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FUNERAL director Julian Walker has
spent much of his life helping those
who have been bereaved.
“Death is something no-one wants to
think about and that’s natural,” says
Julian, director of Berkshire funeral
directors AB Walker.
“But for many people pre-planning
for later life brings peace of mind and
financial security.”
AB Walker is one of Berkshire’s oldest
family businesses and is now run by the
fifth generation of the same family. They
have seen soaring demand for funeral
plans.
“Funeral plans are often bought by
people as part of later life planning,” says
Julian.
“For many people planning their funeral
in advance has become an established
way of taking care of the future.”
Often people have experienced the grief
of bereavement and want to spare their
families the stress of making funeral
arrangements.
Some are eager to ensure financial
security by paying in advance to protect
against increasing costs. For others,
knowing that their personal wishes are
documented in their funeral plan brings
satisfaction and peace of mind.
These wishes can range from a simple
decision regarding the choice of hymns
to specifying clothes they want to be
buried in or the subsequent disposal of
cremated remains.
“We can advise and assist with all the
details,” says Julian.
AB Walker offers a wide spectrum of later
life planning services in partnership with
Golden Charter. These legal services
cover all aspects of financial provision
including tax and estate planning.
“It can be emotionally and financially
draining to cope with arrangements and
legal matters following a death,” says
Julian. “Later life services are designed
to give control over the future and protect
relatives from financial worry and stress.”
Services offered by AB Walker are
developed to protect assets from a range
of different issues that may arise in the
future and to ensure that effective plans
are in place for legacies.
Having a valid will reduces the chances
of family disputes and may result in
controlling the amount paid in inheritance
tax through the preparation of the estate
before death.
Many people falsely assume that
partners and children will automatically
inherit property and assets, however
without a will or an invalid will due to a
change in circumstances may result in
relatives not receiving what was intended.
The increasing stress caused by issues
involving social care costs, extended
families, property values and the
increase risk of dementia in later life
can be eased by planning ahead and
arranging lasting power of attorney.
AB Walker has been part of the
community in Berkshire for nearly 200
years. There is a branch in Thatcham as
well as branches in Reading, Bracknell,
Wokingham, Henley-on-Thames,
Caversham and Maidenhead.
“We regularly witness the impact on
those left behind where no planning has
taken place,” says Julian. “In the extreme,
it can cause family disputes and conflict,
avoidable financial burden or increased
complexity and anxiety when trying to
make appropriate choices.
“We are here to help and to bring peace
of mind.”
Anyone who would like to discuss
Pre-Paid Funeral Plans and Later Life
Planning can contact Anna Rhys-
Williams on (01635) 873672.
LATER
LIFE
PLANNING
– WITH AB WALKER