This month marks the successful one-year anniversary of Advanced Funding Solutions, a new pre-need program created to meet the growing needs of funeral homes across the country. Advanced Funding Solutions is a collaboration between The Outlook Group, one of the nation’s largest pre-need marketing organizations, and Physicians Mutual, a premier provider of health, life and retirement products.
To help celebrate its first year in the market, Physicians Mutual will present a major gift to the Funeral Service Foundation (FSF) at the 2013 National Funeral Directors Association International Convention and Expo Oct. 20-23 in Austin, Texas. The FSF’s mission is to fund projects and programs that support all of funeral service in building meaningful relationships in the community.
“The successes in our first year are a direct result of our listening to our customers’ needs and providing them with workable solutions,” said Physicians Mutual Vice President — Pre-Need Operations Tim Reed. “Physicians Mutual and The Outlook Group remain committed to earning the trust of our customers and look forward to introducing more innovative solutions for the industry.”
“We partnered with one of the most trusted insurance carriers in the nation and a company with unmatched financial strength,” said The Outlook Group President and CEO Tyler Anderson. “Together, we have been able to offer funeral homes the innovative products they wanted.”
Physicians Mutual’s simple Cornerstone suite of products earns growth every day the policy is in force. Feedback has been positive from funeral home owners and planners regarding the company’s entrance into the market.
“I’ve been part of many transitions, from caskets to software and pre-need,” said Michael Schoedinger of Ohio’s Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service. “Our move to Physicians Mutual has been the smoothest of all.”
Kelly Hubbard of Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Service in Columbus, Ohio, also moved to Physicians Mutual.
“It doesn’t seem like this is new to me. This is a family,” said Hubbard, a 20-year industry veteran. “I feel a part of this team. It’s like I’ve known them forever.”
Innovations, such as a user-friendly portal and calculator accessible across multiple devices, have also fueled the smooth transition according to Hubbard and are having an immediate impact.
“Advanced Funding Solutions is a better fit for me,” she said. “It’s showing up in my numbers and my enthusiasm. I can see more people and help more families.”
