Pre-planning a funeral is one area of financial planning that most people don't want to think about - particularly when they are healthy and enjoying life.

But we plan ahead for just about every other financial possibility in life to ensure that our loved ones and ourselves are protected. We take out life insurance and health insurance, we put money aside for retirement and most of us have made a Will.

Pre-planning a funeral is just as easy as any other financial arrangement. A pre-planned funeral can protect your loved ones emotionally as well as financially, and provide you with peace of mind knowing that your affairs are in order.

When you pre-plan a funeral, you choose the type and style of funeral service that you want with the funeral director of your choice.

Some of the details you will need to consider when pre-planning a funeral include:

• whether you prefer burial or cremation
• your preferred cemetery or crematorium
• the wishes of your family
• any special features you would like to include in the service, such as a poem or special piece of music
• the type and style of coffin or casket you prefer
• the type of death notices, mourning vehicles and flowers
• if you would prefer donations to a charity rather than flowers

Once you have decided on the main features of the funeral service, your funeral director will complete a written record of the details you have requested to ensure that your funeral will be conducted exactly in accordance with your wishes.

A Pre-paid Funeral Plan allows you to purchase your chosen funeral service at today's prices.

After you have planned your funeral, you can choose to pre-pay for your funeral to ensure that it will be conducted exactly as you have requested and at an agreed price. Your funeral director will provide you with a Pre-paid Funeral Plan Contract as a guarantee.

There are two ways to make payments. You can pay for your Pre-paid Funeral Plan in a lump sum or your funeral director may give you the option to pay by instalments.

Your funeral director can guide you through each step of planning a funeral and explain the products and services that they offer and provide a cost for each of these.

You can make an appointment to meet your funeral director at their office or you may wish to discuss the details in the comfort of your own home, whichever you find more convenient.

• You can protect your family from the distress of making difficult decisions at an emotional time.
• Your family will be relieved from any financial burden.
• It makes good financial sense. By making all of your choices now, you ca fix the price of your funeral at today's costs.
• You can ensure that your exact wishes are made known and are carried out.
• You may be able to maximise your pension entitlement. Any money paid into the Plan is not subject to the income or assets test or the deemed earnings rules (according to current legislation).
• Pre-paying means real peace of mind for you and your family.