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| Planning for the Future.... It just makes
Sense! |
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| Planning in advance for a funeral is growing in popularity.
While the idea of planning for this inevitable and most unwanted event may not feel right
to some, it is anticipated that in the future advance funeral planning will be a normal
part of ones financial planning along with planning for college and retirement. |
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| In a 1999 survey by the American Association of Retired
Persons, one in five Americans age 50 and older have experienced funeral arranging and/or
advance planning. Twenty-nine percent of those arranging for a funeral found some details
to have been already planned and paid for. The AARP has also stated that more and more
Americans are entering into "preneed agreements" to purchase funeral goods and
services before death. In a 1998 survey, AARP found thirty-two percent of those surveyed
to have paid in advance for some or all of their funeral and/or burial expenses. |
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| Planning in advance is much more than a money issue.
Planning starts off with information gathering and organizing, which relieves survivors of
the task of searching for birth certificates, military papers, social security numbers,
cemetery property deeds and more. The next step is to review the choices and options for
services and put the selections down on paper. A casket and other merchandise can be
selected, or survivors can be given the remaining choices to be made when the need arises.
Funding for a funeral in advance is the last step, and while optional, for many people
this is a wise step to take. If one is unsure whether they want to fund a funeral in
advance, they can and should go ahead to make plans without funding. |
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| People who make advance plans have many different reasons.
Some people after retirement make their arrangements so they have nothing else to worry
about and to relieve their children from the frustration of trying to figure out what
their true wishes were. Others with little or no family around make their own arrangements
to make sure their wishes are known and carried out. People who will be in need of
receiving Medicaid must "spend down" their assets prior to becoming eligible for
assistance and are encouraged to plan for and pay in advance for their funeral. |
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| Ask anyone who has made arrangements in advance and you
will hear for yourself of all the advantages. In a recent survey mailed in following a
funeral, a survivor (who also has made advance plans) stated: "Prepaid funerals are
the way to go – less stress, less hassle, more time to deal with family and not be
pulled in other directions." In 1998, a person wrote Dear Abby in praise of advance
planning: "Years ago, both my parents had the foresight to preplan and pay all of
their funeral arrangements. All Dad had to do for Mother’s service was order the
flowers; then we were able to share condolences with more than 500 guests. It made her
funeral a beautiful time of reuniting old friends and family." |
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| People funding a funeral in advance can be able to pay at
today’s costs for future service. This is a unique situation one can take advantage
of. Where else can one get something in the future based on current costs? This enables
people to have control over how and when they will make payments unlike what happens after
a sudden death occurs, with no plans in place. |
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| One can choose to make a single payment, pay for part now
and part later, or over time with a payment plan for three, five or ten years depending on
the method of funding they choose! |
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| The most popular funding option when planning with Sheenan
Funeral Home is with a Forethought® funeral plan. Forethought funeral planning
is a program that funds funerals in advance through whole life insurance specifically
designed for that purpose When using Forethought® for the funding vehicle, Tom
Sheenan guarantees that a family will not have to pay an extra dime for the guaranteed
goods and services that were selected in advance. The casket cost (for caskets selected at
Sheenan Funeral Home) plus other costs are guaranteed as well. And, in most cases the
increased death benefit adequately covers the other rising costs not under funeral home
control such as cemetery charges and other charges by third parties. |
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| Tom Sheenan carefully investigated Forethought®
before placing his full trust in them. |
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In the State of New Jersey, advance funding is very safe.
It is important to know that the funeral home does not deposit and keep any money. 100% of
all monies paid in advance to Sheenan Funeral Home go either into a trust fund or a
Forethought® life insurance policy. There are other policies one may hear
about, but the Forethought® plan is the one which stands out above the rest.
Especially since the Sheenan reputation is centered around "trust," Tom Sheenan
carefully investigated Forethought® before placing his full trust in them. All
arrangements are transferable. If someone moves, they can take their advance funding with
them. The State Department of Banking and Insurance and Division of Consumer Affairs
maintain well defined guidelines and regulations protecting all who make advance plans and
guarantees that families will be getting all the benefits that are promised. Members of
our staff are licensed by the state and are appointed agents of Forethought Life Insurance
Company, Batesville, IN. |
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| Funding in advance is not meant to replace life insurance.
Life insurance is important to have in covering all the other expenses a family may incur
preceding a death. This includes hospitalization, home care, loss of income, unpaid bills
and other incidental expenses. What may have been a more than adequate policy for ones
needs twenty years ago may no longer be enough. On a regular basis one should review all
of their plans and policies to make sure they are well covered. |
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| For generations, people have been acquiring cemetery
property well in advance of needing it. Now people can complete the plan. Advance planning
should be a regular part of retirement planning -- It just makes sense! |
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