A funeral consultant is a person who can save you thousands of dollars on a funeral. I eat? Simply by educating him and putting him in control of the funeral process. You might ask, “Isn’t that the job of a funeral director?” Simply not. The funeral director represents the funeral home and works for the funeral home. Usually, his main interest is his employer and his own well-being. A funeral advisor works for you and only you. He educates him on state laws and makes sure he is aware of ALL possible options related to the funeral process.
What is the difference between a funeral and a memorial service? What is the difference between an 18 gauge stainless steel casket and a 20 gauge stainless steel casket? What is the difference between cremation and direct cremation? What does your state law state regarding embalming? Is embalming always required in your state? These are just some of the questions that will be answered by a certified funeral advisor.
As the familiar saying goes, “knowledge is power.” The truth of that statement has never been truer than when applied to funeral planning. The average person plans one or maybe two funerals in her lifetime. It’s difficult at the best of times and probably impossible to become an expert at something he can only do once or twice in his life. A funeral consultant, on the other hand, is an expert in the funeral industry and helps families with funeral planning on a daily basis. His experience and education make him aware of dozens of ways to save money through the funeral process.
Current numbers show that the death care industry is a 17 billion dollar industry. The Hollywood film industry generates 11 billion dollars annually. The National Football League brings in $10 billion a year and Major League Baseball has an annual revenue of $7 billion. Now do you understand how massive the death care industry has become? Is the death care industry as big as the NFL and MLB combined? Pretty shocking but true. (These numbers can be easily verified through your favorite search engine.)
Unfortunately, most individuals and families lack the knowledge to efficiently and cost-effectively navigate funeral planning.
Today, the average funeral, including burial, can easily cost a family more than $15,000. This need not be so.
The key reason cited by one funeral professional for this cost is as follows: “Families don’t discuss death beforehand, therefore excessive emotional spending tends to increase costs.” Make sure your family doesn’t have to second guess your final wishes. You need to know all of your options first because knowing what to ask, what to say, and who to call can save you thousands of dollars.
Without a funeral advisor on your side, you may very well be manipulated into spending thousands of dollars on goods and services you don’t want or need. A funeral advisor will guide you through each step of the funeral planning process. It is critical that you are prepared before you enter the funeral arrangements meeting.
