Golden Charter pre-paid funerals

Planning to cope with the inevitable … Everyone of us is obliged to take out insurance in case our car gets damaged or our house gets burgled. These are things that, if we are lucky, will not happen. There is one event though that will definitely happen to us all: our death. We are finding that more and more people these days wish to make sure that their affairs are in order before the event. To save your family unnecessary worry after you die you can record your wishes for your own funeral arrangements. You can also provide now for the cost of the funeral with a Golden Charter pre-paid funeral plan. Recording your wishes - We hold on file the funeral instructions of many clients who find reassurance in knowing that, in the event of their death, their wishes regarding their own funeral are already recorded. Many have talked about the peace of mind which this brings, especially in the realisation that the burden of decision-making about the funeral has been lifted from their families at what would be a difficult time. All that is needed is to make an appointment to see one of our funeral directors for a discussion, during which he or she would help you decide what choices to make. Your instructions would then be placed in our files, and a copy sent to you to be held with your private papers. There is no charge for this service.

Making financial provision - Some people also wish to relieve their family of the financial burden of the funeral.  We are pleased to be able to offer the Arthur C. Towner Ltd  Independent Way pre-paid funeral plan in conjunction with Golden Charter , the UK’s leading independent funeral plan provider.

  How much will the funeral plan cost? - The Independent Way funeral plan is tailored to cover the precise services (at today’s cost) that you have specified to us in our discussion about your funeral arrangements (see ‘recording your wishes’ above). Therefore, there is no set plan price. You can find out the current cost of the funeral of your choice by reviewing our price list or by asking us for a detailed quotation.  In addition, Golden Charter will charge a one-off administration fee of £155 for setting the plan up and administering it.
 
A guarantee that covers all our services - With an Independent Way funeral plan, no matter how much our services may rise in cost in years to come, neither you nor your loved ones will be asked for a penny more for them.  It’s a guarantee that gives you peace of mind.  You can be assured that your family will be spared what could be a financial worry.

Financial Security - You can be sure that your money will always be secure.  We are proud of the fact that the independent Way funeral plan is offered by Golden Charter, the UK’s leading independent funeral plan provider.  Your payment would go directly into the Golden Charter Trust, which is a separate legal entity from Golden Charter, the company, and it will hold the money for your funeral on our behalf.

Why should you pay for your funeral in advance? - Would you do better to put your money in a bank or building society?  History strongly indicates that the answer is no.

In recent years funeral expenses have increased in excess of inflation.  This is mainly because of rises in the cost of disbursements, which are not within our control.  Even high-interest bank and building society accounts have failed to keep up with these increases.  In comparison, on past evidence a pre-paid funeral is much better value. If, in 1991, you’d invested £820 (then the price of an average funeral) in a bank or building society, it would have grown to £1,178 over the next thirteen years. Yet the same funeral has almost doubled in cost to £1,590.  The difference would have been £412. This dramatic shortfall demonstrates why planning your funeral the Independent Way is the wiser way.

What about insurance-based ‘funeral expenses’ policies?  They have two considerable disadvantages: they may not guarantee to cover funeral costs and they don’t allow you to specify the arrangements.  If you are in reasonable health you may well end up paying much more in premiums than the insurance company will ever pay out. 

All information, leaflets and application forms relating to the Independent Way funeral plan and other Golden Charter funeral plans are available at our offices or can be sent on request.