The hardest decisions your family will ever face shouldn't happen in a hospital waiting room or funeral home office. That’s where end-of-life planning comes in. It’s about making choices now so the people you love don't have to make them during their time of grief. It means you get to decide how you're honored—instead of leaving others to guess.

As important as end-of-life planning is, a surprising majority of people put it on the back burner. According to a survey by The Conversation Project, 92% of Americans think it's important to talk about their final wishes—but only 32% have actually shared them.

You can help turn the tide by setting your plan in motion today.

What are the benefits of having a funeral plan?

Creating a plan for your final arrangements empowers you to create a sense of security, both for you and those you care about. Benefits include:

• Peace of mind: Your family won’t have to try to figure out what you would have wanted. They’ll have clear direction and reassurance that they’re fulfilling your wishes.
• Financial certainty: Funerals can be expensive. Planning ahead helps set a realistic budget and removes the financial strain from your loved ones.
• Personalization: A plan allows you to shape a meaningful farewell—one that reflects your values and your personality. That could be a traditional ceremony or a more informal celebration of life.

Planning now gives you more control and reduces confusion during a stressful time. It ensures your family can focus on remembering you—not on logistics.

What are the options for final arrangements?

When it comes to final arrangements, there’s no “one right way.” Your decision depends on your values, finances, and how you want your life to be honored. Below are factors you need to consider when planning.

1. Decide on burial, cremation, or an alternative

Choosing between cremation, burial, and other methods of final disposition is a deeply personal decision. Let’s take a look at some of your options:

• Burial: Burial remains a common choice for families—the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) projects the 2025 burial rate to be 31.6%.1 This option typically involves a casket, gravesite, cemetery plot, and headstone (or other marker). It can also refer to entombment above ground in a mausoleum or sepulcher. A burial can be done with or without a formal funeral or memorial service (direct burial). For those who prefer an eco-friendly alternative, green burials skip embalming and use biodegradable caskets or shrouds, which allows a natural return to the earth. According to the NFDA’s 2025 Consumer Awareness and Preferences Report, 61.4% of people say they’re interested in “green” funeral options.¹
• Cremation: Cremation is increasingly favored for its flexibility and affordability. According to the NFDA, the cremation rate is expected to reach 82.3% by 2045.² During this process, a body is reduced to ashes through high heat, typically in a specialized furnace. This results in fine ashes, which are then placed in an urn and returned to the family. After cremation, loved ones may choose to keep the ashes, scatter them in a meaningful place, bury them, or place them in a columbarium (a structure for storing urns). Cremation allows families to have a memorial or celebration of life at a later time. But like with a burial, it can also be done without a service (direct cremation).
• Alkaline hydrolysis: This eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation uses water, heat, and an alkaline solution instead of fire to gently break down the body. It produces ashes similar to conventional cremation, but with lower energy use and fewer emissions.
• Anatomical donation: A person can choose to donate their body to science, which helps support and advance medical education and research. This must be arranged in advance. Cremation or burial usually follows once the body has been utilized.

2. Decide on the type of service

How would you like the people you care about to gather and remember you? Just like any big event, a final farewell has a lot of moving parts—so it helps to firm up the details ahead of time. Below are some options to explore:

• Funeral: A funeral is a traditional service held with the body present, giving loved ones the chance to say their final goodbyes. It often includes religious elements such as readings, music, or prayers and typically takes place before burial or cremation. Funerals provide a more formal and structured way to honor a person’s life and begin the grieving process together.
• Memorial service: A memorial service can be held days, weeks, or even months after a person’s passing, which gives families more time and flexibility to plan. This type of service focuses on remembrance, sharing cherished photos and stories that honor a life well lived.

• Celebration of life: This type of service focuses less on loss and mourning and more on joy and gratitude. Celebrations of life tend to be informal, upbeat, and personalized—for example, they may feature the deceased’s favorite music and invite relatives to share their favorite stories. They bring a sense of comfort and closure while honoring a loved one’s legacy.
• Alternative memorials: Some people prefer symbolic tributes to a person who has passed, such as a tree planting, DIY keepsake, memorial charity fund, or online memorial website.

How much should I budget for a funeral?

The price tag of final arrangements can be high. But final expense planning—setting aside funds for end-of-life costs—helps take the weight off your loved ones by ensuring your wishes are both planned and paid for.

While funeral costs vary widely, knowing the averages can help you prepare:

• Traditional burial with service: $8,300 (with viewing and burial)³
• Cremation with service: $2,495 - $6,2803
• Direct cremation: $2,000

Extras like fresh flowers, memorial videos, musicians, obituaries, and transportation to and from the final resting place can add thousands more. Other factors affect cost, too, such as location, type of service, and the funeral home you choose. Since prices continue to rise with inflation, you’ll want to review your financial situation carefully and set realistic goals.

Here are some ways to plan ahead and ensure your final arrangement costs are covered:

1. Prepaid funeral plans: You can make end-of-life arrangements and pay ahead of time through a funeral home, which locks in today’s prices. But prepaid funeral plans can be less flexible if you move or the funeral home closes—so check policies carefully. Always review refund terms before prepaying.
2. Life insurance (including final expense insurance): The death benefit from a life insurance policy can help cover final costs after you pass away. There are two main types: term life insurance and whole life insurance. Final expense or burial insurance is a smaller whole life policy designed specifically for funeral and burial costs. Life insurance offers broader financial protection since it can be used to cover not only funeral costs, but also outstanding debts (e.g., medical bills), legal fees, and other expenses. But since premiums and eligibility depend on factors like age and health, you should compare policies before deciding.
3. Payable-on-death (POD) accounts: This is a simple bank account that transfers funds directly to a named beneficiary after death. One perk of a POD account is that it’s easy to set up and allows your family to avoid probate. But you’ll need to keep it updated to make sure the amount keeps pace with rising costs (and your preferences). 

5 steps for planning ahead

Planning your final arrangements may seem like a lot to take on. Consider breaking the process down into steps to make it less daunting:

1. Reflect on your personal wishes: Do you prefer burial or cremation? Do you want a traditional funeral service with a viewing and collation afterwards, or a simple celebration of life? Start by identifying what feels right and meaningful to you.
2. Discuss your plans with family: Open conversations now prevent misunderstandings and potential conflict later. It also reassures those you love that they’re honoring your choices.
3. Put your wishes in writing: Write down your plan and preferences in a separate document and keep it stored safely along with your will, advance directive, and other estate planning documents. The more detailed, the better. Consider specifics like: Type of service (religious, secular, celebration); preferred location (funeral home, place of worship, outdoors); music, readings, or speakers; and final resting place (cemetery, scattering site, etc.)
4. Review and update your plan regularly: Life changes—and it’s likely your plan will, too. Revisit your final arrangements every few years to ensure they still reflect the kind of sendoff you want (and can afford).

The gift of planning ahead

When you plan ahead for life’s final chapter, you spare your family from having to navigate grief and complex decisions at the same time. It’s a gift of certainty during uncertainty.

The best time to plan is now. “Think about the type of final farewell that feels right for you, review your options, and talk candidly with your family,” said Josh Hodges, NCOA's Chief Customer Officer. “What may feel uncomfortable today becomes invaluable guidance tomorrow. Thoughtful end-of-life planning spares your loved ones from guesswork and helps them honor your wishes with confidence.”

Sources

1. National Funeral Directors Association. Statistics. Found on the internet at https://nfda.org/news/statistics

2. National Funeral Directors Association. Americans Choosing Cremation at Historic Rates, NFDA Report Finds. September 18, 2025. Found on the internet at https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/9772/americans-choosing-cremation-at-historic-rates-nfda-report-finds

3. National Funeral Directors Association. 2023 NFDA General Price List Study Shows Inflation Increasing Faster than the Cost of a Funeral. December 8, 2023. Found on the internet at https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/8134/2023-nfda-general-price-list-study-shows-inflation-increasing-faster-than-the-cost-of-a-funeral