For Professionals

Christy Ann Saracino works with a broad network of professionals who encounter clients in need of funeral planning. This includes estate planning and elder law attorneys, guardians and fiduciaries, financial advisors, hospice and hospital social workers, clergy and pastoral care providers, and even community organization leaders (like those in veterans’ groups or senior centers). Essentially, anyone in a role of advising seniors or families – or handling end-of-life affairs – can collaborate with Christy. She provides a trusted referral option when your clients need to discuss pre-need arrangements or require immediate assistance with a funeral. By partnering with Christy, you as a professional can extend your service by ensuring your clients get caring, expert help with funeral plans, while you remain focused on your area of expertise.

Christy acts as a knowledgeable guide and planner for your clients in all matters related to funerals. For example, if you’re an attorney helping a client get their affairs in order, Christy can step in to arrange a pre-paid funeral plan that aligns with the client’s estate and wishes. If you’re a social worker or healthcare professional with a patient who has no family, Christy can work with you to ensure that patient’s final arrangements are in place (and even serve as a liaison with a funeral home at the time of death). For financial advisors, Christy ensures that funds earmarked for funeral expenses are properly set aside in a regulated trust or policy, rather than sitting in liquid assets that could be depleted or count against Medicaid. In at-need scenarios, if a client of yours has passed, Christy can quickly assist the family or appointed guardian in coordinating the funeral, making the process much smoother. Overall, she adds value by handling the complex, often unfamiliar tasks of funeral planning with professionalism and sensitivity, which reflects well on you for recommending her. Your clients will receive top-notch service from a licensed funeral director, ensuring their needs are met and legal requirements are satisfied

Yes. One of Christy’s specialties is setting up Medicaid-compliant pre-need funeral arrangements. If your client is looking to spend down assets to qualify for Medicaid, Christy can establish an irrevocable funeral trust or insurance policy as allowed by New Jersey law. NJ specifically permits irrevocable pre-paid funerals for individuals applying for SSI/Medicaid – these funds are excluded from countable assets once properly arrangedweb.njsfda.org. Christy will work with you to determine an appropriate funeral cost that reasonably meets the client’s needs (avoiding excessive funding that might be disallowed). She will ensure the contract is marked irrevocable and that any excess funds will revert to the State of NJ after the funeral, as requiredweb.njsfda.org. By doing this, the client secures their funeral expenses and reduces their assets for Medicaid eligibility, all in a fully legal manner. Christy stays up-to-date on Medicaid rules and will provide documentation of the irrevocable contract for your files. This service can be invaluable for elder law attorneys and guardians managing Medicaid spend-downs.

No, there is no consulting fee. Christy offers her expertise to your clients as a service, and her compensation is derived from the funeral arrangements themselves (much like how an insurance broker or real estate agent is paid via a transaction, not by the hour). When she helps your client set up a pre-need plan, her pay comes from the insurance company commission or funeral home fee – the client does not pay extra for her guidance. Likewise, you as the referring professional are not charged anything. Christy’s goal is to be a value-added resource for you and your clients. By referring to her, you’re not committing your client to any added expenses; you’re simply connecting them with a helpful expert. Christy is very transparent and will make sure your clients understand the costs of any funeral arrangements they choose, which will be the same standard prices as if they went directly to a funeral provider. In short, involving Christy brings benefit at no additional cost, ensuring your clients get help without financial downside.

It’s easy to get started. You can either introduce your client directly to Christy (for instance, provide them with her contact information or arrange a meeting), or you can contact Christy first to discuss the situation and get initial guidance. Christy is very responsive – a phone call or email to her is all it takes to initiate a collaboration. She often offers to meet the client with you present, if that makes the client more comfortable, or she can meet one-on-one at a convenient time and place (even the client’s home or via a video call). There’s no formal contract needed for a referral; it’s a professional relationship based on trust. However, if you prefer, Christy can provide brochures or an overview of services for you to share with clients before they speak with her. Once connected, Christy will keep you in the loop (with the client’s permission) about the progress of any planning, so you’re aware that their funeral arrangements are handled. To sum up: simply reach out to Christy Ann Saracino, let her know you have a client who could use her help, and she will take it from there, delivering the same high standard of care that you give your clients.