Can a licensed insurance agent sell preneed contracts that include funeral services and goods?

A licensed insurance agent is not permitted to sell preneed contracts that include funeral services and goods. Preneed contracts, which are agreements made in advance to pay for funeral services and merchandise, can only be sold by individuals who are licensed funeral directors or by entities that are licensed to provide such services.

Miami law specifies that licensed funeral directors have the appropriate training and knowledge required to discuss and sell funeral services and goods comprehensively. This ensures that consumers receive accurate information tailored to the specific legal, emotional, and logistical aspects of their future funeral arrangements.

While an insurance agent may deal with financial products related to preneed planning, this does not extend to the specific sale of funeral service contracts. The restrictions in place are primarily designed to protect consumers by ensuring that only qualified professionals provide these sensitive services. Thus, allowing insurance agents to sell these contracts without the necessary funeral directing credentials could lead to misunderstandings or misrepresentation of the services included in a preneed contract.