Case Studies — PREPLANNING.ME

Richard

Father purchased companion couch crypt in 1979 for $4980
Father gave specific pre-need instructions for his entombment and memorialization
Father later purchased other services for his wife and completed a Cemetery Trust for both
Mother was laid to rest in 2011
Since Richard’s father had everything taken care of, services were delivered efficiently according to his wishes

Richard’s father passed away in 2015
Richard knew exactly how his father wanted to be memorialized since his father pre-planned
All service details were handled by a few simple phone calls & emails
If nothing had been prepared, the cost of cemetery services for that space would have been $50,409
If nothing had been prepared, Richard would have spent considerable time and money preparing for his fathers funeral and cemetery services

Shirley purchased a companion niche and travel protection for her and her husband Dale in 2011 for $21,240. She created a 24-month payment plan to lessen the financial burden.
After paying off the property, Shirley froze cost for the cremation, urn and opening and closing labor in advance by establishing a trust.
In 2015, Shirley traveled to Hong Kong with Dale and unexpectedly Dale passed away in his sleep in the hotel room.
Shirley made one call to IEA and they handled the transportation of Dale's body and dealing with the foreign consulate.
Because of the Travel Protection, Dale's Son was able to have a small gathering in San Mateo to view Dales's remains before the cremation.
Shirley paid nothing for the services as it had all been pre-paid.

At the time of Dale's passing if they had not had travel protection, the cost to transport Dale's body would be over $20,000.
Before the inurnment of Dale's cremated remains, Shirley inquired about the current price of the 4-person niche near where their original niche was, thinking of reserving space for her son and daughter-in-law.
The price of the 4-person niche was $33,990 and she decided to purchase it by transferring what she paid for the original niche which was $21,240 and paying the difference.
Shirley informed her son and son's wife that they now have Interment Rights to the the niche so the family can be together and they will need to cover the cost for labor, urn and cremation services.
Shirley's son and daughter-in-law began making payments in 2016 to freeze costs and to choose their urn and urn engraving.

John purchased two burial plots for he and his wife in 1992 for $5,255 each and created a cemetery trust to freeze costs
John and his wife designed a double marker memorial and left instructions for his graveside service
John passed away in 2006 and his wife in 2015
John’s son, Gary, handled the arrangements with a quick appointment both times
After the death of his father, Gary began to think about his own pre-need arrangements, but did not take action

Gary knew about the rising costs of funeral and cemetery services, figured that he would someday be buried near his parents, but did not purchase anything
At the time of his father’s death, the price of a plot around the area of his parents would have been $9,500
After the death of his mother, Gary inquired about available plots near his parents
The price of a burial spot near his parents by that time had risen to $40,000 as it was considered a premium location and by that time there were no spaces next to Mom and Dad
The price of the location had become too steep for Gary and he was forced to choose another location in the cemetery away from his parents
Gary eventually purchased two burial plots for he and his wife for $11,800 each in another garden