The vast majority of people don't think about final expenses until they're standing in a funeral home, grieving, and being handed a price list. Worse, without advance planning, families are left to make (and often debate) what their loved one would want, making an already stressful situation exponentially worse.

This is the gap we're trying to close with our series, "The Cost of Goodbye," a free educational seminar held throughout Massachusetts, and expanding to Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

What it is

This is a purely educational event (no timeshare-style presentations in disguise) where we have the uncomfortable conversation so many put off until it's too late. Scheduled for an hour, the presentation itself is around 35 minutes, leaving time for your questions, comments, and experiences. We talk about what final expenses typically cost, what options exist to plan for them ahead of time, how to make your final wishes known to your family, and what questions to ask before you ever have to make a decision under pressure. If you leave with nothing but a better idea of what you want or what to ask, that's a win.

Why it matters

The average cost of funerals and cremation is steadily increasing, especially when accounting for the additional unplanned expenses like a vault, a cemetery plot, flowers, and other smaller costs that quickly add up. Families are often surprised by the total, and how benefits provided by Social Security and the Veterans Administration often fall short.

Without prior planning, the burden falls to the grieving family to make a litany of decisions and secure the funds to cover the costs. Beyond that, often families can't agree on the logistics, causing further frustration and heartache. What happens if some family wants to scatter their loved one's ashes, and the rest think they should stay intact? Planning ahead won't make the the grief any easier, but it might make the days following the loss a little smoother.

Who this is for

Anyone & everyone. You don't need to have a plan or even want to plan to benefit from this event.

• Anyone who has thought, "I should deal with this someday..."
• Adult children trying to understand what to look for in their parent's plan
• Anyone who has been left to figure things out for someone else, and doesn't want to leave those decisions in someone else's lap
• Anyone who's curious about what a funeral costs these days

What we'll cover

• The dollars and cents (mostly dollars) of final expenses
• The differences between pre-planning and pre-funding
• What documents should be in your plans
• How final expense insurance works in plain terms (no jargon, no pressure)
• Questions to ask before committing to any plan or policy

No pressure. Genuinely.

We know 'insurance seminar' can sound like a trap. It isn't. Not only is there no obligation to buy anything, but we don't even take applications at the event, we don't require you to provide your contact information, there's no high-pressure follow-up, and no spinning prize wheel (we have one, but we only bust it out at craft & vendor fairs). If you have questions or want to meet with us after the event, you're welcome to do so, but the seminar itself is strictly informational. As someone who does this work every day, I would rather you understand your options than to be pressured into something.

Upcoming sessions

We present "The Cost of Goodbye" periodically throughout MA on our own, and offer the presentation at no cost to local organizations and businesses. If you're interested in inviting us to your location, feel free to email us at events@vellumandsigil.com. If you'd just like to attend an event, click here to view our upcoming dates.

Seating at these presentations is limited by the capacity of the venue, so reserving a spot ahead of time is a good idea. Didn't RSVP? Don't worry! Drop-ins are welcome. If there aren't any events in your area, we're happy to talk to you one-on-one or let you know when a new session gets added.

If you have questions about the seminar or final expense planning in general, feel free to reach out to Vellum & Sigil at 781.630.4601 or info@vellumandsigil.com.