MMichael Williams answers questions on
ichael Williams is a licensed funeral director and owner of Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown and WilliamsLisko Funeral Chapel in Edgeley.
Are more people preplanning for final arrangements or are most arrangements made at the time of a person’s death? What is the advantage of preplanning?
More families make arrangements at the time of death, however, we find that there is less stress for the family members when some prearrangements have been made. Because of grief, making decisions can be a difficult a day or two after a death, even when the death is expected.
How do people begin the process of preplanning for funeral/memorial service arrangements?
experiencing delayed services. The time between death and a ceremony has been lengthened due to various factors presented by the family. Also, we have experienced more involvement from grandchildren.
Some like to create a slideshow or their own bulletins to distribute at the service.
What is a misconception people have when making funeral arrangements?
When choosing cremation, a family can still have a public or private family viewing before the cremation. Also, cremation can occur after a traditional funeral by using a rental casket. What advice would you give to people dealing with the death of a loved one?
service. We will do as much or as little as you wish.
When is a good time to pre-plan for my funeral arrangements?
Preplanning can be done anytime. Different experiences can cause someone, or a couple, to think about their wishes and “get things in order” after a recent death in the family or a friend, change in health, finance or estate planning, or family discussion. Preplanning can include setting aside money for a service, recording personal information for an obituary, and desired wishes for a service like songs, pallbearers, scripture readings, etc.
Call to make an appointment with your trusted funeral director, who is willing to discuss options at the funeral home, your home, or a convenient location. The wishes and personal information are recorded and kept on file for future need.
What is a common problem you see people encounter when they are dealing with the arrangements after the death of a loved one?
Navigating family dynamics may be difficult at the time of death, which takes time to diplomatically solve, especially when the deceased did not leave any indication or direction of their wishes.
After cremation, some
families disagree about whether to bury, keep them at home, or divide among friends and family. Are there any emerging changes and trends expected in 2025 related to funerals/memorial services? We have been
Explore all of your options with a funeral director. Make an informed decision based on the choices you value. We can provide a traditional funeral with public viewing to cremation with public or private viewing, a graveside service, or an evening
If someone is in need of government assistance, such as Medicaid, we can help shelter funds to qualify for aide. What is the most common question you answer from the public?
Many ask, “What is the cremation rate in this area?” Around 60% of families chose cremation in 2024.
Neil Fuchs answers questions on Business Support Services
Neil A. Fuchs, an industrial engineer and president/owner of Business Support Services, answers questions about business efficiencies and change management.
What type of services does Business Support Services provide?
Services can vary depending on client needs but are generally made up of two complementing skill sets: accounting and engineering management. Core accounting services include bookkeeping, payroll and related payroll tax returns, and QuickBooks ProAdvisor software setup and management.
Engineering management services focus on operational efficiency, time/cost management, and assistance with special project execution and/or management.
Continuous improvement, quality control, and supply chain management are also areas we can assist with. Much of what we do in this area revolves around change management. Change is necessary in life but can be very difficult for many people. We pride ourselves in making whatever transition is occurring as smooth as possible.
Are services geared toward a certain type of client?
We work more with small to medium-sized businesses. Larger businesses usually have the required skill sets internally. In fact, working for larger corporations is where much of our experience came from. We have experience in manufacturing, food processing, retail, construction, health care, religious organization, non-profits
and charitable gaming, to mention a few areas. The engineering and cost management services would lend themselves better to the manufacturing, processing and inventory-based businesses. Our accounting services are provided more to other businesses.
Of the services provided, what service is in most demand and how has it changed in recent years?
Established in 2005 as a part-time industrial engineering consulting business, business project needs were for expansions, facility layouts, implementation of quality control systems, and numerous lean manufacturing techniques to control and cut costs. Over time, growth slowed, as well as need or interest in many of the services provided.
Currently, bookkeeping, payroll services, and business software support are our biggest demand. In 2018, as an accountant, my wife, LeAnn, began working with the business full time, with the goal of personal customized service for each client. Working with clients onsite as needed has been a big plus and win-win for all clients.
More recently, with some interest in additional services, we are now again promoting the engineering and management services that were the basis for establishing the business. With changing times, tighter budgets, and help shortages, businesses need help streamlining operations and taking different approaches to cost management more now than ever before. We would like to be that
business that helps other businesses grow and succeed. Our approach and services will be slightly different from 20 years ago, but the commitment remains the same. Provide professional business services with a personal touch.
Businesses have their own different needs. In what ways can you help businesses address their special needs or projects?
The first step is to fully understand the needs of the business. Is it a need, a want, a nice to have?
Then there’s sometimes a question a feasibility? It’s imperative to be on the same page and talking the same language.
What’s the end goal?
From a consultant standpoint, we feel it’s more important to ask questions and listen rather than just provide answers and solutions.
Once the objective is understood, we assist in defining a clear scope of work, documenting what’s in, what’s out, what still needs review, etc. At that point, we can assist as little, or as much as needed. In other words, we can be available as a resource or for guidance, or we can manage the project for you. If a project or need is not within our capability, we can direct or find a suitable resource for the need.
What’s the advantage of using QuickBooks and how does your business help with that software?
I haven’t run the data to prove it, but QuickBooks seems to be the go-to software for smaller businesses, at least in our area. It’s been very well marketed and introduced into the business world.
It’s a cost-effective solution to small business needs, and commonality makes most things comfortable to accept. But regardless of popularity, businesses and/or individuals can lack skills or time to master the software. That is when it’s nice to have a local expert to turn to for help. How do you help businesses with operational efficiency?
Operational efficiency is often very subjective, when it should be objective. Efficiency is a measure, not a feeling. We can help with determining key process indicators (KPIs), or basically what to measure, what’s important (value) in what you do, how do you do it, how long it takes, etc. There are several techniques to determine efficiency in different types of business. It’s also important to understand the cost related to efficiency. Time is money, whether you pay yourself or someone else.
With efficiency, there’s
also a question of effectiveness. Very high efficiency doesn’t always mean effectiveness. If I was to provide any advice on this, I would say to determine effectiveness first, then learn how to make the task at hand as efficient as possible.
What’s the advantage to having your company assist with the services you provide?
It’s a good investment! If you’re open to the facts, the worst outcome would be you learn something new about your own business. Most businesses avoid our services due to the perceived value and cost of service. There’s also the perception that consultants don’t understand the intricacies of the business and the culture. Maybe it’s also the concern of sensitive information or lack of ownership? Whatever the reason for avoiding our services, the fact is, our services bring a fresh perspective. We can provide an objective view and
identify potential improvements that may have been missed internally. We bring a specialized set of skills and expertise not normally available with the ability to solve many problems quickly.
Many times, the business already knows the issue they’re facing. What we’re able to do is formulate and facilitate solutions beyond just identifying a roadblock or obstacle. What other subject would you like to address that hasn’t been covered?
The way we charge for our services varies. It can be by the hour, project, or month. It really depends on the type of service or need. This would be discussed in an initial consultation for which there is no fee. We encourage anyone interested in our services to give us a call. If for some reason we feel we are not best suited to help, we will be transparent and suggest another potential solution.
Courtesy / Happy Mermaid
Neil and LeAnn Fuchs, Business Support Services
Jason Bitz answers questions related to insurance coverage
Jason Bitz is an insurance sales agent for Insure Forward in Jamestown.
As an insurance agent, what type of work do you do?
A typical day would involve quoting insurance rates, making changes to existing policies, and filing claims on behalf of our insureds.
However, no days in this industry are typical!
What goes into determining how much insurance people need?
Many factors come into play here. The replacement cost of a property is often a factor in determining the coverage limit. If you’re buying a new car, is it financed? If so, the financing company would likely require you to carry comp and collision on the vehicle. If not, you may only want to carry liability coverage. Again, many factors come into play when I discuss coverage options with a client.
How do people know they have enough insurance?
An annual review with an insurance
representative will help you evaluate your insurance needs. Here, we can do a replacement cost estimator on your property to ensure the limit is where it should be.
When would people look to update their insurance policies?
Any time your policy renews is a good time to speak to a representative directly or anytime you need to change your policy. Did you buy or sell a property? Did you buy or sell a vehicle? Talk to your insurance representative. How can people prepare for unexpected events such as tornadoes or flooding?
I suggest having a plan in case something like this happens. Have fire extinguishers in your home in case of a fire and have them checked annually. If you get displaced from your home, have a backup plan with a neighbor or family member in case you need to stay there for an extended period. Also, stay up to date on weather forecasts so you’re prepared in case severe weather is headed your
way. How often should you talk to your insurance representative directly?
Pretty much the same answer as above: Any time your policy renews is a good time to speak to a representative directly or anytime you need to change your policy. Did you buy or sell a property? Did you buy or sell a vehicle? Talk to your insurance representative.
How can people mitigate insurance costs?
The insurance industry as a whole is in a challenging market right now. A lot of companies are making changes to the deductibles they require. If you have a low deductible, now may be the time to consider increasing it to reduce your premium. Or if you have an older vehicle that still has comp and collision coverage, it may be time to go to just liability coverage.
Jason Bitz answers