March 1997
The Director - Features
Preneed: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
A basic problem with preneed is that regardless of how the money is financed there will always be a shortfall or overage at the time of the funeral
What funeral directors do with preneed today will have serious consequences for the future. If a funeral home owner spends tomorrow's profits today, how can he or she operate the business tomorrow?
Preneed: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, written by Wyoming FDA's Executive Director Curtis Rostad, discusses the importance of handling funds wisely and addresses a particular problem found in preneed regardless of how preneed money is financed, the amount needed at the time of the funeral and the amount available to finance it is never exactly the same. There is always a shortage or a surplus.
Rostad also expresses his viewpoint on preneed, pointing out that accepting funds prior to need is for the convenience of the consumer and funeral service professionals must remember that it is not their money being invested. When they lose sight of that, the future of the profession is endangered.
