Supposedly the national economy is doing very well, although it doesn’t seem that way to some of us, which raises the question of funeral costs. How can a family arrange the services they really want while keeping costs within their budget? For many families, funeral pre-planning is the answer.

The best way to control funeral costs is by making decisions in advance of need. Without the emotion that follows the death of a loved one, we can make cool-headed decisions that allow us to express our emotions, without creating a financial burden. Also, it gives us an opportunity to investigate issues that are important to us, such as:

• Does the funeral home own and operate its own crematory?
• Does the funeral home offer the convenience of an on-site reception room for the family to gather following services?
• Is the funeral home family owned and are their prices competitive within the community?
• Does the funeral home staff express the empathy one would expect from a professional funeral director?
• Do they offer creativity in the personalization of a funeral?

Research studies conducted throughout the United States indicate that the most valuable service a funeral home can offer is the availability of a pre-planning counselor to meet with families, either in their home, or at the funeral home to begin the planning process. Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory have been serving West Texas families for 100 years, and have never employed a third party to represent them. Instead, they take the time to develop their own pre-need counselors. As opposed to setting quotas and paying bonuses, Nalley-Pickle & Welch see their funeral pre-planning as a service to the community, a full time employee of their firm with one objective; to assist families in their decision making in advance of need.

Funeral pre-planning offers many financial benefits. First, you pay today’s prices for future services. Your pre-need funds are placed in a state approved bank trust account or an insurance policy specifically created to safely hold funeral pre-arrangement funds. These funds remain in the accounts, earning interest, until needed to pay for the funeral services. At that time, any excess interest earned over and above the funeral home’s prices are paid to the family.

With so many choices and options, the value of pre-planning becomes evident. No one better understands your wishes than you. Meeting with a counselor who specializes in pre-arrangement allows you to collect information on options and costs as well as record your wishes for your family to refer to later. You may even want to pre-pay your final expenses as a way of relieving your family from this burden and saving money.

Making pre-arrangements with a Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Director or Pre-arrangement Counselor will help assure your wishes will be carried out following death. Peace is shared for both you and your family during this difficult time.