Golden Charter, one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers*, has extended its relationship with the Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) for a further two years until 2020.
Golden Charter has been the official provider of funeral plans to IPW members since last year and this deal will remain in place following an increase in sales. The news comes after Golden Charter announced partnerships with a number of financial advice networks, including Julian Harris and the Right Mortgage & Protection Network.
The funeral plans allow holders the opportunity to pay now at today’s prices with nothing further to pay for a funeral director’s services included in the plan when the need arises.
Golden Charter has access to over 3,000 independent funeral directors across the UK, allowing willwriters, financial advisers and their clients to plan ahead with confidence. The firm will also provide members of the IPW with the support and guidance needed when offering funeral plans, from detailed product training to tailored promotional materials.
Funeral costs have risen sharply in the past decade, with the average funeral costing £4,078[1], up 70% in a decade.
Mark Moran, Director of Intermediary Sales at Golden Charter, said: “Concentrating our efforts specifically with members of the Institute of Professional Willwriters and other networks of regulated professionals such as IFAs has been a highly effective way of ensuring that the plans we deliver reflect the high quality standards of the independent funeral directors we work alongside.
“While the rising cost of funerals is often quoted as the primary reason for taking out a funeral plan, many of our plan holders find that the peace of mind it can bring is the greatest benefit to be realised. A pre-paid funeral plan, which freezes the cost of the funeral director’s services included in the plan at today’s prices, will help willwriters offer a holistic service for their clients.”
Dennis Gardener, Chairman at the Institute of Professional Willwriters, added: “Consumer protection is central to all that we do, and we have been at the forefront of the regulation debate over the years. As a result, we have been incredibly interested in the funeral planning space and the headlines that have been generated.
“Funeral costs continue to rise faster than inflation, so we see funeral plans as a crucial part of our members’ product suite. We believe Golden Charter has more than proved their worth to our members and we are delighted to continue working with them. Having a reputable and trusted partner in Golden Charter means we can provide an excellent service to our end clients and ensure people have proper plans in place.”
This article was submitted to be published by the Institute of Professional Willwriters as part of their advertising agreement with the Institute of Professional Willwriters. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Wills and Probate.
