Rick Chalk
Funeral Home Owner
Seydler-Hill Funeral Home
Shiner Funeral Home
O’Bannon Funeral Home
Gonzales, Shiner, and Luling, TX
Combined average call volume: 250 calls/year
Growing your preneed program takes more than good intentions. It takes time, effort, and a partner you can trust.
For Rick Chalk, having the right partner helped transform his preneed program and expand his reach across three rural Texas communities.
“We went from selling almost no preneed trusts to successfully selling insured preneed on a daily basis,” Rick said.
Keep reading to hear more about Rick's experience working with FDL!
What led you to partner with FDL?
Michael Garcia [FDL sales manager] invited us to FDL’s Home Office, and I was really impressed with the entire organization. The friendliness of the staff, their excitement about their work, and the Christian culture were overwhelming. Being in the Home Office gave me a sense of trust and excitement about being part of FDL.
At that point, I decided that we needed to get on board with FDL and start selling preneed. It’s been a great relationship ever since.
What did your preneed program look like before partnering with FDL?
Before FDL, we only sold preneed trusts. And the reality was, we didn’t make much of an effort to sell preneed at all, unless someone walked through our doors and asked about it. Because of that, we missed out on a lot of growth opportunities, which was a huge strategic mistake.
After signing up for FDL’s preneed insurance, you joined the Select Producer Program. What made you decide to take the next step?
When we started using FDL’s preneed insurance, I knew my staff didn’t like selling preneed. I was concerned that we’d still be waiting for families to walk through our doors and ask about preneed, so I felt it was best to give that responsibility to an expert.
With the Select Producer Program, it’s a night-and-day difference. Our preneed book of business has probably grown by 75% as a result of FDL and Tish Fischer [FDL Select Producer].
What’s your favorite part of the Select Producer Program?
Honestly, my favorite part is just knowing that Tish is out there making sales, and I can see the results. I really appreciate how much data and reporting FDL provides, because it gives me a clear picture of where we stand. I get reports showing what Tish has sold, and we’ve recently started getting feedback from the surveys FDL sends out, which is great.
You also use FDL’s Digital Marketing services. How has that experience been for you?
Before FDL, our marketing just wasn’t effective, and I wasn’t seeing any real results.
Since partnering with FDL, that’s completely changed. Now, our marketing actually supports our preneed business and drives results. Beyond that, our social media helps us reach and encourage families in our community. Because of FDL, the number of people following and engaging with us online has grown significantly.
You’ve worked with our AV team a few times. Can you tell us about that?
Working with the AV Team, and specifically John Greer [FDL Video Production Specialist], has been an amazing experience. When I first met with John, I explained what I wanted to capture and what I envisioned. And John brought that vision to life. When I saw the first video he made for us, I almost had tears.
Initially, my team was intimidated by the idea of a videographer coming in, but John has a way of putting people at ease. Now, the team looks forward to seeing John and what he creates.
Why is video important for your funeral home?
I think videos bring our website and social media to life. When someone watches one of our staff interviews or a family testimonial, they feel connected to us in a way they wouldn’t feel if they just saw pictures of our building.
If someone asked you about FDL, what would you say?
First, I’d tell them about the results. We went from selling almost no preneed trusts to successfully selling insured preneed on a daily basis. And we did it in a rural community, which is a lot harder than people think, because we don't have the same audience as a bigger market.
Beyond that, I’d highlight the communication and service. I can reach out to anyone at FDL at any time. The company’s culture comes through in every interaction, and that's not something you find everywhere.
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