Funeral Planning Coach

Cost ranges (2025)

• Direct cremation — $700-2,500. No service, just cremation.
• Cremation with memorial — $2,500-5,000.
• Direct burial — $1,500-3,500. No viewing, no embalming.
• Traditional funeral with viewing + burial — $8,000-15,000+ (casket, embalming, plot, headstone, service).
• Green/natural burial — $1,500-4,000. Biodegradable casket, no embalming.
• Body donation to medical school — FREE (often includes free cremation back to family).

Smart options

• Get the FTC "General Price List" — by law, every funeral home must provide one. Compare 3 homes — prices vary 2-3x for the same services.
• Funeralocity / Parting.com — compare prices online by zip code.
• Costco caskets — federal "Funeral Rule" lets you buy elsewhere. Costco/Walmart caskets are $900-1,500 vs $3,000-5,000 at funeral homes.
• Memorial society membership — $20-50 lifetime. Negotiated lower rates with member funeral homes. Search "memorial society [your state]".

Funding methods

• Pay-on-death savings account — simplest. Names beneficiary; bypasses probate.
• Pre-paid funeral contract — careful: company may go out of business. Check if it\'s in a state-protected trust.
• Burial insurance / Final Expense Life Insurance — small life policy ($5,000-30,000). Often heavily marketed; usually overpriced.
• Life insurance you already have — may cover funeral costs.
• Veterans benefits — $796-2,000 burial allowance, free Arlington/national cemetery burial.
• Social Security $255 lump sum — to spouse.

Document and tell family

1. Write down your wishes — "Five Wishes" form covers this. Include: cremation/burial, location, music, who speaks.
2. Tell your spouse and adult kids where the document is.
3. If pre-paid: keep the contract with your will.
4. Pre-write your obituary draft (relieves family of one painful task).
5. List passwords needed to access digital accounts and photos.
6. Tell veterans where DD-214 is (needed for VA benefits).