We believe strongly in pre-arranging your cemetery and funeral needs.

Doing so not only gives you peace of mind to know that those decisions do not fall on your loved ones, but also reduces the emotional stress your loved ones will experience when that time comes.

We have put together this information to help you become familiar with the steps and choices available so you can make an informed decision about your end-of-life arrangements.

Importance of Pre-Arrangement

We like to be as prepared as possible in our lives. We have insurance for things that may happen; such as Car Insurance should we be in a car accident, Homeowners/Renters Insurance if there may be a fire where we live, Health Insurance in the event we fall ill. However, many do not take the time to prepare for one of the inevitable events of our lives, death.

Losing a loved one is an emotional and stressful event. After a passing many families experience thoughts and concerns of emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing.

Much of this can be avoided by making as many of these decisions ahead of time and ensuring that your family is aware of the decisions you have made. The reality is that 7 times out of 10, men pass away before women. This leaves a significant burden on the women in our lives.

Who Should Pre-Arrange?

Everyone, regardless of disposition – traditional burial, mausoleum entombment, or cremation – should take the time to pre-arrange their end-of-life plans.

Anyone who likes to make informed, practical choices based on educational and rational information, instead of making decisions while in emotional distress.

Pre-Arrangement Benefits

Making these decisions ahead of time will allow you to consider your options, talk it over with family, create an end-of-life celebration that reflects the life you lived, and ensure funding for these choices does not become an issue.

The benefits for doing this ahead of time include:

  • Understanding of all options and products available
  • Locking in today’s pricing instead of facing inflationary rates in the future
  • Convenient payment terms (pay-over-time options vs. Full payment required at time of death)
  • Your assets become protected from final expense cost
  • Peace of Mind that your wishes are known and will be carried out
  • Reduction of emotional distress on your family when death occurs

Meaning of Pre-Arrangement

We consider Pre-Arrangement in three distinct areas when it comes to end-of-life decisions: Fundamental Planning, Cemetery and Funeral Planning, and Financial Planning.

Fundamental Planning: All legal and vital documents that your family will need. This includes ensuring you have a Will, Executor, Living Will, Durable Power-of-Attorney, insurance and investment documents, bank account information, etc., readily available.

*We do not suggest you secure the only copy of these documents in a Bank Security Box – death is not convenient, and you may need access to these documents on a weekend or holiday*

Cemetery and Funeral Planning: Taking care of your cemetery needs – space, vaults, memorials, opening and closing, and planning your funeral at your choice of Funeral Home. These decisions will be well documented and funded.

Financial Planning: By pre-funding the above choices, this will leave your assets for the support of your family after your death – reducing financial burdens at the cemetery, funeral home, and potentially court costs. This can protect your estate from unnecessary and unexpected expenses.

Won’t my Life Insurance pay for all of this?

Life Insurance is names as such, because it should be for the living. Life insurance in essence is to offset the loss of income after a death thus allowing your spouse/heirs from having to drastically change their lifestyle after their loss.

We all know that costs continue to go up in all facets of life, cemeteries and funeral homes are no different. Studies have shown that end-of-life costs tend to double every 7 to 10 years – with current costs averaging $12,000-$15,000.

A $20,000.00 life insurance policy purchased 20 years ago will barely cover costs today – meaning that if you were to live another 20 years, this same policy may only cover 70% of costs which means your family will need to come out of pocket to cover the rest.

In summation, costs will continue to go up, but your insurance policy will not.

Our professional staff is here to help guide you through the process of Pre-Arrangement by providing you with the information you need to make an informed decision. Call or email us today to set up a time to speak with us about your needs and wishes.