Q1 eNewsletter 

Happy New Year! We hope you and your families had a restful and safe holiday season. At FSI, our team members were able to reconnect with family, rest and prepare for a busy year ahead. We hope you’re feeling a similar rejuvenation after an unpredictable 2021.
 
As we head into the next chapter and welcome 2022, we feel a reassuring sense of confidence that the world is settling into a new normal. Relying on technology to connect us now feels comfortable, we’ve become adept at changing course when necessary and those around us are focused on a positive future ahead.
 
At FSI, we’ve been working towards positive enhancements for our industry and clients with new, innovative solutions to introduce to your business in the coming weeks. Solutions that will help you grow sales, increase online visibility and free up your valuable time.
 
We will introduce these tech-based solutions early into 2022 after reflecting on the challenges and opportunities our industry has faced during the pandemic.
 
During the pandemic, consumers have expressed a desire to evolve end-of-life celebrations – and the way they plan them. Whether it’s purchasing a car, house hunting or even looking for a new doctor, planning for most consumers starts online. Each of these industries have adapted to a virtual world with new opportunities to research and purchase online from the comfort of home. Now, consumers are asking the same of funeral homes.
 
If a consumer searched for a funeral home in your community, would your business be a search result? If they wanted to plan an end-of-life celebration virtually, or purchase merchandise online, would your website offer them that capability?
 
If the answer is no, then that’s where we come in. Stay tuned for new resources that will help you and your business modernize and prepare for years to come so you can keep your focus on caring for families.
 
As we enter this new year, we wish you a happy, healthy and successful 2022.

Sincerely,

Beginning in this issue, we will highlight one of the features available to FSI client firms through the FSITrust platform.  There are numerous features firms can utilize to save time and effort and enhance security; yet many firms fail to take advantage of them.  This column will be a regular in the newsletter and will unlock the various benefits right at your fingertips!

This edition’s featured feature is:  electronic funds transfer.  Did you know that you need not mail your trust deposits to FSI or await trust disbursements sent by mail?  Paper checks delivered to mailboxes present a risk of theft and other fraudulent activity.  When theft or fraud occurs, a firm’s deposits to trust may be late or the receipt of trust funds for fulfilled or cancelled contracts is seriously delayed.
 
FSI offers firms the ability to move funds related to trust deposits and disbursements electronically using Automatic Clearing House (ACH) transactions, avoiding paper check and mailbox receipt (including USPS delays). The benefits of ACH transactions include:
 
      • Funds transfer safety;
      • No charge to firm;
      • Faster deposit and disbursement receipt (usually within 2 business days); and
      • Easy enrollment.
 
ACH transactions are available for deposits into trust and disbursements from trust for fulfillments, cancellations or defaults. Contact ClientServices@FSITrust.com to learn more about how your funds can move more quickly and securely in an out of trust.