(FinancialHealth.net) – Only 21.4% of Americans have their funeral plans spelled out for their loved ones, according to a 2017 survey by the National Funeral Directors Association. These aren’t easy decisions, of course, and thinking about the end of your life can be difficult or cause anxiety.
Nevertheless, there are convincing reasons to start pre-planning a funeral now. Sorting out the details in advance can reduce your stress, take the burden off your family, ensure your final wishes are honored and can be economical, here’s how.
Takes the Burden Off Family
The loss of a loved one can be devastating. The added stress of planning and executing a funeral only makes this time of grieving more difficult.
When decisions about the details of a funeral have been made in advance, it takes unnecessary stress off of family members. This will allow the people who loved you most to focus on caring for themselves and honoring your memory after you’ve passed on.
Economical
The expense of a funeral can also be burdensome to family members. A pre-planned funeral can be pre-paid, or at least partially paid, to prevent financial stress on loved ones.
With a plan in place, it’s also possible to make arrangements like purchasing funeral insurance or placing assets in a funeral trust. These options will allow immediate access to funds earmarked for services honoring your life.
Final Wishes Are Honored
Talking casually about the service you envision for yourself isn’t enough. After the loss of a loved one, decision making can be clouded by grief. Disagreements can even arise among family members on what a loved one would have liked to be done to honor their life.
A funeral that is pre-planned leaves little to chance. All of the details, from who will preside over the service to which songs will be played and even what you want to wear are clearly spelled out long before the day arrives.
End-of-life services can be planned with the help of a funeral director. With their guidance, you can confidently communicate and fund your funeral from start to finish. This can greatly reduce your stress levels as well as those of your loved ones.
~ Here’s to Your Financial Health!
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