Episcopal LifeSelections: Paying ahead of time may be risky venture,

Paying ahead of time may be risky venture

Prepaid funerals are today a lucrative business in the United States, as consumers seek peace of mind about the end of life. They come with risks, however.

Roughly 21 million Americans have prepaid at least a portion of their burial or funeral expenses, according the the American Association of Retired Persons. Such sales, known as "pre-need sales" total somewhere between $20 billion and $40 billion, according to AARP.

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