Optimate Funeral Planning.
If you’re worried about your family being able to afford your funeral when you die or that your wishes will not be carried out as you would like, you might have considered a funeral plan, but how does it work?
At its simplest, a funeral plan allows you to pay up-front for your funeral so your relatives don’t have to cover the costs themselves – although they are allowed to pay for your funeral using money from your estate as soon as you die (and it’s not subject to inheritance tax).
You have the choice of either paying a lump sum or monthly instalments, usually over one to ten years. One-off payments usually range between £2,895 and £5,000.
Optimate Consulting has access to a wide range of plans to meet clients’ needs, contact us to speak to one of our specialists,
Get In Touch >
FAQ’s
What’s included in a funeral plan?
A funeral plan will not include everything you need for a funeral. Exactly what is covered will vary from provider to provider.
Funeral plans may cover viewings of the deceased, a limousine procession and a church service, but burial plots are often left out. Other costs, not traditionally met by a funeral director, are also not included, such as the cost of flowers.
In addition, some costs may not be met fully, and your family may have to pay the rest. For example, many providers only contribute towards the cost of cremation or burial. As always, check the details to make sure you know exactly what you are buying.
Is your money safe?
To safeguard your plan, your provider will either place it in a trust fund or invest it in an insurance policy that pays out when you die.
The Financial Conduct Authority doesn’t directly regulate funeral plans, but it does have rules to safeguard your money if it is placed in a trust or invested in an insurance policy.
There is a professional body for providers called the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA), which has a code of conduct which all of its member must comply with.
As part of the code, the FPA’s members and the FPA itself pledge that if a provider goes bust they will look into paying for funerals that are covered by funeral plans.
You may also be protected under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Under the Act, a credit card provider must protect purchases over £100 if there is a problem with good and services you have paid for, or if they the company you are buying from goes bust.
If you are paying for your funeral plan in total upfront, you can benefit from section 75 protection by putting part of the bill on your credit card.
If you want to pay by monthly instalments you can also gain protection by using the credit card to pay any deposits or asking your provider to pay part of the bill up front using the card.
Why should I purchase a funeral plan?
Some reasons as to why it is important to have a funeral plan in place.
Avoid rising funeral costs.
Nobody wants their family to face money worries in the future. But funeral costs have risen by 92% over the last 11 years, and while the average cost of a funeral in 2004 was £1,920, by 2015 it was £3,693*. a staggering increase of 88%. With funeral costs increasing at a greater rate than inflation, prices are expected to be approaching £7,000** by 2025, so don’t delay.
*Source: SunLife Reports 2013 & 2015 **Source: Avalon’s projections for 2025 based on 2005 & 2015 figures.
Peace of mind for you and your family.
At a stressful time, it could help your family avoid difficult decisions. When it comes to sitting in front of a Funeral Director to arrange the funeral, not knowing what their loved one wanted can be very upsetting for the family. – and prevent any financial worries over how to pay for the funeral costs.
Save money by acting today.
That’s why it pays to act now. With a plan from Optimate Consulting no matter how much the price of your funeral director’s services increase in the future, your family will have nothing more to pay for those services included in your plan – guaranteed. And the sooner you take out a plan, the greater the saving could be
Optimate Consulting has access to a wide range of plans to meet clients’ needs, contact us to speak to one of our specialists,
Get In Touch > or call us today on 0800 023 6524.
Compare Funeral Plans
Why choose a Safe Hands plan?
Safe Hands are confirmed as one of the most affordable – if not the most affordable providers on the UK market. See below for a current price comparison between all of the major providers.
Company
Safe Hands
Golden Charter
Golden Leaves
Age UK
Liberty
Standard Plan
£3,355
£3,295
£3,105
£3,295
£3,350
Intermediate Plan
£3,595
£3.650
£3,460
£3,650
£3,800
Premium Plan
£3,900
£3,899
£3,710
£3,899
£4,200
Safe Hands Pre-Paid Funeral Plans
Pearl – £3,355
Our Pearl funeral plan is ideal for those who have simplicity in mind. Your loved ones will have the reassurance of a traditional, dignifi ed, ceremony, with no compromise on Safe Hands’ usual levels of care and attention to detail.
VIEW PLAN DETAILS
What’s included in the Pearl Funeral Plan?
- Care and preparation of the deceased
- A simple, veneered, coffin with nameplate
- A funeral hearse plus bearers
- 24 hour collection of deceased, and transfer to funeral home/chapel of rest (within 25 miles**)
- Organising the service at the crematorium/cemetery
- Family support and guidance provided by the funeral director
- Funeral procession from home/funeral home to crematorium/cemetery
- Time of funeral agreed mutually between funeral director and family
- Visits to chapel of rest permitted at any time; subject to appointment with the funeral director.
* If, at the time of your funeral, the £1,200 disbursements allowance (+CPI uplift if applicable) is insufficient to cover the actual cost of the cremation fee, doctor’s fee, and minister’s/celebrant’s fee for the service at the crematorium, then your representatives will be required to pay any shortfall.
** Additional mileage, if applicable, will be charged at the funeral director’s prevailing rate at the time of death.
***Customers are not permitted to nominate funeral directors that are owned by Dignity Plc at the current time.
This plan retails at £3,355 (including £1,200 allowance towards 3rd party charges)*
Protect your family by buying from one of the UK’s best funeral plan providers.
Sapphire – £3,595
Our Sapphire funeral plan is the most popular in our range. It includes a wood-veneered coffi n, plus a limousine to transport your loved ones to the ceremony.
VIEW PLAN DETAILS
What’s included in the Sapphire Funeral Plan?
- Care and preparation of the deceased
- A simple, veneered, coffin with nameplate
- A funeral hearse plus bearers
- One following limousine
- 24 hour transfer of the deceased to funeral home/chapel of rest (within 25 miles**)
- Organising the service at the crematorium/cemetery
- Family support and guidance provided by the funeral director
- Funeral procession from home/funeral home to crematorium/cemetery
- Time of funeral agreed mutually between funeral director and family
- Visits to chapel of rest permitted at any time; subject to appointment with the funeral director.
* If, at the time of your funeral, the £1,200 disbursements allowance (+CPI uplift if applicable) is insufficient to cover the actual cost of the cremation fee, doctor’s fee, and minister’s/celebrant’s fee for the service at the crematorium, then your representatives will be required to pay any shortfall.
** Additional mileage, if applicable, will be charged at the funeral director’s prevailing rate at the time of death.
***Customers are not permitted to nominate funeral directors that are owned by Dignity Plc at the current time.
See our Terms and Conditions for more details.
This plan retails at £3,595 (including £1,200 allowance towards 3rd party charges)*
Protect your family by buying from one of the UK’s best funeral plan providers.
Ruby – £3,900
Our Ruby funeral plan provides a comprehensive package and is particularly suited to those with larger families, or who expect many mourners to attend. The plan covers 2 limousines, a fl oral coffin spray, open visiting hours to the chapel of rest, a quality rosewood or oak-veneered coffin, and 24 hour support.
VIEW PLAN DETAILS
What’s included in the Ruby Funeral Plan?
- Care and preparation of the deceased
- Oak-effect, veneered coffin with nameplate
- A funeral hearse plus bearers
- Two following limousines
- 24 hour transfer of the deceased to funeral home/chapel of rest (within 25 miles**)
- Organising the service at the crematorium/cemetery
- Family support and guidance provided by the funeral director
- Funeral procession from home/funeral home to crematorium/cemetery
- Time of funeral agreed mutually between funeral director and family
- Visits to chapel of rest permitted at any time; subject to appointment with the funeral director.
* If, at the time of your funeral, the £1,200 disbursements allowance (+CPI uplift if applicable) is insufficient to cover the actual cost of the cremation fee, doctor’s fee, and minister’s/celebrant’s fee for the service at the crematorium, then your representatives will be required to pay any shortfall.
** Additional mileage, if applicable, will be charged at the funeral director’s prevailing rate at the time of death.
***Customers are not permitted to nominate funeral directors that are owned by Dignity Plc at the current time.
See our Terms and Conditions for more details.
This plan retails £3,900 (including £1,200 allowance towards 3rd party charges*)*
Protect your family by buying from one of the UK’s best funeral plan providers
Topaz – £2,275
A new product to our range, the Topaz plan is the most affordable plan option. It includes all the funeral director’s fees and services, a standard, veneered, coffin, a hearse and 2 bearers, but excludes 3rd Party Charges.
VIEW PLAN DETAILS
What’s included in the Topaz Funeral Plan?
- Care and preparation of the deceased
- A simple, veneered, coffin with nameplate
- A funeral hearse plus bearers
- 24 hour transfer of the deceased to funeral home/chapel of rest (within 25 miles**)
- Organising the service at the crematorium/cemetery
- Family support and guidance provided by the funeral director
- Funeral procession from home/funeral home to crematorium/cemetery
- Time of funeral agreed mutually between funeral director and family
- Visits to chapel of rest permitted at any time; subject to appointment with the funeral director.
* If, at the time of your funeral, the £1,200 disbursements allowance (+CPI uplift if applicable) is insufficient to cover the actual cost of the cremation fee, doctor’s fee, and minister’s/celebrant’s fee for the service at the crematorium, then your representatives will be required to pay any shortfall.
** Additional mileage, if applicable, will be charged at the funeral director’s prevailing rate at the time of death.
***Customers are not permitted to nominate funeral directors that are owned by Dignity Plc at the current time.
See our Terms and Conditions for more details.
This plan retails at £2,275 but excludes any allowance for 3rd party charges*
Protect your family by buying from one of the UK’s best funeral plan providers.
The Small Print. Optimate Consulting Ltd is an administrative hub, processing client applications on behalf of our business partners. As a result of this, we are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. We are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We do not promote regulated products to the public or provide any form of financial advice on investments or pensions which are regulated by the FCA we will refer you to a suitably qualified person. Should you require Financial Advice, we recommend you contact your Financial Adviser. If you do not have a Financial Adviser we recommend you search the Financial Services Register to find an authorised firm that meets your requirements. If you require assistance on the completion of an application, please feel free to contact us. Optimate Consulting Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales company no.10249349, registered address Unit 8 & 9, Parsons Court, Welbury Way, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham DL5 6