TC Funeral: How to Introduce Funeral Cover to Customers

 

Lesson 5: 
TC Funeral — Helping Families Plan Ahead

Introduction

Building a TC Direct business is not only about selling physical products.

As you progress, you may discover other products and services that allow you to meet different customer needs and create additional business opportunities.

One of these is TC Funeral.

Planning for funeral expenses may not always be an easy conversation, but it is an important one. A funeral can place financial pressure on a family at a time when they are already dealing with the loss of a loved one.

TC Funeral provides funeral cover options designed to help families prepare for these expenses and provide practical financial support when it is needed most. 

In this lesson, you will learn what TC Funeral is, the available plan options, who can be covered, waiting periods, benefits, payment options and how you can introduce this opportunity to potential customers.

You don't have to pressure someone into taking funeral cover. Your job is to create awareness, provide accurate information and help interested customers take the next step.

1. What Is TC Funeral?

TC Funeral is a funeral plan offered through Table Charm Direct.

The plan is underwritten by The Hollard Insurance Company Limited, a licensed non-life insurer and authorised Financial Services Provider. Table Charm Direct acts as a Juristic Representative of Hollard Insurance Company Limited. 

This is important for you as a Business Builder.

You are introducing customers to an available funeral-cover option. You should use the approved information provided to you and never present yourself as a financial adviser if you are not authorised to provide financial advice.

2. Why Would Someone Consider Funeral Cover?

Think about what happens when a family loses someone.

There may be funeral-related expenses at a time when the family is emotionally and financially vulnerable.

TC Funeral is designed to help protect families from the financial burden associated with funeral expenses. 

This means your conversation doesn't have to begin with:

“Do you want to buy a funeral policy?”

You could begin with:

“Have you made a plan for how your family would manage funeral expenses if something unexpected happened?”

That creates awareness without using fear.

3. Three Simple Steps to Get a TC Funeral Plan

The process is presented in three simple stages.

STEP 1 — ASSIST YOUR CUSTOMER TO APPLY

As a TC Direct Business Builder, you are the person who introduces the TC Funeral opportunity and assists your interested customer with the application process.

When a customer decides that they would like to apply, guide them through the sign-up process using the appropriate TC Direct channel available to you.

Your role is to:

●  Explain the available options.

●  Answer questions within your knowledge.

●  Help the customer complete the application.

●  Make sure the customer receives the correct information.

●  Follow the approved TC Funeral process when submitting the application.

Don't simply send an interested customer away to find their own way to a TC Centre or the website. Stay involved and assist them through the process.

STEP 2 — HELP YOUR CUSTOMER CHOOSE A PLAN

Once your customer is ready to apply, help them understand the available options.

They can choose between:

■   Individual Plan

Cover for the policyholder.

■  Family Plan

Cover for the policyholder, one spouse and up to five children.

■  Extended Family Plan

An option to extend cover to additional family members, subject to the applicable terms and age requirements.

Your job isn't to tell the customer which plan they must choose. Help them understand the options so they can make an informed decision.

STEP 3 — HELP YOUR CUSTOMER THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS 

Your Customer Is Your Lead

When you introduce TC Funeral to someone and they show genuine interest, don't simply give them a link and walk away.

Your value as a Business Builder is not just in telling people that TC Funeral exists.

Your value is in starting the conversation, explaining the opportunity, assisting the customer and guiding them through the process.

Think of it as:

INTRODUCE → EXPLAIN → ASSIST → COMPLETE

That makes the Business Builder's role much clearer and reinforces the idea that you are building a customer relationship, not merely distributing a website link.

4. The Three Plan Options

Let us delve deeper into the three main ways customers can structure their cover.

■  Individual Plan

The Individual Plan covers the policyholder. 

The available options are:

Cover Amount	Monthly Premium
R5 000	R45
R10 000	R75
R25 000	R120

■  Family Plan

The Family Plan covers:

The policyholder + 1 spouse + up to 5 children. 

Cover Amount	Monthly Premium
R5 000	R69
R10 000	R119
R25 000	R219

■  Extended Family Plan

This option allows funeral cover to be extended beyond the immediate household.

Up to 7 additional family members can be covered, including relatives such as parents, siblings, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, grandchildren and a major child of the policyholder. 

The premiums are calculated per life insured and vary according to the age of the person being added. 

For example:

Cover	Age 1–64	Age 65–75	Age 76–85
R10 000	R50	R160	R330
R25 000	R100	R370	R750

Extended family rates are per life insured and change according to the age of the individual being added to the policy.

Important: 

Don't quote an extended-family premium without checking the age of the person being added.

5. Who Can Be Covered?

The plan has specific age requirements.

■  Policyholder

18–64 years

■  Spouse

18–64 years

■  Extended Parent

18–79 years

■  Children

Children can be covered from birth, with the stated cover extending to age 21, or to age 24 if they are studying and financially dependent. 

The age information is important because eligibility should always be checked rather than assumed.

6. Understanding the Waiting Periods

This is one of the most important things you should know before talking to customers.

The waiting periods are:

Cause of Death	Waiting Period
Accidental Death	0 months
Natural Death	6 months
Suicide	12 months

A waiting period means that, from the start of the policy, benefits are not payable for specified causes of death during that period. Once the applicable waiting period has expired, claims from all causes will be assessed. 

Why must you understand this?

Because you should never simply tell a customer, “You are covered immediately.”

The correct information depends on the circumstances and the applicable waiting period.

7. Additional Benefits

TC Funeral also includes additional benefits highlighted in the plan information.

■  Accidental Death Benefit

The plan provides a payout on both funeral and accidental-death claims. 

■  Transport Benefit

A R1 000 payout is available within 48 hours of an approved claim, for the main member only. 

■  Cash “Grocery” Payout

A R2 000 payout is available within 48 hours of an approved claim, for the main member only. 

■  Important Payment Rule

Missing two payments results in policy cancellation. 

These details are important when explaining the plan because a customer should understand that maintaining the policy is also part of having cover.

8. TC Funeral Is More Than a Sales Opportunity

This is where I would want you, as a Business Builder, to think differently.

You are not simply advertising:

“Funeral plan available!”

You are introducing an opportunity for someone to plan ahead.

Your conversation could begin with:

“Have you ever thought about how your family would manage funeral expenses?”

If the person is interested, you can then explain that TC Funeral offers Individual, Family and Extended Family options.

You don't have to force the conversation.

Let the customer's interest guide the next step.

9. Don't Use Fear to Sell Funeral Cover

Funeral products can easily be marketed using fear.

For example:

❌ “You could die tomorrow. What will happen to your family?”

This may grab attention, but it isn't the type of business-building approach I would recommend for your training.

Instead, focus on planning, preparation and family protection.

For example:

“Planning ahead can help your family avoid additional financial pressure during a difficult time. Have you considered funeral cover?”

This creates a conversation without frightening people.

10. Ask Questions Instead of Pressuring

Here are some natural questions you could use:

“Do you currently have funeral cover?”

“Are you looking for individual or family cover?”

“Would you like to know more about the available cover amounts?”

“Would you like to see the options for covering additional family members?”

If the customer says yes, continue the conversation.

If they say no, respect their decision.

A good Business Builder understands that not every conversation has to end in a sale.

11. Your Responsibility as a Business Builder

Because TC Funeral involves insurance, you need to communicate carefully.

DO:

✔ Use the latest approved information.

✔ Explain the available options accurately.

✔ Tell customers about applicable waiting periods.

✔ Give accurate premium information.

✔ Explain that extended-family rates depend on age.

✔ Direct customers to the appropriate application or information channel.

✔ Admit when you don't know something.

DON'T:

❌   Promise that a claim will definitely be approved.

❌   Give advice outside your authorisation.

❌   Hide waiting periods.

❌   Make up benefits.

❌   Change the stated premiums.

❌   Use fear to pressure customers.

❌   Guarantee that a particular plan is the “best” option for someone.

Trust is more valuable than one sale.

12. A Simple TC Funeral Marketing Formula

For your physical products, you learned:

PROBLEM → PRODUCT → BENEFIT → CALL TO ACTION

For funeral cover, I would use a slightly different approach:

QUESTION → AWARENESS → OPTION → CALL TO ACTION

QUESTION

“Have you made a plan for funeral expenses?”

↓

AWARENESS

“TC Direct offers TC Funeral cover options.”

↓

OPTION

“Individual, Family and Extended Family options are available.”

↓

CALL TO ACTION

“Message me if you'd like to learn more about the available options.”

This is informative rather than aggressive.

13. Example WhatsApp Status

Option 1 — Simple

Have you made a plan for funeral expenses? 

TC Funeral offers Individual, Family and Extended Family cover options.

If you'd like to learn more about the available plans, send me a message.

Option 2 — Family Focused

Planning ahead is one way of looking after the people you love. 

TC Funeral offers options for individuals, families and extended family members.

Would you like to know more? Message me.

Option 3 — Curiosity

Did you know TC Direct also offers funeral cover?

Individual ✔️

Family ✔️

Extended Family ✔️

Learn about the available options and premiums.

Message me for more information.

14. Your Learning Activity

Now imagine that a potential customer asks:

“What is TC Funeral?”

Write a short answer in your own words.

My answer:

Now answer these:

1. What are the three plan options?

2. What is the waiting period for natural death?

3. What is the waiting period for accidental death?

4. How many additional family members can be covered under the Extended Family Plan?

5. What are the three payment options?

6. What should you do if you don't know the answer to a customer's question?

15. Create Your First TC Funeral Post

Use:

QUESTION → AWARENESS → OPTION → CALL TO ACTION

Write your own WhatsApp Status or social-media post.

My post:

Before you publish, check:

□  Is my information accurate?

□  Have I used the latest information?

□  Have I mentioned the relevant waiting periods when discussing the plan?

□  Are my premiums correct?

□  Have I avoided making promises about claims?

□  Am I avoiding fear-based marketing?

□  Is my call to action clear?

16. Remember This

You don't need to become an insurance expert to introduce TC Funeral.

You need to know what you're introducing, understand the basic options, communicate accurately and know when to direct a customer for further assistance.

Your approach should be:

Create awareness → Provide information → Answer responsibly → Let the customer decide.

Lesson Takeaway

TC Funeral gives you another opportunity to expand your TC Direct business beyond physical products.

But remember that this is a financial protection product, so responsible communication is especially important.

Don't sell through fear.

Don't make promises you cannot guarantee.

Don't guess when you don't know.

Instead:

Learn the information.

Start the conversation.

Listen to the customer.

Share accurate information.

Build trust.

A successful Business Builder doesn't just look for someone to sell to. They look for an opportunity to provide something that may genuinely be relevant to a customer's needs.

Your next step

Now that you understand TC Funeral, think about three people in your network who might benefit from simply knowing that this option exists.

You don't have to sell to them.

Start with awareness.