Funeral Pre-Planning: An Efficient and Cost Effective Strategy

Life is transitory. Benjamin Franklin took notice of this fact when he declared that death and taxes were the world's only certainties. What we believe awaits us beyond that proverbial closed door definitely may depend upon our religious beliefs or affiliations. Do we expect a reward in heaven for our exemplary behavior, or to be reborn into a higher caste? Some say we will be returned to the natural order of things, or experience reincarnation as an ocean-spanning gull.

The path connecting our known world with what comes after is a track we all will travel eventually, but sometimes the journey begins a tad unexpectedly. The commemoration of our departure, however, is something that is within our power to plan in advance. This endeavor may at first seem macabre or even gruesome, but it will make quite a bit of difference to our loved ones if what we do ameliorates the financial burden of our funeral. Advance planning surely will mitigate the uncertainty they might face in trying to determine what we want, ultimately, as closure for our well-lived lives. Needless to say when we reach that particular point in time, we won't have the option of conveying our desires in person.

The relatives of the deceased, in their desire to fulfill the final wishes of their beloved family member, and in their bereavement, may be vulnerable to bad decision-making in overspending for the funeral and burial process. Similar to other transactions where thousands of dollars may be paid for a product or service, knowing our rights as consumers is the key to making informed choices.

The Funeral Rule is a law which is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission for the protection of consumers who are in the process of making funeral and burial arrangements. Its purpose is to require that funeral providers fully inform customers about the various products and services they sell. The choices available must be presented to the consumer if requested over the telephone, or in the form of a written General Price List (GPL), so that important decisions may be made clearly and carefully. Also, the GPL facilitates the consumers' ability to comparison shop so we can get the most for our money. If state or local laws require the purchase of any particular funeral service, such as embalming, this must be disclosed to the consumer with a reference to the specific law.

Caskets, often the single most expensive item purchased

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