral homes and hospice. Host Rob Davidson speaks with Melissa Luton, the Community Outreach Manager for Hendrick Hospice Care. Melissa shares about the wide-ranging services hospice provides, her positive experiences working with funeral homes, and the key to maintaining a strong relationship with hospice organizations.

Watch Part 1
Learn More About Hospice Care

FD Talks Episode 19 | Funeral Service Technology and the Innovative Funeral Home Nov 04, 2021

Funeral home owners want to improve efficiency, funeral professionals want reliable technology, and families want to collaborate online. This change has led many funeral homes to adapt, stay the same, or reject the movement altogether.
This episode features host Rob Davidson and Josh McQueen, Vice President of Product at Passare, and their discussion on technology in the funeral profession. McQueen explains Passare’s drive to help funeral professionals, the industry’s changing landscape, and the work that went into Passare’s award-winning Pennsylvania electronic death registration system integration.
Learn More About Passare (https://www.passare.com)

Download FREE New Funeral Consumer eBook (https://resources.passare.com/nfc-ebook-download)

Reignite Your Passion - Funeral Service Leadership Summit Recap Oct 11, 2021

Creating a positive workplace culture and being a heart-led leader are two important assets to any business, even your funeral home! This year, our REIGNITE Summit discussed both aspects, but if you didn't attend, you may be wondering what you may have missed.

In this FD Talks episode, host Rob Davidson recaps the REIGNITE Summit with Kris Seale, President and CEO of Funeral Directors Life. They discuss the messages of John O'Leary and Tommy Spaulding, how to lead from the heart, and other lessons!

A Social Worker’s Perspective | Hospice Care and Funeral Service Series | Part 1 Sep 13, 2021

While funeral homes and hospice facilities each play a key — but very separate — role in a loved one’s end-of-life journey, the two value serving families at the highest level. One important factor in achieving that goal is the relationship between hospice social workers and funeral directors. When the two utilize and establish a strong relationship, it often leads to better care for families during some of the worst days of their lives.
In part one of this two-part series, host Rob Davidson sits down with Peggy Shepherd, a licensed clinical social worker at Hendrick Hospice Care. They discuss how families benefit the most when Hospice and funeral homes provide care, support, and answers by working together to put families first.

REIGNITE Your Passion | Funeral Service Leadership Summit Aug 30, 2021

As a funeral professional, do you find yourself spending more time on getting through each day’s to-do list rather than focusing on your leadership, passion, and workplace culture? Whether you’re experienced or new to the industry, your leadership matters and deserves to grow.

In the latest installment of FD Talks, host Rob Davidson speaks with Kris Seale, President and CEO of Funeral Directors Life, about the new and upcoming funeral service leadership summit, REIGNITE. Kris touches on applicable lessons from the summit’s speakers – John O’Leary and Tommy Spaulding – and emphasizes the need for every funeral professional to hear these important messages of creating a positive atmosphere and being a heart-led leader.

Sign up for the REIGNITE summit and rediscover your spark to be a passionate leader.

The Value of One More Funeral Aug 16, 2021

Shrinking margins are every business owner's worst nightmare, especially in the funeral profession. If raising your prices or cutting costs is out of the question, how can you ensure the success of your business and the satisfaction of your families?

This episode of FD Talks is all about preneed! Special guest John Harrington, Regional Sales Vice President with Funeral Directors Life, and our host Rob Davidson discuss factors that have impacted the funeral market, the importance of an effective preneed program, and why more families are requesting the option to preplan.

So, what is the value of having one more funeral?

FD Talks: Episode 14 — Taking Control of Your Funeral Home’s Finances Aug 02, 2021

Between meeting with families and keeping your funeral home running smoothly, you have a lot on your plate as a funeral professional. And while you likely spend most of your days focused on your immediate responsibilities, are you spending as much energy thinking about your funeral home’s finances?

In this episode, host Rob Davidson sits down with Jason Gazaille, Vice President of Finance for Directors Business Solutions, which provides accounting services to funeral homes. The two discuss how many funeral homes struggle to keep their finances updated, which is where Directors Business Solutions can help!

The bottom line is that you didn’t go to mortuary school to be an accountant, so let Directors Business Solutions handle your funeral home’s bottom line and other financial needs.

Recruiting Graduates to Work in Your Funeral Home | Mortuary Science Programs Series | Part 2 Jul 19, 2021

What are the expectations and experiences of new mortuary science graduates as they enter funeral service? Better yet, how can funeral homes help them adjust to this new work environment and be receptive to their needs as employees?

On today’s podcast, our host Rob Davidson and Dr. Michael LuBrant, the Director of University of Minnesota’s Mortuary Science Program, continue their discussion about what mortuary science graduates are experiencing as they enter the workforce. Dr. LuBrant also addresses how current funeral directors and management staff can help bridge the gap between their funeral homes and mortuary science programs and lists ways that funeral homes can recruit graduates.

Recruiting Graduates to Work in Your Funeral Home | Mortuary Science Programs Series with Dr. Michael LuBrant | Part 1 Jul 06, 2021

Recruiting new funeral professionals or graduates is a challenge some funeral homes face. From internships and job shadowing opportunities to networking events, positive work experiences with your funeral home are important when recruiting prospective individuals to a career in funeral service. Just ask Dr. Michael LuBrant, the Director of University of Minnesota’s Mortuary Science Program for nearly 20 years.
In this episode of FD Talks, our host Rob Davidson meets with Dr. Michael LuBrant to discuss how funeral homes can work together with mortuary science programs to recruit the next generation of funeral directors. They share some practical tips and insights that you won’t want to miss!

Watching Your Costs to Hold on to Profits Jun 21, 2021

As a funeral professional, you’ve worked hard to establish your business and set fair prices for your services and offerings. But recently, inflation has caused price increases for oil, lumber, and other basic commodities, leading you to wonder how this situation will affect your business and what you can do about it.

In this riveting episode, host Rob Davidson and Tom Anderson, CEO and Editor of Funeral Director Daily, break down inflation in the funeral profession, solutions around raising prices vs. watching costs, and trusting your intuition!

Another way to combat inflation and rising prices is by introducing an additional stream of revenue, such as an active preneed program or an online planning and funding tool.

How to Involve Dispersed Family Members in the Funeral Process Jun 07, 2021

Families gather to celebrate all kinds of special life events, including births, weddings, graduations, and retirements, but what happens when a death occurs and not all family members can attend the ceremony, even if they really want to be there?

In this special episode of FD Talks, Kris Seale, President and CEO of Funeral Directors Life, hosts a live Q&A session where he shares his experience with planning a funeral and the ideas he has to involve dispersed members of his family who can’t attend the ceremony. From livestreaming to two-way video conferencing, the ideas addressed in this topical discussion reveal how technology can actually augment human interaction, enhance a family’s experience, and empower funeral directors.

Funeral Service and Stress: Caring for Yourself While You Care for Those You Serve May 24, 2021

When the pandemic brought unprecedented change and life-changing loss, funeral professionals stepped in to care for families and navigate new challenges of their own: overwhelming stress, demand, and change.
Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, there has never been a better time to talk about the critical importance of self-care. In this episode, renowned author and grief expert Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt describes symptoms of stress, discusses self-care practices, and provides inspiring words of wisdom!

Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt is the author of numerous books about grief for adults, children and teens, and caregivers and funeral professionals. For more information, visit https://www.centerforloss.com/.

Eliminating Regulatory and Administrative Burdens with Trust Conversions May 12, 2021

Managing your preneed trust is hard work. Most funeral homes sacrifice a lot of time and effort, only to experience low return and growth, strict regulation and audits, and 1099s.

There’s a better way.

In this episode, Mark Owen, Regional Sales Vice President at Funeral Directors Life, discusses how you can stop dealing with the regulatory and administrative burdens of managing trusts and start seeing real growth by converting your trust to insurance or annuity! If you’re in Texas, Mississippi, or Oklahoma, you won’t want to miss this episode!

Getting Ahead of the Competition with an Online Funeral Planning and Funding Tool May 10, 2021

Consumers today prefer to shop and research online to see their options before they complete their purchase, whether that's online or in person. Funeral planners are no different. How can you ensure that families in your community avoid low-cost, online cremation providers and partner with you instead?

In this episode, Rob Davidson meets with Drew Seale, Vice President of Sales Operations at Funeral Directors Life, to discuss online planning misconceptions and realities, the value of a customizable, online planning and funding tool, and the successes that funeral homes have had Funeral Directors Life's tool, the Arrangement Guide™.

How to Grow the Value of Your Business with an Active Preneed Sales Program Apr 26, 2021

In this episode, your host Rob Davidson sits down with Paul Lovelace, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Funeral Directors Life, who shares insights on how to grow the value of your funeral business with an active preneed program. Most funeral homes are barely scratching the surface of the potential for preneed sales in their communities. By following a few simple keys to success, Paul and his team have helped hundreds of funeral homes to jumpstart their active preneed programs – without sacrificing the quality of service to their families.

The Value of Insurance Assignments Apr 12, 2021

In this episode of FD Talks, Rob Davidson sits down with Nadene Smith, Director of Business Services for CLAIMCHECK, a life insurance assignment services company that offers expedited payments on verified life insurance policies.

Nadene's personal experience with loss gave her a renewed perspective and appreciation for what funeral directors do every day.

Now she is dedicated to helping funeral homes and the families they serve access their life insurance benefits quickly and easily so they can stop worrying about how to pay for the funeral and instead focus on creating a healing and meaningful ceremony to honor the one they love.

Funeral Service in 2021 Mar 31, 2021

There is a lot of excitement and energy among funeral professionals going into 2021 with so many new tools available to serve families. In this episode, Kris Seale, President and CEO of Funeral Directors Life, joins Rob Davidson in the studio to discuss what's ahead for funeral service in 2021 and how funeral directors can leverage the technology and resources available today to enhance their service to families.

Digital Marketing Solutions: Behind the Scenes Mar 22, 2021

So much has changed in the marketing space in just the last five years. More and more funeral homes are realizing the power of digital marketing for reaching families in their communities, but many are missing out on opportunities because the don’t have the time or expertise to put together a full digital marketing plan. Today, we are joined by Mitchell McLean, Director of Digital Marketing with Funeral Directors Life, to talk to us about the options available to funeral homes for marketing online, best practices, and results that he has seen with the company’s social media management clients.

On the Go Protection Feb 24, 2021

When a preneed family loses a loved one away from home, no one wants to have to tell that family that there will be unexpected out-of-pocket costs that are not covered by their plan. Whether you are a funeral home owner, director, or preneed sales professional, you want to offer your preneed families a complete solution that protects the family AND the value of the funeral they have planned, no matter where the loss occurs. That is why Todd Carlson, EVP and Chief Sales Officer with Funeral Directors Life is joining us in the studio today to talk about a new option now available for families who are planning ahead: On the Go Protection. Learn how it works, how to position this valuable coverage with families, and how families are responding to this new protection plan.

Introduction to FD Talks Feb 22, 2021

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