Grieving for a loved one is acutely difficult just after the loss, and it's not a time when you want to sit across the desk from a salesperson in a high-pressure, time-sensitive situation. You’re vulnerable to making hasty, costly decisions that might not make sense if you'd just had a little more time.

Funeral homes provide important services, but they are businesses with a goal of maximizing each sale. They make money by selling products and services, some of which you and your family may not want, need, or be able to afford.

In this episode, we review the many choices you have when a loved one dies, what funeral homes are required to disclose, and the marketing tricks some use to push unnecessary or high-end products. Plus, we explain why it’s important to pre-plan your funeral.

Special Guests: Joshua Slocum, executive director of the nonprofit Funeral Consumers Alliance, and Kevin Brasler, executive editor of Checkbook.org.

Read Checkbook's full report on funeral homes including ratings and undercover price research, plus advice and resources to help plan a funeral.