Preplanning Questions
Below is a list of questions and responses that we commonly receive at the funeral home. We will continue to include any new questions in this section that we feel would be helpful to others.
If you have a question that has not been covered in this site we would like to hear from you. You may contact us to forward your question or comments to us.
If you would prefer to call us on the telephone, our staff would be pleased to provide an answer to any funeral related matter you may have. If we do not have the answer immediately, we will find it for you and contact you the minute the information is in our hands.
| Question #1 | What is funeral planning? |
| Answer: | Does your spouse or family know how you really feel about your funeral. Talking about your own funeral may be uncomfortable. But if you don't talk about it now, someone might have to take care of it alone. Isn't it good to know you can arrange your funeral ahead of time and guarantee it at today's prices. Advance funeral planning is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for your family. It's an idea that makes sense today. |
| Question #2 | How will the final expenses be provided? |
| Answer: | Often families provide for final expenses by the use of their savings or rely on their friends and relatives for financial assistance. These may not be wise choices. Also, the price of funerals has more than doubled in the last ten years and will continue to increase in the future. With the Forethought Plan, Tacoma Mausoleum & Mortuary can guarantee that the funeral you plan for today will be available years later without additional costs. |
| Question #3 | Isn't funeral planning just for older people? |
| Answer: | No, the Forethought funeral planning program and the purchase of Forethought life insurance coverage is a smart decision for anyone. In fact, more and more people in their 50's and 60's are prearranging their funerals as part of their financial planning. Younger people often carry ordinary life and health insurance to protect their families in the event something happens, and that's wise. It is equally wise for them to take the next steps to arrange and fund their own funerals. By doing so, they relieve their loved ones of emotional and financial burdens when the need arises and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having all their affairs in order. |
| Question #4 | What if I don't know what I want? |
| Answer: | One of the advantages of the Forethought program is that a trained funeral service professional explains all the services and options available, right down to the smallest detail, before you're asked to make a single decision. During this counseling session, many people discover services and options they never knew existed. With full information made available in a relaxed, unhurried manner, you'll probably find you're able to get a better sense of your true likes and dislikes. Then making decisions will be easier for you, and your informed decisions will be more satisfying. |
| Question #5 | What if I change my mind? |
| Answer: | Life insurance coverage from Forethought Life Insurance Company offers a 30-day free look starting from the day you receive your policy or certificate. This allows you time to be sure you're comfortable with your decision. Should you wish to change some aspect of your funeral arrangements at a later date, you are, of course, free to do so. Our goal is to satisfy the needs and desires of our families; we're not satisfied until you are. |
| Question #6 | What if I move to another town or state? |
| Answer: | In a mobile society such as ours, it's common for people to relocate. The Forethought program takes this into consideration by making funeral arrangements fully transferable, anywhere in the United States, through the vast network of Forethought licensed funeral homes. Assistance in making transfers is also available from the home office of The Forethought Life Insurance Company. |
| Question #7 | Are there other prearrangement programs available besides the Forethought program? |
| Answer: | Yes, there are other programs that are similar, but there is none quite like Forethought funeral planning, funded through the purchase of whole life insurance from Forethought Life Insurance Company. The Forethought program was developed after years of research and planning to provide the best possible security and benefits to families who enroll. One of the primary considerations in developing this funeral planning program was to design funding mechanisms that ensure funds will be available to meet rising funeral costs. |
| Question #8 | Wouldn't I be better off to invest the money myself? |
| Answer: | Invested money earns dividends or interest upon which income taxes may be paid. And there's no guarantee the investment would keep pace with increasing funeral costs. With the Forethought program, you have the benefit of knowing all your plans are made; your loved ones need make only one phone call to fulfill your funeral arrangements. With a Forethought funeral plan, you have the assurance that the plan has kept pace with the rising cost of funerals and no income tax liability. |
| Question #9 | If I already have life insurance, why should I buy more? |
| Answer: | Although the Forethought program of funeral planning is funded through Forethought life insurance, which pays a death benefit very much like standard life insurance. The benefit is designed to keep pace with the rising cost of funerals, regardless of funeral price increases and regardless of how long you live. That's protection from now on, not just for a few years. |
| Question #10 | Won't my veteran's benefits take care of my funeral costs? |
| Answer: | Most likely, no. As with many government programs, veterans' funeral benefits can fluctuate based on the availability of government funds. And, even if the benefits remained the same, they wouldn't keep pace with rising funeral costs. Most veterans who enroll in the Forethought program stipulate that the government funeral allowance be sent directly to their survivors to do with as they wish. The important thing to remember is the survivors must apply to the Veteran's Administration for the funeral allowance. It will not be sent automatically to the survivors. Tacoma Mausoleum & Mortuary can do this for the family at no charge. |
| Question #11 | How can I get more information? |
| Answer: | To learn more about Advance Funeral Planning and the Forethought Plan, call one of the Family Service Counselors at Tacoma Mausoleum & Mortuary today. |
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