|
Why Pre-Plan?
|
|
Every year, more than one million people plan and fund their funeral
arrangements ahead of time, and it's estimated this number will grow
as the population ages. People are realizing the advantages of pre-arranging.
The process is simple and there are many benefits
|
|
Pre-Planning:
|
- Provides peace of mind
- Relieves your loved ones of unnecessary concern
- Reflects your expressed wishes
- Relieves your family of a financial burden
- Allows you to establish a guaranteed funeral
|
|
Most of us plan for the possible, those potential misfortunes of
life that seldom actually happen. Yet, few of us prepare for the inevitable.
|
At Westford's we've seen how comforting it is for the survivors to have the
funeral arrangements made in advance. We'd be glad to talk with you
about why we think it's such a good idea. Please give us a call at (360) 734-1717.
|
|
How to pre-plan a funeral
|
Traditionally, there have been three ways a family has provided for a funeral.
Those three ways and the reasons they are less than ideal are listed below.
|
|
1. Level Death Benefit Life Insurance
|
- Normally intended to cover ongoing living expenses for the family
- May require waiting weeks or even months until proceeds are available
- With inflation, proceeds may erode over time
- Relieves your family of a financial burden
- May involve disputes over contested claims
|
|
2. Savings
|
- Often depleted by long illness before death
- May be tied up in probate
- May not be readily accessible at time of death
- Relieves your family of a financial burden
- Long-term savings may be reduced by taxes and early withdrawal penalties
|
|
3. Friends and Relatives
|
- Places unexpected burden on those you care about most
- May put survivors in an uncomfortable and embarrassing situation
- Can cause friction between loved ones
- Borrowed money must be repaid
|
We believe there is a better way to plan and provide for the funeral.
Working with Westford's you can purchase funeral insurance. This allows you
to tailor your purchase to what you want using actual costs.
|
|
Why should I fund my funeral expenses now? In approximately 70% of all families,
it is the primary wage-earner who dies first. The surviving spouse is then left
with immediate problems, which must be faced while under extra-ordinary stress.
|
Although the average funeral is priced much lower today than many people assume,
a funeral will almost surely cost much more in the future. Thus, it makes
sense to protect your family.
|
|
A Westford Family Service Counselor can meet with you in our office or
at your home. He or she can assist you in pre-planning your funeral. Together
you can work to determine the current costs of the kind of funeral you want,
and that helps guide the decision as to how much money you should place in
the policy to meet your future needs.
|
It is our experience that many families find it difficult to make appropriate
and satisfactory decisions while under the stress and grief they experience
after a death has occurred. A pre-paid plan allows your family to make these
necessary choices together, without the stress that accompanies death.
|
Does my Funeral Policy freeze the price of the funeral service I select?
No. However once the policy amount has been paid as agreed and in full, you and
your family are guaranteed, In writing, that they will never have to pay
additional funds for these guaranteed services you have selected, If services are
provided by Westford's.
|
What happens if I move or if death occurs away from Bellingham?
At that point in time, Westford's will arrange for the type of service you
wish with any funeral home you select, regardless of its location. Prices
of services not provided by Westford are not guaranteed.
|
Second, if the death occurs away from Bellingham and you choose services here,
Westford's will make all the arrangements for transfer of the remains to
Bellingham and handle other arrangements as your policy allows and your heirs direct.
|
What is funeral insurance?
When you select an insured funeral plan, you actually purchase a whole life insurance
policy from Forethought Life Insurance. It is specifically designed for funeral planning
and is offered exclusively by qualified representatives of the funeral home who are
licensed by the state and appointed as an agent. Your funeral plan guarantees that those guaranteed goods and services you selected will be available without additional costs, when the need arises.
|
|
Forethought funeral insurance also includes:
|
- No physical examination required.
- Funeral prices are guaranteed from the date of issue of the policy.
- Built in death benefit in case of early death.
|
|
A Westford Family Service Counselor can assist you and provide the best possible
guidance as you plan for the future. Many important decisions are normally left to be
made at the time of a death. However, with Forethought funeral planning you will have
the assistance making many of those decisions before the need arises.
|
