Lisencing & Compliance

Transparency, and Adherence

Our Commitment to Your Protection

At CAS Associates LLC and FuneralPlanningNJ.com, we believe that trust is earned through strict adherence to the law and uncompromising ethical standards.

  • Licensed & Qualified: Christy Ann Saracino is a fully licensed Funeral Director in the state of New Jersey (License No. [available upon request]) and a licensed New Jersey Insurance Producer for life insurance (including funeral insurance). CAS Associates LLC is a registered New Jersey business entity operating in compliance with state regulations. These credentials mean we meet all educational, exam, and ethical standards required by law. We also engage in continuing education to keep our knowledge up-to-date.
  • Funeral Regulations: We strictly adhere to all New Jersey laws governing funeral services and pre-need arrangements. New Jersey has some of the strongest consumer protections in the country for prepaid funeral, and we embrace those rules. For example, state law restricts the sale of pre-need contracts to licensed funeral directors – Christy Ann’s dual licensure fulfills this requirement. We also abide by the prohibition on unsolicited “cold calling” for funeral sales you will never receive unwanted marketing contact from us. Every pre-need agreement we facilitate is written on state-approved contracts and includes all required disclosures. We provide you with copies of all documents for your records, as mandated.
  • Financial Safeguards: New Jersey law requires that funds for pre-paid funerals be handled in specific secure ways – either placed in a trust fund or used to purchase a specially designed insurance policy. We comply with these requirements to the letter. If you pre-pay through us, 100% of your money (principal and any interest or growth) is allocated to the trust or insurance policy for your benefit. We will never access your pre-need funds for any other purpose. Additionally, revocable pre-paid agreements in NJ are fully refundable upon request, and we will promptly assist with any refund process should you ever choose to cancel a revocable plan.
  • Federal Regulations (FTC Funeral Rule): We follow the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, which is a set of national guidelines to protect funeral consumers. This means we will always provide itemized price information, never misrepresent legal or cemetery requirements, and will not pressure you into buying goods or services you don’t want. Even though Christy Ann operates somewhat independently of a specific funeral home, she ensures that any funeral home involved in your arrangements provides you with a General Price List and Statement of Goods and Services Selected, as required by the Funeral Rule.
  • Insurance Compliance: As an insurance producer, Christy Ann abides by all rules set by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. Any insurance products offered (such as preneed life insurance through Homesteaders Life) meet the state’s standards for suitability and disclosure. We do not offer any insurance or preneed funding mechanism that is not authorized by law. Furthermore, we do not engage in any financing schemes like installment plans or reverse mortgages for funerals that are prohibited. Our practice is to only use approved, reliable funding methods that protect you and your family.
  • Ethical Standards: We are proud members of the professional community and hold ourselves to high ethical standards. Christy Ann is a member of state and national funeral director associations (NJSFDA, NFDA) and subscribes to their codes of professional conduct. You can expect honesty, transparency, and respect in all our dealings. If ever you feel something is not right, we encourage you to speak up – and we will work to address it immediately.

By choosing FuneralPlanningNJ.com and CAS Associates LLC, you are entrusting your plans to a provider that values integrity and follows the law at every step. We welcome any questions about our licenses, certifications, or compliance policies. In fact, we find that informed clients are the best clients! We want you to be comfortable and confident in all aspects of our service.

In Summary: Your privacy is safeguarded in everything we do, and our operations comply with (or exceed) the regulations that exist to protect you. We believe that by doing things the right way, we build a foundation of trust that is essential in this field. Thank you for placing your trust in us. If you ever have concerns about privacy or compliance issues, please contact Christy Ann directly – she will be more than happy to provide additional information or reassurance.