What We Do

The Essential Planning Group encompasses six distinct divisions—all of which have been specifically designed to provide an array of services for the death care professional.

 The Essential Planning Group’s Divisions

American Funeral & Cemetery Trust Services (AFCTS) – This is a full-service Master Trust program that provides an array of amenities to help industry executives manage their preneed and endowment care funds. The AFCTS Master Trust is as unique and specialized as the clients we serve—it is structured with industry professionals in mind and accurately anticipates their needs. The AFCTS Master Trust is a complete turnkey program—we provide all supplies and materials that are required. The AFCTS Master Trust program administers client preneed and endowment accounts with a proprietary state of the art custom-designed software. The AFCTS Master Trust includes the services of a qualified Trustee, a registered Investment Manager, and an experienced Administrator.

Third Party Administration (TPA) - This has been specifically designed to allow funeral homes and cemeteries the ability to designate their own Trustee/Custodial Bank and Investment Manager. With this service, we work collaboratively with the designated Trustee/Custodial Bank and Investment Manager to provide a fully customized recordkeeping component.

Preneed Insurance Plan - The preneed insurance division of The Essential Planning Group provides funeral homes with the most versatile and robust preneed policies and agency structure available while providing funeral homes with an alternative option for their preneed funds.

National Cemetery Endowment Care Trust Services (NCECTS) - We anticipate that NCECTS will soon become one of the fastest growing products offered by The Essential Planning Group. This has been designed to provide small and mid-sized cemeteries with the same investment advantages as larger ones. NCECTS utilizes traditional investments and also includes a prudent percentage in alternative investments. This product is specifically designed for cemetery endowment care funds.

American Prepaid Cremation Service (APCS) – This Master Trust was developed to specialize in the administration of preneed funds for cremation providers. APCS is an independently operated Master Trust designed to fulfill the specific needs of the cremation market.

Worldwide Travel Protection Plan – This is a unique membership plan that protects clients/families from additional expenses when death occurs away from home and beyond the funeral home’s service area. Coverage is worldwide and provided at a nominal cost.