Plan Ahead
Funeral Planning, Before The Need Arises
Because We Care…
Today, more and more people are choosing to plan their funerals in advance. We’ve found that our families think this makes sense for three basic reasons:
- You can relieve an emotional burden from those you love.
- You can express your own wishes.
- You can relieve the financial burden from those you love.
If you are going to make an informed choice when you prearrange your funeral, you need to:
- Know what you want and your wishes
- How much you can afford to pay
- If guarantees are provided on merchandise and services
- What happens if you move
- The tax consequence or benefits of the funding arrangements, if any, and if you are protected against inflation.
When you prearrange a funeral, you want to arrange one which fits your needs today and into the future.
PREPAID FUNERAL AGREEMENTS
Generally, funeral plans consist of a two step process: making the funeral arrangements by completing a Personal arrangement guide to log your wishes and second, funding the cost of the prearranged funeral through life insurance, financial trust agreement or other method. It is possible to select funeral goods and services without pre-funding the funeral or to pre-fund a funeral without selecting specific goods and services
Funeral service selections fall into two general categories; the services of a funeral professional and funeral merchandise.
Funeral service selections usually include:
- Professional services of a funeral director and staff
- Transportation services
- Embalming and other preparation
- Facilities for visitation
- The funeral ceremony
- Other services and associated items (pastoral services, music, grave opening and closing)
Funeral merchandise selections include:
- Casket, urn or both
- An outer burial container (cemetery vault or other selection)
- Other merchandise and associated items such as flowers, acknowledgement cards, and transfer containers.
Impact of Inflation and Installment Payments
of the funeral home to guarantee delivery of the funeral which you planned.
Funeral price inflation has closely matched the rate of general inflation in the U.S. economy. Consequently, it is important for you to know if the money available at the time of death will be sufficient to pay for the cost of the funeral at that time.
Payment can usually be made in a lump sum or paid over time. If an annuity, savings account or trust fund is used to fund the funeral, a guaranteed funeral is usually not immediately available to you when installment payments are made. If insurance is used, the funeral may be guaranteed immediately or after one or two years, depending upon the insurance policy, even though the payments did not equal the cost of the funeral.
If your funeral is not guaranteed, it is important for you to know if the money available at the time of your death will be sufficient to pay for the cost of your funeral.
We provide a complimentary Personal Arrangement Guide to all individuals and families at no cost.