Many individuals choose to plan their funeral in advance. There are a number of advantages to planning in advance. A primary one is the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have taken care of the details of your funeral, sparing family members from having to do so at the time of your death and that you wishes will be fulfilled. Cost savings is another benefit. By planning your funeral at today’s prices, you can realize significant savings. Funds are generally placed into a specialized insurance vehicle which immediately begins to grow to cover future increases in cost. By paying for your funeral expenses in advance, your family is spared a financial burden at the time of death. Any funds that remain in the policy after current funeral expenses are paid are returned to the family. An additional benefit is that personal insurance policies can go to the beneficiary tax free.