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Is funeral pre-planning always a good idea?
Funeral pre-planning really doesn't have any downside, provided a person does a little homework beforehand. Pre-planning is the process of gathering information on the more than 50 decisions that need to be made at the time of death. These typically include the disposition arrangements, decisions about visitation, funeral or memorial services, and merchandise. These are basic decisions that determine the major portion of the cost of funeral arrangements. These decisions should be written down and communicated to a trusted friend or relative who may be in charge of carrying out the wishes. Funeral providers generally have forms that can be used for this purpose and will maintain the decisions in their files if you wish. Completing these decisions removes a large emotional burden from families at the time of death.
What questions should I ask before pre-paying for a funeral?
Pre-paying funeral expenses can be a good way to complete the planning process. It is always a good idea to first make sure all the prices for the services to be rendered are a good value. If the funds are held in trust, ask who manages the trust; Gethers Funeral Home, Inc. deposits these funds in a federally insured financial institution. If an insurance product is being used, make sure the company is reputable and has a good record of claims payment. Also determine if there are any tax consequences to you, and make sure you understand completely what is guaranteed and what is not.
How can I get pricing information?
The Federal Trade Commission rules require all funeral homes to give price information over the phone. You don't need to give your name or address if you uncomfortable doing so.
Why do I need to prepay funeral expenses if I already have a lot of insurance?
If a person's financial portfolio is extensive or there is ample insurance coverage, prepaying for funeral expenses may not be necessary from a strict financial perspective. There may be reasons other than financial, however, for a person to prepay funeral expenses. This may be a way of insuring that the funeral plans are carried out exactly as specified or it may be a way of completing the circle of planning.
Is it a good idea to put your funeral plans in your will?
Since wills are not usually read until after the funeral, it may not be effective to rely on this to make sure funeral plans are carried out. A better way is to execute a preplanning document and distribute copies to the parties who are likely to be involved, such as the funeral provider and a trusted family member or friend.
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Have you planned for everything?
If you haven't preplanned your funeral...
Now is the perfect time to start.
How do I pre-arrange and plan out my funeral?
An Advance Planning Professional can help you choose the type of service and plan the details so your family won't have to guess what you would have wanted. Preplanning enables you to create a personalized celebration of your life and will allow your family and friends to focus on remembering and honoring you. And you will feel relieved that your final wishes have been shared and are written down. The process of pre-planning the details will also help you determine how much you want to spend.
How would I "pay in advance"?
It's simple. We will not only help you plan the services you want, but can also offer funding plans specifically designed for this purpose. Funeral funding plans grow at predetermined growth rates, which can help keep pace with inflation and assure you of the funds necessary to pay your funeral expenses in the future. As an added bonus, the benefits are not taxable, unlike a CD or an Annuity plan and any excess funds can be returned to your estate.*
* Trust rules vary by state.
Where would I get the money to pay for this now?
You may already have it. It may be in a 'rainy day' fund, a Certificate of Deposit, or a money market account at the bank among other places. By transferring the money from those sources and using it to fund a single-payment plan, you will not only receive increased coverage from the first day of issue, but it will increase in value every day until it is needed.
If you don't have all the money readily available now, you can purchase a plan with convenient, multiple payment options to fit your circumstances or budget. Either way, your Advance Planning Professional has a plan that will enable you to fund your funeral today and make life just a little easier on those that are left behind.
To get started on preplanning and prefunding, call our Funeral Home today. You'll be glad you did.
|
Have you planned for everything?
If you haven't preplanned your funeral...
Now is the perfect time to start.
How do I pre-arrange and plan out my funeral?
An Advance Planning Professional can help you choose the type of service and plan the details so your family won't have to guess what you would have wanted. Preplanning enables you to create a personalized celebration of your life and will allow your family and friends to focus on remembering and honoring you. And you will feel relieved that your final wishes have been shared and are written down. The process of pre-planning the details will also help you determine how much you want to spend.
How would I "pay in advance"?
It's simple. We will not only help you plan the services you want, but can also offer funding plans specifically designed for this purpose. Funeral funding plans grow at predetermined growth rates, which can help keep pace with inflation and assure you of the funds necessary to pay your funeral expenses in the future. As an added bonus, the benefits are not taxable, unlike a CD or an Annuity plan and any excess funds can be returned to your estate.*
* Trust rules vary by state.
Where would I get the money to pay for this now?
You may already have it. It may be in a 'rainy day' fund, a Certificate of Deposit, or a money market account at the bank among other places. By transferring the money from those sources and using it to fund a single-payment plan, you will not only receive increased coverage from the first day of issue, but it will increase in value every day until it is needed.
If you don't have all the money readily available now, you can purchase a plan with convenient, multiple payment options to fit your circumstances or budget. Either way, your Advance Planning Professional has a plan that will enable you to fund your funeral today and make life just a little easier on those that are left behind.
To get started on preplanning and prefunding, call our Funeral Home today. You'll be glad you did.
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