Do I Really Need A Funeral Plan?

Of course not.

But when you think about it, there are so many events where planning makes good sense. From planning our finances to buying a house. From arranging a wedding to the arrival of a baby. From going to college to retiring. We plan for these events because if we didn’t, it would not only be chaotic but could also be very costly.

So, planning for your funeral actually makes good financial and practical sense. Why? Because having a funeral plan will remove this financial burden from your family at a very difficult time for them. Importantly, you are able determine what sort of funeral you want, and you can choose the specific plan that will best meet your wishes relieving your executors of what can be difficult questions to answer at the very worst time of their lives.

The other key benefit of having a funeral plan is that the cost of a funeral is fixed at today’s prices. In 2022, the average cost of a funeral, according to Sunlife research, was in excess of £4000. But with rising costs, buying a funeral plan now will very likely save your executors money.

Even if funeral prices doubled, the costs of your funeral will still be fully covered.

Is My Money Safe?

Absolutely, the money paid for a Golden Leaves Funeral Plan is held by the Golden Leaves Trust, which is managed by an independent board of trustees, who are required to ensure the adequacy of funds to cover the cost of funerals when they occur.

The Trustees have a vast amount of experience and knowledge covering such areas as funeral directing, consumer protection, trading standards, competition policy and regulation.

The trust is independently audited and subject to strict actuarial reporting, to ensure that it remains completely secure and adequately funded to pay for funeral liabilities. You can visit the trust website for all details www.goldenleavestrust.com

Are Funeral Plans Regulated?

Yes, as of 29^th July 2022, all funeral plan providers, including Golden Leaves, are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In total, approximately 1.6 million plans will fall under this regulation.

The regulation is intended to provide reassurance that:

• Customers get the plan they have paid for and it meets their needs.
• Customers’ money is looked after and used responsibly.
• Consumers get the information they need to make an informed decision.

Furthermore, customers of plans with authorised firms, can make a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, and ultimately a Golden Leaves Plan holder is covered by FSCS the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Why Should I Choose a Golden Leaves Plan?

Golden Leaves Limited was a founding member of the Funeral Planning Authority and is now fully authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide funeral plans. In fact, Golden Leaves was one of the first funeral planning companies to launch this type of product in the UK back in 1984.

Golden Leaves provides a number of different plans, together with a range of different payment options to give the flexibility you need to choose which is best for you.

All Golden Leaves Plans provide the following benefits:

• Protection against rising funeral costs.
• The full cost of a cremation set at today’s prices – with no more to pay.
• Funeral directors’ fees fixed at today’s prices for a burial funeral – with no more to pay.
• No intrusive medical checks.