October, November, & December 2018
Q4 eNewsletter
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With the hot months of summer now in the rear-view mirror, we have reached the fourth and final quarter of 2018 – which has, as always, come much quicker than expected!
There are busy weeks and months ahead for many of you, mostly to ensure you meet year-end goals and exceed the expectations of those investing in your services. In midst of your hard work and eventful schedules, we hope you can set aside some valuable time to enjoy the company of your friends, family and loved ones during the holiday season.
Speaking of the holidays, FSI recognizes that many deathcare professionals have a full plate – and unless it’s Thanksgiving, it doesn’t involve turkey or hearty vegetables. Instead, we have seen that funeral directors are so consumed with the day-to-day responsibilities of running a business that they are at risk of making a big mistake related to the management of their trusts’ records. And what’s worse, most of them are not even aware that they are making the mistake.
To help educate the industry on this potential oversight, FSI has organized a webinar with Kates-Boylston Publications, taking place on Thursday, Nov. 8 from 2-3 p.m. ET. We encourage you to mark your calendars and invite your peers to join us for an informative discussion around protecting your trust’s assets.
As you have likely heard us say before, we consider everyone at FSI our family – that includes our clients but also our hard-working employees. And, as with all family, it’s always bittersweet to see one of them embark on the next chapter of his or her life. Such is the case with Kyle Dunn, our Chief Technology Officer who has dedicated so much time and effort to FSI for more than 20 years. I’m delighted to share that he has started his next chapter by entering retirement. We wish Kyle the best and hope this new phase of his life brings happiness, quality time with his family and some much-deserved rest.
From your family at FSI, we hope you enjoy the holiday season and time with your loved ones. We look forward to speaking with you very soon!
Sincerely,
Bill Williams
President and CEO
Funeral Services, Inc.
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FREE Webinar Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.
ET: Keeping Your Trust Out of Trouble
When it comes to protecting your PreNeed or Perpetual Care trusts, you may be making a key mistake that you don’t even know about. This mistake can hurt the stability of your trusts, lead to serious legal consequences, and you may ultimately lose everything you’ve worked for. How do you keep your trust out of trouble?
Join us on Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. for a FREE webinar to learn more! Bill Williams, President/CEO, FSI, and Wendy Russell Wiener, Partner at Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel, LLP, will discuss the steps you need to take to keep ensure that your trust is operating properly – and will continue to do so in the future.
Register today at FSITrustWebinar.com!
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FSI General Counsel Named
Chair of Newly-Formed
Deathcare Industry Practice Group
at
Nelson Mullins
Broad and Cassel
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FSI General Counsel, Wendy Russell Wiener, Esq., has been named Chair of the newly-formed Deathcare Industry Practice Group at Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel, a full-service law firm with over 750 attorneys and professionals operating in 25 offices across 11 states and the District of Columbia.
Ms. Wiener knows the deathcare industry and the unique challenges it faces. She is an incredible partner for FSI and its clients, and FSI is proud to see her leading such an important new practice group. Learn more about Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel legal services to all members of the deathcare industry here.
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Fond Farewell to FSI CTO Kyle Dunn;
Prakash Mohan Named
Interim Chief Technology Officer
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After 20 years of spectacular service, FSI Chief Technology Officer, Kyle Dunn, has entered retirement. Kyle has spear-headed many technological innovations over the years, including eContract and PRISM, and has been an integral part of positioning FSI as the leader in deathcare technology that it is today. His dedication and commitment to FSI has been incredible, and he will be sorely missed. His entire family at FSI wishes him the best and hopes that the next phase of his life will bring him much-deserved rest and time with his family.
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During this time of transition, FSI’s own Prakash Mohan has been named Interim Chief Technology Officer. Prakash has been on the FSI team for almost 10 years. He holds a Masters Degree in Computer Science from The Florida State University. In his new role as Interim Chief Technology Officer, he will assure the successful execution of the company’s business mission through development and deployment of technology-based trust administration services.
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Over the last quarter, FSI and fellow colleagues have been sought out to provide thought leadership on a variety of topics in several industry publications. Here’s a quick look at some of the most recent stories featuring FSI:
FSI Celebrates 40 Years
In 2018, FSI is celebrating an important milestone: its 40th anniversary in business. From the establishment of the first master trust in Florida in 1978, FSI has evolved substantially over the decades to become the national player in trust administration it is today. To commemorate this anniversary, American Funeral Director interviewed several key leaders on the FSI team to discuss the deathcare industry growth they’ve seen during their careers at FSI. Read the full story by clicking here.
FSI Partners with Leading CPA Firm to Address Rapid Growth
FSI has partnered with MKS&H CPAs & Business Consultants, a CPA firm with more than 70 years of tax, accounting and auditing experience. MKS&H specializes in deathcare accounting and performing due diligence related to preneed and perpetual care trusts for clients seeking to divest or acquire additional firms. This collaboration adds to the long list of relationships FSI has fostered with trustees, investment advisors, attorneys and accountants across the country. Read more by clicking here.
FSI President & CEO Shares Insights on the Future of PreNeed Sales in Funeral Business Advisor
Selling PreNeed services online is an emerging trend that will only continue to increase over the next five years and give you a significant competitive advantage. FSI President & CEO Bill Williams discusses why in the September/October issue of Funeral Business Advisor.
Read the full story by clicking here.
Every time FSI is published by industry media, the article is posted on FSItrust.com. Check our ‘Resources’ tab frequently for continuous updates on FSI news and coverage! |
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FSI is made up of a dedicated team of experienced professionals who work each day to provide you with excellent service. Each individual brings an important skillset that assists us in powering your trust. To help you get to know the FSI team better, we shine a spotlight on one employee each quarter.
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Mrs. Bachtler has been with FSI since May 2008 as FSI's Corporate Accountant. Jane graduated Cum Laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Jane has worked as a senior auditor for one of the world's largest public accounting firms and also in the private sector in international corporate accounting and financial accounting and reporting.
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There are many things that Jane loves about working at FSI, where she feels part of a wonderful family who works hard together and cares for each other. Most importantly, she loves the interaction with and being challenged by her peers to effectively solve issues and constantly improve FSI for its clients. She loves coming to work and connecting with each member of the team – FSI has some of the best and brightest!
During her 10 years with the company, Jane has seen FSI strive to improve and streamline processes and provide cutting-edge technology to clients. Jane has seen firsthand the outstanding leadership and vision of Bill Williams and the commitment the leadership team has made to excellence. The greatest milestone she has seen the company achieve was the launch of PRISM last year – the best software platform available to the deathcare industry.
Jane’s greatest professional accomplishment was passing her CPA exam and becoming a licensed CPA in the state of Michigan, where she used to live. She remembers the day as one of the happiest of her life (besides her wedding day to her husband of now 42 years and the birth of her children)!
In her free time, Jane loves being with her family and friends. She enjoys cooking and entertaining, reading and gardening (though the deer eat all her flowers!). Jane’s husband is recently retired, so they are starting to travel more, and they love to visit their daughter in Los Angeles and their son in Austin who is expecting his first child in January. Jane and her husband are excited to be starting a wonderful new adventure as grandparents!
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Important FSI Dates to Remember:
November 12, 2018
Veterans Day
FSI offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.
November 22 - 23, 2018
Thanksgiving
FSI offices will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving
December 24 - 25, 2018
Christmas
FSI offices will be closed in observance of Christmas
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Copyright © *|2017|*|Funeral Services, Inc.|*| All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:
Funeral Services, Inc.
Post Office Box 13407
Tallahassee, FL 32317
(800) 749-1340
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