Texas consumers visit www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov for more information.
Your California Privacy Choice
Get the latest funeral business insights, research and trends that can help grow your business.
In a profession that’s rooted in supporting communities through...
As more families prioritize environmental values, eco-friendly...
As a funeral professional, chances are you’re not thinking about...
As funeral professionals, you strive for kindness and respect toward your client families to help them feel as comfortable as possible when sharing details about their loved one. While respect has always been paramount, best practices in respect have evolved as we learn more about language and empathy. The questions you ask families can become the foundation of curiosity and understanding them or their loved one. Questions can also lead to details about a loved one that you can incorporate into a meaningful and customized funeral service. We’ve gathered some helpful questions from Homesteaders employees who have firsthand experience working in funeral homes. We hope these questions will provide inspiration and ideas that you can incorporate into your questions list when meeting with clients and client families.
Read MoreIt’s something that has likely happened to most of us. Someone you know recently lost a loved one and you want to let them know you’re thinking about them in the days, weeks or months to follow. When you are unable to comfort your friend or family member in person, a thoughtful text message can make just as much of an impact, letting them know you care and are there to support them. However, knowing what to text to someone who is grieving can be tricky.
Read MoreAs a funeral professional, you have the privilege and responsibility of helping families navigate what is most likely the most difficult time in their lives. While you are primarily focused on providing them with quality funeral services, it is important to remember to show appreciation to your client families in every stage of the process and throughout your interactions with them.
Read MoreShort answer to the title question: it varies! Longer answer: there are many factors that lead people to prearrange and there is certainly an average age people begin to do so, based on data we’ve collected. However, even the average data doesn’t tell the whole story. Let’s dive into the most common factors that lead people to prearrange, average ages to prearrange, and the benefits of prearranging at a younger age, and we’ll see if we can find an answer to this question together.
Read MoreGaining exposure, stretching marketing dollars and establishing credibility can be an ongoing challenge for funeral professionals. Unlike many industries, marketing a funeral business requires a level of sensitivity that can be difficult to achieve solely through “traditional” advertising methods.
Read MoreCopious learnings about death and grief exist in novels, memoirs, plays, films, poems and oral histories across time and places all over the world. Although many authors throughout history have written poignantly about death, such as Isabel Allende, Leo Tolstoy, Shakespeare, Virginia Woolf and more contemporary authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Joan Didion (just to name a few), today we will focus on 19th and 20th century American authors and what they can teach us about death and grief.
Read MoreSeeing the phrase “in lieu of flowers” in an obituary is a common occurrence. In short, it’s another way to say, “in place of flowers.” That’s why companies like Treasured Memories have created solutions for safe online memorials and community funding.
Read MoreTraditionally, funeral services have been tied to specific religious or cultural traditions. But as new generations come of age, there’s a growing trend that has shifted toward honoring loved ones through services that reflect personal beliefs and individual values rather than being centered around organized religion.
Read MoreCremation has exploded in popularity in recent years. According to a CANA (the Cremation Association of North America) publication The Cremationist, the national cremation rate for 2021 was 57.5%. Among Homesteaders’ policyholders who prearranged, the cremation rate for 2022 was 57.0%. Here are thoughts from families who chose cremation services. While it’s not the most environmentally friendly method for disposition, cremation does have several eco-benefits. Families who choose cremation often forgo traditional caskets, which saves on resources like wood, metal and concrete – as well as the energy used to produce them. Cremation often takes up less space in a cemetery or none at all if the urn is kept at home or the ashes are spread on private property.
Read MoreA significant demographic shift in the funeral industry has occurred in recent years. As more female workers enter the funeral profession, the need for a space to provide community and support for success quickly arose, and the Death Care Collective initiative was established. A group of driven female leaders in the industry were determined to provide opportunities to empower one another and promote the employment and advancement of women in the funeral industry. Thus the formation of the member-based group, which is currently in the process of becoming a registered nonprofit organization.
Read More© 2025 Homesteaders Life Company. All Rights Reserved.
Life insurance and annuity products are issued by Homesteaders Life Company. Products are subject to state availability.
Any information regarding Homesteaders Life Company's products is intended solely for licensed insurance and funeral professionals.
Texas consumers visit www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov for more information.
Your California Privacy Choice