One of the best things you can leave your family? A pre-paid funeral

If you’ve ever had to deal with the grief of a loved one’s passing, you’ll know that having to then organise their funeral can add a substantial layer of emotional and financial stress at an already very difficult time. And, of course, for those of us who have family members who are prone to disagreements, tensions can be heightened further.

Planning a funeral is – in many ways – like planning a wedding, but instead of having 12-18 months to organise and fine-tune the details, most usually only have four or five days before the funeral. The typical lament heard by funeral directors is, “why didn’t we discuss what they wanted for their funeral beforehand?”, as relatives struggle to guess what their loved one would have wanted in terms of location, attendee numbers, music, flowers, speeches, coffin type and headstone engraving.

Thankfully, you can do your loved ones a massive service by pre-planning and pre-paying your funeral. This, of course, doesn’t just benefit them in terms of reduced stress and organisation, but also means you can ensure that your final send off happens just the way you’d like it to. This might include a meaningful song, the reading of a special bible verse, letter or poem, and inviting certain old friends who your family members might not have otherwise known to contact.

Cost of pre-paid funeral plans and how they work:

Guardian Plan is an Australia-wide funeral planning service and offers safe pre-paid funeral plans that empowers you to say farewell your way. This allows you to work with a Funeral Arranger and pre-pay your chosen funeral service at today’s prices. This means you are protected against inflation and price increases. So, financially-savvy retirees who pre-plan their funeral may save up to $10,000, even if they don’t redeem the service for years to come!

What’s more, the cost of the pre-paid funeral is excluded from the Income and Asset Tests, which may enable you to claim a greater portion of the Age Pension.

Funeral plans typically cost between $6,000 and $15,000, depending on what you choose. The plan may include the funeral service, coffin, transportation, documentation, burial or cremation and full professional support. Funeral Arrangers can also help you to secure a burial plot or memorial for ashes. According to the Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA), payment of a pre-paid funeral can be made in one lump sum or through a payment plan.

Under the Guardian Plan, your pre-payment is held by the Over Fifty Guardian Friendly Society Ltd, which is regulated by the APRA, and ensures the funds are protected, regardless of what may happen to a particular funeral company. This APRA protection gives you the peace of mind that your funds won’t be lost or misappropriated at any stage.

When the time comes, the Guardian Plan can be used at any of 250 accredited funeral homes around Australia, regardless of where you lived when you took out the plan. This access to so many funeral homes gives you the freedom to plan the funeral you want, where you want it and within your budgetary requirements.

Other considerations:

“When organising a pre-paid funeral, it is important that family is advised that arrangements for a funeral have been made in advance,” the AFDA advises. “Copies of the pre-paid funeral contract should be provided to members of the family, or filed with the will and other important documents.”

And finally, you don’t have to wait until you are retired to pre-pay your funeral. You can choose to do it at any stage of your life, and in any stage of health. Then, not only will you have control over the finer details that come with planning your funeral, but you also may save a great deal of money and alleviate both financial and emotional stress on your family.

To learn more, head to guardianplan.com.au or call 1800 220 888 to speak to one of Guardian Plan’s friendly consultants today.