Both the Memorial Business Journal and the Funeral Service Insider commented last week on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s February 7th article regarding the former executive director of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. Several issues were raised that should be included in future industry debate, and in particular, I would agree with Mr. Isard’s questions whether
Missouri - SB1
Missouri’s Preneed Reform: the 2015 Factor.
By Bill Stalter on
On January 14th, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon will be sworn in for his second term, and we are wondering whether the Governor’s plans for 2015 are influencing the direction of Missouri’s preneed reform. With commentary such as that published by the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Governor may have his eyes on a 2015…
The NPS Recovery Plan: two hurdles to liftoff
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Missouri - SB1
On December 12th, a Missouri coalition of NPS preneed providers will have a second opportunity to state their case for legislation to establish a NPS recovery plan. As we noted back in September, that coalition should anticipate a tepid reception from the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors (and much of the Missouri…
That Elusive Matter of Intent: Missouri insurance assignments
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Missouri - SB1
With the backdrop of another major preneed debacle, Missouri turns its attention (yet again) to the assignment of insurance policies to funeral homes. On September 25th, the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors will consider a regulation proposal addressing insurance assignments. Is it, or is it not, a preneed contract? The industry, and…
Addressing the NPS aftermath: a hard sell
By Bill Stalter on
Per capita, Missouri funeral directors were hit hardest by the collapse of National Prearranged Services. And those funeral directors who suffered the greatest losses continue to demand help from the State of Missouri. Although Missouri re-wrote its preneed law just 3 years ago, the Legislature begins hearings today on whether more legislation is …
October Chaos: Missouri Preneed Seller Renewals and Insurance Assignments
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Missouri - SB1, Reporting
The staff for the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors released the revised preneed renewal reports this week, and those revisions include a few new additional requirements. Those requirements include a seller providing a ‘no tax due’ letter, proof of corporate status and any ‘doing business as’ filings. However, the new requirement …
Out of Left Field: Missouri’s insurance assignments
By Bill Stalter on
Who can honestly say they saw this one coming?
On July 5, 2012, the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors filed a complaint with the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission against a Missouri funeral home for alleged violations of Chapter 436, including several transactions that predate Senate Bill No. 1. So, three years after the …
Preneed vs. Preplanning: Missouri’s blurred line
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Missouri - SB1
For some Missouri funeral homes, the ‘disagreement’ over the Section 436.405.1.(8) and insurance assignments has been brought to their doorstep. In January, the State Board and their staff debated the issue of whether insurance assignments and beneficiary designations made in favor of a funeral home should constitute a preneed contract. The State Board rejected the staff’s interpretation of…
What to Build: Fences or Bridges?
By Bill Stalter on
Every funeral home and cemetery feels the pain of this economy, but that pain runs deeper for Missouri and Illinois funeral directors. Per capita, Missouri funeral homes bore the greater brunt of the NPS collapse. In the same year NPS collapsed, the IFDA master trust was forced to divest its key man insurance policies and…
Missouri and Mrs. Smith’s insurance policy: Where to draw the line?
By Bill Stalter on
Every funeral director has faced the situation where Mrs. Smith comes in with an insurance policy and her funeral plans. Often, Mrs. Smith has gone to trouble of designating the funeral home as the policy beneficiary before having discussed her plans with the director. Often funeral directors file the policy and plan away until Mrs.