Sadly Senator “Tombstone” Burris Refuses to Resign-yourfuneral guy

Breaking News-February 17th 2009 The Senator from Illinois connected to the Alleged IFDA Ponzi Scheme has refused to resign. Burris  has been called upon to resign by Illinois Lawmakers for making false statements before the impeachment committee of Governor Rod Blagojevitch.

Sadly this is another black mark on the State of Illinois, the funeral industry and the Illinois Funeral directors Association. Burris is connected to the questionable IFDA in that that organization lost 59 million in  a preneed trust fund money fund. Burris assisted with the startup of their alleged  ponzi scheme by giving them their  license, and lobbying for the organization after leaving state office in Illinois.

Any time a  corrupt/questionable politician involves himself in the the funeral industry, it affects funeral cost, the average cost of a funeral and the image of Funeral Directors

The IFDA was mentioned as an alleged Ponzi Scheme in newspapers across state of Illinois and  a plaintiff in a lawsuit.

Then,Fox News reported this on Tuesday.

“CHICAGO — President Barack Obama’s successor in the U.S. Senate, Roland Burris, insisted Monday that he would not resign, following revelations that he had contacts with ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s brother prior to his Senate appointment.”

You can check out the full story here

More information on the politicians involved with the IFDA

Funeral Industry/Funeral cost Blog by your Funeral Guy.
funeral cost

Burris Lied to US Senate on ILLINOIS FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION.-yourfuneralguy.

Senator Roland Burris lied to the US Senate in a “lie of omission” on the Illinois Funeral Directors Association. Burris failed to mention that he was a lobbyist for this questionable  organization. This happened in questioning in his hearings in the US Senate.

The  Illinois Funeral Directors Association along with their Trust Fund was first reported questionable in a State Journal Register article in February 2008.

The Questionable Illinois Funeral Directors Association  was reported on January 16 2009  along with Burris Involvement in World Net Daily. Burris was also noted as the Government Co-Founder of The Illinois Funeral Directors Association’s IFDA Preneed Trust. As Comptroller in Illinois he issued the license for the fund.

In early February 2009  the IFDA lobbyist Burris Connect was reported in Newspapers across the State of Illinois. It is an established fact.

On February 15th 2008 Burris went to the microphone to defend himself on the Blagovetich connection. It did not go all that good and he may have perjured himself in the Blago Scandal. Did he commit perjury in his statements on the Illinois Funeral Directors Association? Time will tell in each case.

Any time a Questionable Politician that  has ties to to a funeral industry scandal (i.e. IFDA) the industry suffers, the image of funeral directors is blackened and there is conflict on funeral cost, the average cost of a funeral,etc.

Blog By Your Funeral guy

Are Consumers turning a way From Prepay-Preneed?-Your Funeral Guy.

It does appear that consumers(the public) seem to be lowering their Funeral Cost by turning away from preneed. The economy seems to be  the cataylst.

People are watching how their cash is spent.  The Latest SCI figures show a deficit in cemetery preneed sales. SCI (Service Corporation International) is the largest Corporate Funeral Home Provider in the United States They had to change their  future financial forecast due to diminished Preneed Sales.

Funeral directors need to be very cautious and show due diligence before enlisting a customer in a guaranteed or non guaranteed preneed contract.

This according to  deathcarelaw.com

“Has the economy caused consumers to put preneed on a back burner? Perhaps, but funeral directors can anticipate an increase in spend down inquiries. It is hard to turn prospective business away, but funeral directors need to consider how these transactions do not lend themselves to insurance funding or the conventional guaranteed preneed contract.”

The bottom line is that preneed-prepay might not be good for the Funeral Director or the consumer especially now.

In light of the combined Funeral Industry Loss of National Prearranged Services and the Illinois Funeral Directors Association(IFDA) of 1.6+billion dollars due to preneed scandal, if you go to a funeral home and they try to pressure you into a preneed agreement, please do not participate.

I strongly advise the public not to prepay or do preneed insurance, guaranteed, or non guaranteed.

Funeral Industry/Funeral cost blog by your funeral guy.

Source: Deathcarelaw.com

You can follow up on due dilegence here

SCI FACTS at Yahoo News

Disclaimer: This blog post assumes  the figures at KansasCity.com are correct.

Missouri Senate Bill does not help Average Cost of a Funeral-yourfuneralguy.

The Missouri Senate  bill inspired by the National Prearranged Service Scandal that hit 19 States has tried to reform prepayed or Preneed Funerals. There reforms will not affect funeral cost and will not  lower the  Average cost of a funeral.

Here is why According to KansasCity.com The Regulators are the regulated. Put another way the foxes  are guarding the hen house. The holder of Funeral Trust Contracts are in the most Funeral Directors. The Funeral directors will be the Regulators. As stated at KansasCity.com

“The legislation would entrust the state Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors with new powers to inspect the finances of preneed funeral sellers and take action against unsound companies.”

So the state board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors becomes the Regulator. So funeral directors regulating Funeral Directors makes the regulation pointless.

“Under current law, the sellers of prepaid funerals can take 20 percent of the money in a trust, plus the interest it earns, for their own use. The legislation would limit that to 15 percent and require interest to remain in the trust.”

“Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, successfully amended the bill Thursday to also allow people to place up to $10,000 in an irrevocable trust for funeral expenses, without it counting against their Medicaid eligibility.

“I don’t think our state policy should be compelling our low-income Missourians into that marketplace” for prepaid funeral contracts, Goodman” said.”

The problem with National Prearranged Services inspired legislation  is  that under the Old Law the trust fund provider got 20% of the money plus interest. They still get 15% of your Funeral Cost money under the new law.

Under the new law interest is not allowed to be kept. But the trust folks still get 15 % of your money. Too much.

It will not lower the average cost of the funeral.

Funeral Cost /Funeral Industry Blog by Your Funeral Guy

YOUR FUNERAL GUY:funeral industry guys on legality of Illinois Funeral Directors Association Lawsuits

Funeral Industry leaders have commented on the legality of the issues of the IFDA lawsuit(s). Some of these comments were made a year ago but they are significant none the less.

For example this from;

Daniel Isard, president of The Foresight Companies in Phoenix, Ariz. This is a preneed expert? Funeral Industry Consultant?

“I don’t think there’s anything illegal,” Isard said. “I don’t think there’s anything immoral about the practice. Certainly, on the surface, it sounds negative. We don’t see it in a lot of other trusts because most other trusts are not that large.”

Then there is the Former IFDA President Charles Childs who was IFDA prez during the early part of the scandal.

“None of us funeral directors have the time or the expertise to manage a trust of this magnitude.” Then why did the IFDA keep a tight grip on the fund and the 300 key guy insurance policies?

Isard , Childs and Slocum’s statement to follow were from reporter Bruce Rushton  in a State- Journal-Register Article, Springfield, Il about a year ago.(Article no longer on the Net available from the newspaper)

And this from Joshua Slocum who sounded prophetic.

“This is a perilous business practice,” said Slocum, who keeps tabs on funeral trust funds across the nation. “It sounds like something you’d hear in a bad mafia movie. You’re taking a gamble that your guys are going to die soon enough.”

Joshua Slocum’s Organization the Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) has been sued by the Funeral Poet and  Traditionalist, Thomas Lynch. His family holds NFDA executive positions.

A Cemetery Expert said this less than a year ago on one of my blogs.

“The IFDA is the “fox watching the henhouse”.
I have written a book on this, from a cemetery and crematory aspect, viewable at: http://stores.lulu.com/cemops2007
I also have a website: http://www.cemops.com“

You can check out his full comment at this Blog in the post from February 25th 2008.

“Your Funeral Guy: Comment Made on the IFDA TRUST SCANDAL#1(Funeral Cost)”

It seems that Charles Childs and Daniel Isard need to investigate the spelling of Ponzi. Repeat after me guys: Ponzi Scheme

Funeral Industry Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Batesville Casket gives Funeral cost Tip-YourFuneralGuy

Batesville Casket served up a low cost funeral tip. Hillenbrand  the owner of Batesville Casket Co. issued a positive statement on in it’s 1Q earnings. the tip is good for funeral directors, The numbers are not all that important  but the principle is:

They cut costs and showed a profit.

Funeral Home owners cut frills.

Example:D do not take the Funeral cadilac home at night. Drive your personal lower cost vehicle to and from work.

Funeral Consumer

Be  up front. When you walk in the door to the funeral  home say you can have my business if you negotiate lower funeral costs. Funeral home owners need your business these days. It’s the economy.

Funeral Cost/Funeral Industry Blog by Your funeral guy.

legal anaylst on ILLINOIS FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION LAWSUIT #1

A legal eagle analyst has broken down the ILLINOIS FUNERAL DIRECTORS  Associations Lawsuits and comes to good conclusions. These Conclusions  are instructive to the consumer on lowering the funeral costs (coming in under the average cost of funeral).

Analysis of the First Lawsuit: Blog Post:

” Decline in Consumer Confidence the IFDA Class Acton Lawsuit“

1. There is lack of confidence with the public in the IFDA and it’s Funeral Director Members.

“It is also instructive to the  funeral director on dealing with the IFDA losses.If the Class Action Complaint filed last November is an accurate barometer of consumer confidence, the IFDA leadership missed the mark with the public that it’s members serve. Documents also suggest that IFDA leadership has been less than candid with the funeral directors they have pledged to serve.”

2. The legal instructions to the Funeral Directors and the Public is that IFDA members must foot the bill and the Comptroller is obligated to enforce.

This will help Funeral Directors in the State of Illinois Cope. They have to accept  their losses (59 million in the IFDA Preneed Trust) the Il Comptroller has said in the Press he will enforce  this because it is the Law.

If you hold an IFDA Preneed Policy, and if the Funeral Director resists honoring it all one has to do is let the Funeral Home know you will call the IL Comptroller for enforcement.

In the Blog post he says:”The message to funeral directors is that they must service these contracts regardless of what is in trust to pay them……If the IFDA and its membership are in a dispute over the management of the master trust, the Illinois Comptroller holds the key to breaking the logjam.”

Fact #1 The State  of Illinois Comptroller has spoken through his staff. Funeral Homes and Directors  must honor the contracts.

Fact #2. If a Funeral Home does not honor their contract, the consumer must report. Then the IL Comptoller will enforce it so the Funeral Home will comply.

Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Source: deathcarelaw.com.

Senator “Tombstone” Burris in Illinois Press-by Your Funeral Guy

In a grave situation Senator Roland Burris has been named by the Comptroller of the State of Illinois as a lobbyist for an alleged Funeral Director Ponzi Scheme. To make matters worse his lobbying activity has been reported. You can check out the News Stories here:

Burris reported as IFDA Lobbyist for IFDA-Illinois Funeral Directors Association

Batavia,IL-Batavia Republican-Burris Lobbied for Illinois Funeral Directors Association

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/batavia/state_news/x1851007340/Burris-lobbied-for-funeral-director-group

Fremont,IL –Fremont Journal Standard-Burris Lobbyist for FD Ponzi sheme

http://www.journalstandard.com/state_news/x1851000498/Funeral-home-lawsuit-alleges-Ponzi-scheme

Galesburg IL – Register Mail Illinois Funeral Directors lobbyist Roland Burris

http://www.galesburg.com/news/news_state/x1851007340/Burris-lobbied-for-funeral-director-group

Kewanee,IL-Star Courier- IFDA Lobbyist Roland Burris

http://www.starcourier.com/state_news/x1851007340/Burris-lobbied-for-funeral-director-group

Peoria , IL-Peoria Times Observer -Burris Lobbied for the IFDA

http://www.peoriatimesobserver.com/state_news/x1851007340/Burris-lobbied-for-funeral-director-group

Springfield, IL -State Journal Register -Tax Records IFDA and Senator Roland Burris Lobbyist

http://www.sj-r.com/news/x545168817/Tax-records-Funeral-trust-fund-officials-spent-money-on-themselves

This affects your funeral cost because every time a funeral trust misapplies trust funds funeral directors lose money, they raise prices and the average cost of a funeral goes up.

Funeral Cost/Funeral Industry Blog by Your Funeral Guy

NPS Scandal plus IFDA Scandal equals Higher Average Funeral Cost

NPS Scandal plus IFDA Scandal means a higher average cost of a funeral or average funeral cost.

These numbers sound like Wall Street Bailout numbers.

The final numbers are in for these two Scandals  National Prearranged Services has 1.9 BILLION  in LIABILITIES, 312 million in assets(Cash). FBI may seize officials personal assets.

This leaves 1,587,100,000 in liabilities for NPS Adding in the 59 million IFDA(ILLINOIS FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION) write down of their trust fund the number comes to  $1,646,100,00 USD loss in the funeral industry. Industry experts now put the funeral industry yearly value at 15 Billion. (Some folks say the Funeral Biz is a 22-24 Billion Industry but as far as I can tell these numbers do not come from experts)

That is a more than 10% loss for the funeral business. These numbers are staggering but in some ways not surprising. National Prearranged Services operated in 38% of the United States of America or in 19 of the 50 states.

This amounts to a Funeral Cost Tsunami on the average cost of a funeral. State Insurance guarranty Associations and generally holding back flood waters by covering peoples Funerals. Paperwork challenges and other factors generally mean a pressure on average funeral cost.

We will have to see what the final outcome will be. Long term funeral industry and government losses in the Wall Street Meltdown remain to be seen.

Scandal plus Scandal still means an upward pressure on funeral cost. Integrity, and due dilligence by funeral directors will be addressed going forward.

Blog by Your Funeral Guy.average cost of a funeral

Source: Kansas City.com

Disclaimer:This blog post asumes the figures at KansasCity.com are correct.

funeral cost

Your Funeral Guy-Senator Burris Confirmation-No Not the Senate.

Senator Roland Burris was approved yesterday, and it was not to the Senate. It was that he had a year long Lobbyist Contract for an alleged  Ponzi scheme.

He was confirmed to a contract to with the owners of an  objectionable Trust fund. Sound Familiar? No it is not the Madoff disaster.

It is the Illinois Funeral Directors Association and the The IFDA Preneed Trust.

Burris in a News Story in two seperate Newspapers, the  Journal-Standard in Freeport, Illinois and the Galesburg Register- Mail was confirmed as an IFDA lobbyist. The other people confirming this were the current Comptroller’s spokesperson and a United States Senator.

The United States Senator who confirmed this was Roland Burris.

According to the report the Lobbyist Roland Burris “met at least once in 2007 with state officials who had determined the IFDA’s pre-need funeral trust fund, set up to provide funerals for nearly 50,000 people in Illinois, had a $39 million shortfall as of the end of 2005.” The  State of Illinois Comptroller spokesmen said that Burris showed up to that meeting unannounced.

Burris later penned a letter to the Comptroller asking for another meeting. The Letter is quoted in an article.

“My company has been retained by the Illinois Funeral Director’s Association to assist them in the very important matters of the Funeral and Burial Trust Funds that is pending with your office,” Burris wrote in the letter to Hynes dated July 16, 2007. “My client, IFDA is very willing to resolve this matter with the least amount of difficulties as possible. They retained me as a former State Comptroller to work with your office and state agencies to resolve these issues. Therefore, I am requesting a meeting with Assistant Comptroller (Peggy) Roth and you to see if we can work out a solution to this issue that is satisfactory to all parties that will protect the investment of 49,000 investors and be in compliance with state law.”

Burris in his own words was a lobbyist for the Illinois Funeral Directors Association and the IFDA Preneed Trust.

Houston, there is another problem “Burris has refused to come to the phone to speak with the reporter for a week!” The other problem is he has not returned the calls of many IL Residents for three weeks!

How much was he paid for his efforts and out of what fund?

Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

If anyone in Illinois asks  you to sign a Preneed contract. Run the other way.