The Wall Street Journal in this recent article (you may find a paywall here) estimates that over the past 5 years Americans have gained a total of $63 trillion in personal wealth.  And, this article from Yahoo Finance states “. . . the top 20% — the high-earning American households — are thriving because they have seen immense gains in their stock portfolios and home values in recent years.”

Two results of that personal wealth gain are that Americans are consuming at record levels and these same Americans are continuing to look for more investment opportunities.  Part of those investments are going into public stocks and bonds, but I’m guessing that more and more investors, with asset qualifications, are putting money into private equity in growing sums as well.  As you can see from the chart below, as good as the public markets have been for asset growth, private equity returns have left them in the dust.

Private Equity returns vs. other returns.

All that money and all of those potential deals leads me to seeing a sign of caution.  I’ve always tried to do everything on a level keel.  Too much of one thing has never been good for me — as much as I like to golf, three days in a week is enough.  Same with a vacation — it’s fun and relaxing, but I always want to get back to work.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

So, that brings me to my thought process —  with all the money being thrown at businesses, including funeral homes, by private equity, when will the good deals end and somebody in their quest for “growth” make the wrong decision?  I don’t know when it will happen and who it will happen to, but at some point the quest for “growth” will lead to bad decisions by somebody.

It just happened in Minnesota with a home remodeling company known as Minnesota Rusco.  You can read an article from the Minnesota Tribune here that lets the reader know that Minnesota Rusco, a Minnesota staple since 1955, was acquired by a private equity firm that was “rolling-up” home remodeling firms across the country and now is looking into bankruptcy.  Somebody either didn’t know the business that well or know the value of the “local-aspect” of these acquired businesses and it looks like the investment will be lost . . . . and the employees of Minnesota Rusco will probably be on the unemployment line.

I recently came across this article titled “There’s a lot of money in Death”:  Funeral consolidation hits Western Mass”.  The article goes on to illustrate that even in some smaller funeral homes and roll-ups involving them, that private equity is involved.  Here’s the website of a private equity firm which lists Milestone Funeral Partners as one of their investments.

It’s no secret that a large number of family funeral homes will be on the market in the next few years.  And, many of them will have the volume and be in a location that will be highly desireable for the national and regional companies to compete for.  If you are one of these owners planning to sell, make sure you know your business value and make sure that you know your buyer.

Because . . . .  I don’t think the good times will last forever and someone will get hurt when the dominoes fall.

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OGR Future Leaders Forum Inspires the Next Generation of Funeral Professionals

Attendees gained fresh insights and connections at OGR’s program for emerging leaders 

INDIANAPOLIS (September 4, 2025) – The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) proudly announces the success of its recent Future Leaders Forum, presented by Full-Circle Aftercare, held August 25-27, 2025, at the Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home, an affiliate location of Pollock-Randall Funeral Home in Port Huron, Michigan.

The Forum is designed to nurture and develop the next generation of leaders in the funeral service profession. Over the course of a two-day program, the event gathered young professionals, first and second-career individuals and emerging leaders from across the United States for engaging education, problem-solving exercises and strategic discussions.

“We are consistently impressed by the energy and excitement that Future Leaders bring to OGR,” said Wendy King, Executive Director of OGR. “We are proud to provide a space where emerging funeral professionals can connect, learn, and grow together. Events like this ensure that the profession continues to thrive with fresh ideas and strong leadership for years to come.”

As part of this year’s theme, the 2025 Forum empowered future leaders to “Own the Future,” with dynamic education opportunities, hands-on workshops, expert-led sessions and real-world scenarios. Education sessions covered a wide range of topics relevant to developing funeral directors. Some of the themes in event discussions included generational divide in the workplace, making informed preneed decisions, financial insight, personalized funeral services and the power of moments. Outside of education sessions, attendees also had the opportunity to explore the Port Huron community, taking in the beautiful lakes and lighthouses of the area. 

OGR is grateful for the continued support and partnership with the sponsors of this year’s event, which includes presenting sponsor Full-Circle Aftercare, Express Funeral Funding, Passages International and Johnson Consulting Group. 

“It was inspiring to see the passionate future leaders of funeral service come together,” said Vincent Roberge, Johnson Consulting Group. “We’re honored to have played a part in supporting their growth and are excited about the impact they’ll have moving forward.”

The Future Leaders Forum will return in 2026, but OGR Future Leaders remain active throughout the year. For more information on how both OGR member and non-member funeral homes can get involved, visit www.OGR.org/future-leaders-forum. 

About the International Order of the Golden Rule

The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is an association of independently owned and operated funeral homes dedicated to ethical service to all. Founded in 1928, it is our mission to make independent funeral homes exceptional. We do this by building and supporting member interaction, information exchange and professional business development through a wide range of programs, services and resources. For more information, visit www.ogr.org.

We recently received a press release from OneRoom, a trusted leader in funeral streaming.  The press release made known that the company has launched its new “Rev Gen Bundle” – defined as a way to make every stream work harder for your funeral home. With Tribute Buttons and Pre-Need Pathways, funeral homes can now generate leads, boost eCommerce, and connect guests with their services through streaming.

According to OneRoom, every service streamed through OneRoom reaches an average of 30 guests, and one-third of them are local. The Rev Gen Bundle is a way to turn that reach into real opportunities, giving guests simple ways to interact with your services, and take the next step.

● Pre-Need Pathways gives guests a simple way to request a pre-planning guide at a time when they’re naturally open to thinking ahead. After nine months of refinement, it now sees around 2% of viewers taking that step – turning interest into warm leads.

 

● Tribute Buttons give guests meaningful ways to engage – like sending flowers, writing a message, or accessing grief support – using the funeral home’s existing suppliers and links. It’s a simple way to amplify what you’re already offering on your website, right when families need it.

These tools are made possible by OneRoom’s recently upgraded viewer, redesigned to support future innovation and to better reflect each funeral home’s brand. A warmer guest experience ensures that online services feel personal, and position the funeral home at the heart of it.

“We’ve built a platform that supports your brand and your growth,” said Brady Cox, CEO of OneRoom. “The Rev Gen Bundle is just the beginning of what streaming can unlock when it’s done right.”

Again, according to OneRoom, these features are the first in a series of upcoming releases aimed at helping funeral homes drive connection, conversation, and growth. With a stronger platform in place, OneRoom is positioned to roll out further enhancements throughout 2025.

About OneRoom
OneRoom is a hands-free funeral streaming platform used by funeral homes across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. With zero-effort setup, automated scheduling, and full guest support, it removes the burden of streaming from funeral staff – while opening up new opportunities to grow.

To learn more about how OneRoom can help you turn your streaming into Preneed leads click here.

Here is the website for OneRoom 

Funeral Director Daily take:  I’ve said before that Death Care is now at a nexus of Traditional vs. Technological.  This offering by OneRoom is another step in that movement.

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