In our industry, we use the term “Preneed” to describe planning one’s end-of-life affairs in advance. There are many reasons to plan a family estate or family member’s final resting place in advance, and we believe that Preneed planning can truly benefit the entire family.
The Importance of Estate Planning
While estate planning may at first seem unnerving, we find that families eventually take great comfort in having navigated end-of-life choices ahead of time. When estate planning decisions are made ahead of time, families are able to focus on the grieving process with less pressure and to reflect properly on a life well-lived.
You may have very particular wishes, including the location you would like to be interred, how the ceremony will unfold, or what attire you prefer. The caring staff at Travis Monument Group are experts at providing help where you need it and will always try to make sure your desires are fulfilled.
Preneed Planning
Preneed planning involves making final arrangements for the funeral and disposition of you or your loved one before passing. These plans may also be prepaid ahead of time at many funeral homes and cemeteries.
Some family members inquire about Preneed plans for their elders because they want to ensure that their loved one’s wishes are recorded while they are still able to clearly communicate their choices. These family members have often discussed the estate and burial in advance.
Preplanning allows you to consider your exact wishes for your memorial with ample time to understand what is possible and to choose carefully. Considering your memorial early also allows you to create a smart funding plan that can be paid in increments. Another reason many families complete a Preneed plan is that Medicaid may allow burial benefits.
We Are Here To Assist With Advanced Planning
When your wishes are already spelled out, your family can reduce the number of delicate decisions necessary and instead take the time they need to grieve your loss. In addition, they can rest assured that you will receive the memorial you specifically chose.
At Travis Monument Group, we are honored to help families with these important choices each and every day. Over many years, our team has helped hundreds of local families navigate the process successfully. We recommend prearrangement of your memorial, an intelligent and considerate solution that ultimately benefits everyone.
Should you prefer to purchase or simply plan the details of your monument or headstone in advance, we are here to guide and help you every step of the way, at no charge.
Benefits of Preplanning
Preplanning can be one of the most precious gifts you can give your family — and yourself.
Family Bonding
At the time of loss, family members who have not considered pre-planning spend a great deal of time and energy making decisions and finalizing practical arrangements. Creating a plan for your affairs can minimize questions for your family members. With your wishes in place, your family can spend more time comforting and supporting one another when they need each other’s love the most.
Eliminates Uncertainty
You may have very particular wishes, such as the location you would like to be interred or the inscription on the monument. Perhaps you prefer to be buried above ground in a mausoleum or cremated and buried with a traditional monument. When you make decisions in advance with the help of Travis Monument Group, family members do not need to wonder what you may have wanted. They can simply consult your specific wishes.
Benefits of Preplanning
Preplanning can be one of the most precious gifts you can give your family — and yourself.
Decisions To Stand The Test Of Time
Making important end-of-life decisions beforehand ensures that the choices are based on planned preferences and are not subject to time pressure or intense emotion. When your final tribute has been explored and discussed in advance, it remains relevant in perpetuity because you took the time to decide what is right for you.
Peace Of Mind
Decisions such as whether you would like to be cremated or buried with a particular monument design are important to consider. Maybe you would like to have your cremated remains buried or treated another way — details like this matter a great deal. Knowing that your loved ones won’t have to face them alone can be greatly comforting to everyone and can bring you peace of mind knowing that everything is taken care of.
Benefits of Preplanning
Preplanning can be one of the most precious gifts you can give your family — and yourself.
Specific Design Choices
When you pre-plan for your memorial, you can make decisions about stone type, color, and preferred design elements for yourself. You may choose from options like custom imagery or even a companion style to be shared with your spouse. With the help of our knowledgeable staff, you can peruse the range of styles available and make choices that result in a custom memorial that speaks to your life and your preferences.
See It Now
Travis Monument Group’s proprietary process, which includes 3-D imaging technology, allows us to show you how your marker will look before it is created in stone. Our staff uses these remarkably accurate images to work with you to alter the design until it is just as you wish. Then, if you choose, we can continue with the process and complete your stone monument. In fact, if you would like to see the memorial being made in real-time, we can arrange for that. Each of these choices completes another detail, easing arrangements for your family later.
Benefits of Preplanning
Preplanning can be one of the most precious gifts you can give your family — and yourself.
Financial Considerations
Being aware of costs at the outset ensures that you and your family can plan your end-of-life expenses early without being surprised financially. When you and your family are aware of the exact wishes in your estate plan, you are better equipped to make the right decisions and receive the best value possible.
Payment In Advance
Some families choose to pre-pay incrementally toward the memorial, which can help offset inflation. Others pre-allocate a lump sum to complete the design. Funds can also be set up with specific directions that can only be used for end-of-life expenses. Consult your accountant, financial planner, or estate planning professional for specifics on the details — they may be able to provide information on fiscal benefits for insurance or funeral trust funds that can be set up as Medicaid-exempt assets.
Talk Of A Lifetime
The Talk of a Lifetime offers guidance on starting difficult conversations with your loved ones about their final arrangement preferences. It offers a series of helpful starter questions that can guide you in getting to know family members and friends in new and different ways. While talking about preplanning final arrangements may at first seem unnerving, the Talk of a Lifetime process offers a meaningful and gentle way to facilitate learning about your loved one’s final wishes without discomfort or stress.
At Travis Monument Group, we are familiar with the best ways to plan your memorial and are ready to assist you. We can talk you through cemetery options as well as memorial ideas and, based on our conversations, discover the right options for your eternal rest.
You don’t change things that have worked for generations. They are tried and true. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, it’s forever.
– Charles Minozzi Sr.
President and Master Stone Mason
