Funeral Service Times August 2017 April 2019

30 SOAPBOX What stops people planning their funeral? By Jessica Hanson at Avalon Funeral Plans I t makes good sense to plan ahead and arrange your own funeral. Whether you’re worried about rising costs, or just want peace of mind that your family won’t have to make difficult decisions, making arrangements in advance can help anyone. But even the most financially-savvy consumers might baulk at the idea of talking about their own funeral. So what stops people making definite plans to help their loved ones when they’re gone? THEY’RE SCARED TO TALK ABOUT DEATH As anyone in the funeral profession knows, death is a tricky subject. While Dying Matters found that we are more comfortable talking about death than we were 10 years ago, nearly three quarters of people surveyed said Brits feel uncomfortable discussing death, dying and bereavement. That taboo could be stopping people having important conversations and making plans. As part of its #TalkAboutDeath campaign last year, Independent Age surveyed people aged 40-64 who were uncomfortable talking about death, and found that over a third wouldn’t even dream of mentioning it to their elderly parents. Unfortunately, that often means that people don’t feel able to express their wishes, or make plans with family about their funeral. When the time comes, the family can be left to make difficult decisions with no idea of their loved ones’ wishes and no savings to pay for the funeral costs. has increased by 34% over five years to £1,744. Of those who struggled to pay for a funeral, one in 10 surveyed adults said they had to sell personal belongings to pay for their loved one’s send-off. THEY DON’T HAVE EXPERIENCE ARRANGING A FUNERAL Many people who are looking for a way to arrange their funeral in advance are doing so because they’ve had first-hand experience of arranging a funeral. They know how many decisions have to be made, how difficult it is to shop around, and how quickly costs can add up. For those people who are fortunate enough to have not arranged a loved one’s funeral, it might not cross their mind that there are so many choices to be made. They might not know how much a funeral costs, or have told loved ones to “keep it simple”, without much knowledge of what “simple” entails. THEY THINK THEY’VE GOT IT COVERED THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THEIR OPTIONS Many people assume that their loved ones will have the means to pay for their funeral when the time comes. But the fact is that funeral costs are rising year on year, above the rate of inflation, and cash savings or life insurance policies are unlikely to cover this annual increase. Whether they’re overestimating the funds available, or underestimating the full cost of dying, consumers are often incorrectly assuming that their family will easily cover funeral expenses. Last year the National Funeral Cost Index from Royal London showed that funeral debt is at an all-time high. The average amount of debt taken on to cover a funeral Funeral plans, savings accounts, various different types of life insurance – there’s a whole plethora of financial products out there that could help families pay for the funeral of a loved one. But how do consumers know which one is right for them? Life insurance policies have made headlines recently, after consumers were left angry and confused by over-50s plans. The Daily Mail reported that “customers might think that the plans would cover the full cost of a funeral when, in reality, they would pay for only part of it”. Furthermore, many consumers still don’t fully understand what a funeral plan is, how APRIL 2019 it works, how the money is kept secure in trust, or how a funeral plan differs from an insurance policy. That’s why it’s essential that funeral plan providers are clear and transparent about their services. Above all, consumers need clear, easy-to-understand information so they can make an informed choice about which product is right for them. THEY DON’T KNOW WHO TO TRUST The life insurance and funeral planning industries have come under the spotlight over the past few years. Consumers are becoming more aware of how important it is to choose a trustworthy provider that offers comprehensive, transparent plans to help loved ones cope when the time comes. That’s why for funeral plan providers, personal recommendations and online reviews have fast become an important part of customers’ decision to buy a plan. Ultimately, customers need to know that their money is safe, their provider is trustworthy and their loved ones will be taken care of after they are gone. When they’re reassured that all this is covered, they can plan for the future with the peace of mind that they’re making the right decision. Avalon Funeral Plans has been in business for over 25 years, helping people find peace of mind with prepaid funeral plans. With over 1,200 five-star ‘Excellent’ reviews on Trustpilot, Avalon is the most trusted name in the business. If you’re a funeral director and looking to work with us, please call 0161 486 2025 or email our funeral director team on fd@ avalon-trustee.co.uk. www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk

Funeral Service Times August 2017 April 2019 | Page 30