HOW TO AVOID A FUNERAL CRISIS BEFORE IT HAPPENS A Consumer Awareness Workshop.

HOW TO AVOID A FUNERAL CRISIS

BEFORE IT HAPPENS

A Consumer Awareness Workshop

Can a funeral cause a crisis in a family?

We are here to talk about ways to keep it from happening!

I am not any kind of expert on funerals or funeral planning. Everest

is…

I have provided index cards for your questions.

At the end of this session write your questions on those cards with

your name and how you would like me to contact you and I will get the

answers to your questions.

Let’s Face It…

Death can come at any time for anyone

NO ONE IS IMMUNE!

When the Death of a Loved One Occurs…

Our world is turned upside down

Our logical thinking is destroyed

Decisions have to be made quickly concerning funeral arrangements

Usually within a 24 hour period of time

Who Will Make These Decisions…

Burial or Cremation Selection of a Resting Place Type of Funeral Service, if any Visitation, if any Type of Casket or Urn Embalming

Open or Closed Casket

Religious or Secular

Participants

Selection of Funeral Home

How much to spend

Obituary

The Worst Possible Timing…

Obviously the worst time to make those decisions is at a time of emotional

distress

However…

This Situation is Avoidable!

HOW?

HAVE A PLAN

This workshop is about an easy, unique, and simple solution

to what can be a difficult,

complicated, and expensive life event

Why Plan Ahead?

What are the top 2 reasons consumers prearrange their funeral each year?

“Makes it easier on my family”

“Ensures that my wishes are carried out”

Source: Artisan Research & Communication Inc., Survey March 2012

Funeral Arrangements

A funeral is one of the most expensive life events. What about college? Not everyone goes. What about a wedding? Not everyone gets married.

But all of us in this room will have some type of funeral

You are making significant financial decisions at a time when you are: under considerable time pressures emotionally distraught and vulnerable


Over 100,000 Canadians pre-arrange their funerals each year

88% believe that it’s better to pre-arrange their own funeral* How many of you would agree with that?

Yet only 10% of us have made any such arrangements.* Could that be some of you?

Most people know they should but they don’t



Most people know they should but they don’t…. Because they never get a….

TUITWhat’s that?


What is the #1 concern of consumers

when making funeral arrangements?


Not being able to afford it!

Consumer Dissatisfaction

Consumers feel strongly about traditional

funeral homes:

59% - “Funeral Homes do not offer good value for the money”

57% - “Funeral homes cannot be trusted during their time of need”

Source: Gelb Consulting and Greenfield Online Survey

Things to Think About

Please understand I am not saying that funeral homes are not trustworthy. They are running a business so their goal is to remain profitable and sometimes in the quest for that goal some people may feel taken advantage of.

You can avoid high pressure sales tactics with knowledge!

How Much Does A Funeral Cost? Funeral / Memorial service Casket / container Embalming (if requested) Visitation Grave space Burial vault Tombstone or marker Inscription on tombstone or

marker Cremation Fee Urn

Obituary notices Flowers Charitable Donations Memorial books Prayer cards Thank you cards Internet memorial Travel (out of town guests) Legal expenses Limousines

A Gathering, Reception, or Wake?

Therefore…

What do I actually need?

What are the costs?

Question

How much does a typical funeral cost?

Burial __________

Cremation __________

How to Save Money

Consider a direct cremation and memorial service

Embalming is optional in most instances

Avoid purchasing an urn if you don’t need one a simple container is included in the cremation fee

Shop around, prices vary greatly for the same services

How to Save Money

Bring along a friend who does not have emotional ties

Don’t spend money to impress

Know the right questions to ask!!!!!!!! Ask for the funeral home’s price list. It says to the funeral director that you are an informed consumer.

Where to go from here???

Decisions need to be made

You have 3 options

Funeral Planning Options

Go to a funeral home and “prepay” your funeral

Purchase “Final Expense” life insurance

Do Nothing

Prepaying with a Funeral Home

Locked into that funeral home

Money you pay is actually buying an insurance policy or is put into a trust account

Difficult to price shop unless you visit funeral home after funeral home

Purchase “Final Expense” Life Insurance

Bare-bones life insurance policy

No support or guidance for your family

Does not pay in time for funeral expenses

Have to wait for death certificate

Funeral home wants to get paid now

Do Nothing

Most popular and easiest choice

Leaves your family to cope with arranging and paying for your funeral under the worst of circumstances

No time or information to make informed decisions

Funeral, burial or cremation expenses due immediately

Consumer’s Concerns

One of the most expensive purchases of a lifetime

Complex decisions made under the worst of circumstances Emotional duress Time pressure

No one in the funeral industry is on

the side of the consumer, until…

Introducing

The Everest Package

Whole Life Insurance

from Western Life

PLUS

Everest Services

Available through

World Financial Group

Insurance Agency of Canada Inc.

Who Will Make These Decisions

Burial or Cremation Selection of a Resting Place Type of Funeral Service, if any Visitation, if any Type of Casket or Urn Embalming?

Open or Closed Casket Religious or Secular Participants Selection of Funeral Home How much to spend Obituary

One call does it all !!!

Your family, with the help and guidance of your Everest Consumer

Advocate

Consumer Advocacy ServicesIndependent, unbiased, expert funeral planning advice

They work for YOU and Your Family - not for the funeral home

Can be used at any funeral home anywhere

They coordinate claims payment on insurance

Beneficiaries receive payment in as little as 48 hours

Monies can be used for anything

Consumer Advocacy ServicesIndependent, expert funeral planning advice

Customer gains control 24 x 7 Everest Advisor

Assistance with all funeral related issues

Planning Conference with a Licensed Funeral Director

Planning Guides and checklists Information stored and maintained in a secure

data warehouse

Consumer Advocacy ServicesIndependent, expert funeral planning advice

PriceFinder℠ Database Only nationwide database that includes actual pricing from over

24,000 funeral homes across Canada and the United States

Produces a 7-page report on demand at everestfuneral.ca

Search and compare local funeral homes by using your postal code and a kilometre radius

What Everest is not:

Everest is NOT a funeral home

Everest does NOT have a network of funeral homes it deals with

Everest does NOT sell funeral goods or services

Everest does NOT sell funeral pre-arrangements

Everest does NOT receive commissions or profit in anyway from a client’s decision

“I might very well have picked a funeral home that charged thousands more than what I paid and certainly

would not have known or had the energy to shop for the best value on my own.”

- Joan H.

“Everest was a phenomenal experience.”

- June R.

“Our advisor saved us a good sum of money after her discussions with the funeral home and cemetery.”

- Carol J.

Everest Client– June R.

THANK YOU

HOW TO AVOID A FUNERAL CRISIS BEFORE IT HAPPENS A Consumer Awareness Workshop.

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Transcript of HOW TO AVOID A FUNERAL CRISIS BEFORE IT HAPPENS A Consumer Awareness Workshop.