Is pre-financing a funeral safe?

Indiana law governs all payments made towards the pre-financing of funeral.  All funds must be placed into a trust fund, escrow, or used to buy an insurance policy to fund the arrangements you desire.

The funds are irrevocably held for the purpose of paying for the arrangements you contracted for and are paid directly to the funeral home – outside of your will and without probate.

It is illegal for someone to sell pre-need contracts without being a representative of a funeral home.  Don’t let someone sell you a funeral contract that will be “accepted by any funeral home.”

Northern Indiana Funeral Care has partnered with Unity Financial to provide a safe and secure way to pre-finance your arrangements.  Call us today at 1-877-382-2756 or visit our website at www.NorthernIndianaFuneralCare.com for more information about our affordable funeral and cremation plans.

Lighting the Way to Pre-Arrangement

Why pre-arrange?
Funeral pre-arrangements allow a family the choice of how life will be remembered at the time of death.  Pre-arrangement also spares grieving family and friends the emotional and financial decision process at such a difficult time.  With business taken care of in advance, loved ones can celebrate life and mourn death without the burden of planning and paying for a funeral.

In addition to emotional benefits, pre-arrangement also provides financial benefits.  A funeral can be funded at today’s prices knowing that money has been put aside for this specific purpose.

What can be expected when meeting with the Funeral Director?
An independent Funeral Director or a Pre-Arrangement Counselor can meet with the family at their residence or at the funeral home to learn more about their lives and what is important to them.  Then a legally-required, standardized statement of goods and services will be presented to show the various products and services that can be selected as well as their current-day cost.

Toward the conclusion of the meeting, the Funeral Director or Counselor will review the choices with the family and then arrive at a cost using today’s prices.

How is life insurance used?
Pre-Need life insurance policies have a death benefit that is designed to grow as time progresses.  Inflation rates cause funeral prices to rise and typically the face value of the policy grows at a similar rate so the funds are there to cover the pre-arranged choices.

In most states, an independent Funeral Director or Pre-Arrangement Counselor can help you pre-arrange your funeral and you can purchase a Unity Financial life insurance policy with a payment plan that will fit any budget.  Unity Financial Life Insurance Company will issue you life insurance policy and the benefits of the policy will fund you pre-arrangement plan.  The benefits are assigned to the funeral home to pay for the cost of the funeral.  Unlike most trust funds, growth on this type of policy is tax exempt.

Isn’t life insurance only for the young and healthy?
Pre-Need life insurance was created for the sole purpose of financing funeral pre-arrangements.  Since most Pre-Need clients are of mature age, these products provide higher age limits and lower face amounts that mirror funeral costs.  Most applications for coverage request little or no health information.

Unity Financial life insurance policies are issued with a 30-day free look period.  During this time the policy may be returned for any reason and the monies will be refunded.

Do it today!
Families that see the value in pre-planning, even if it is information only, gain great peace of mind knowing that their family will not have to make those difficult decisions on the worst day of their life.

What’s my next step?
Are you ready to learn more about how funeral pre-arrangements can benefit you and your loved ones?  Call Northern Indiana Funeral Care today at 877-382-2756 or visit our website at www.northernindianafuneralcare.com and click on the Request Brochure button at the bottom of the Home page.

The Importance of Advance Planning, Part 2

Continued from last month:

In addition to those choices–there are many more:

• What will you include in a memorial package?
• What flowers do you prefer?
• Do you want a flag case?
• Number of death certificates needed?
• Newspapers the obituary should be in?
• Are police escorts needed?
• Does a final date need to be engraved?
• Who should receive an honorarium?
• Will you have a flag draped casket?

When your family is trying to make these decisions at the time of your death it can be overwhelming. After a death, emotions are at a peak and families often disagree with what should take place, having no idea what you would have wanted. Emotional overspending is common because people tend to make decisions with emotion instead of logic.

The average inflation rate over the last five decades has been 4.8% which means prices double every 12 to 15 years. No one can predict the future, but at some point this bill will come due. The problem is you have no idea how much it’s going to be, or who will have to pay it. So the question becomes, “who’s responsible for this?”

It’s a fact of life that at every person’s death, the disposition of their remains becomes someone’s responsibility. Either you or someone in your family will have to accept this responsibility.

Financial implications aside, the only cost to plan ahead is your time and the willingness to do it. If you think about it, there’s no reason not to. Simply put, no family regrets having arrangements preplanned and prefunded. It just makes sense, regardless of what happens in your life, to make sure this issue doesn’t become a burden to your loved ones.

For more information about advance planning at Northern Indiana Funeral Care, call us toll-free at 1-877-328-2756 or visit www.NorthernIndianaFuneralCare.com.

Benefits of Advance Planning

At some point, everyone experiences a death of a loved one.  Most families find themselves poorly prepared to deal with the problems, indecisions, and costs that result after a death.  It is a wise financial decision to plan your funeral ahead of time but most importantly, planning in advance is an expression of love and provides peace of mind for you and your family.

1. Togetherness - A family can share their choices and make decisions together, saving loved ones heartache, expense and inconvenience at the time of death.

2. Satisfaction - On an advance planning basis, decisions about funeral and cremation services can be discussed by all family members, ensuring everyone’s satisfaction.

3. Price Guarantee - Inflation over the last five decades has been close to 5% therefore the cost of funerals will likely continue to increase.  Advance planning allows the costs to be guaranteed at today’s prices.

4. Conserve Insurance - Life insurance is for the living, not the deceased.  Most life insurance is purchased to allow a family time to adjust to the loss of income that a death causes.  If arrangements are not made ahead of time, a large amount of insurance proceeds can be spent on funeral and cemetery needs adding financial burdens to loved ones left behind.

5. Payments - Funeral and cemetery costs are expenses every individual must plan to pay.  These needs can be met today out of current income through affordable payments whereas payment in full is expected at the time of death.

6. Peace of Mind - When a death occurs in any family or among friends, the grief is tremendous and the healing time very long.  Advance planning will have a positive impact of your family and friends simply because you have made your own decisions.  This peace of mind provides benefits far beyond the dollars spent.

Now that you understand the facts and benefits of planning ahead, you have an important decision to make.  If you choose the path of advance planning we stand ready to assist you in any way possible.  We would rather see you now, than to have death force your family to see us on the worst day of their lives!  Call us at 877-382-2756 or visit our website to request a brochure.

Is it possible to plan a funeral in advance?

We recommend that everyone preplan his or her own funeral. Doing so can offer emotional and financial security for both you and your family. By preplanning a funeral you will get the kind of service you want and your family will not have the burdened of making decisions at a stressful time. Preplanning doesn’t necessarily mean prepaying. If you are considering preplanning your funeral, please visit the Advance Planning section of our website or contact Bryan Jenisch at vfccounselor@yahoo.com for more information.

What do I need to know about preplanning my funeral?

At some time in our lives, most of us will make or assist in making funeral arrangements. This will not be an easy time, but we are here to assist you and your family in any way we can. Today’s funeral director offers a variety of options to meet your financial needs and wishes. Families should discuss all options with their funeral director when making arrangements.

• Be an informed consumer. Don’t be reluctant to ask questions.
• Today’s funeral director offers a variety of options to meet your financial needs and wishes. Families should discuss all options with their funeral director when making arrangements.
• When selecting a funeral director, choose one who is licensed and has a good reputation in the community. Give thought to this decision as you would when choosing a doctor, attorney or other professional.
• Be prepared! Avoid the burden of making decision while under emotional stress by organizing details with your funeral director ahead of time. Remember … preplanning doesn’t necessarily mean prepaying.
• Plan a personal and meaningful ceremony or service to help you begin the healing process. Getting through grief is never easy but having a meaningful funeral will help.

Contact Northern Indiana Funeral Care 1-877-382-2756 and we will provide you information on making meaningful arrangements.