Solo aging refers to the more than 20 million Americans over 50 who are navigating life without a spouse, nearby children or family to provide support. The 2020 US Census identified 8% of the US population over 55 have no biological children and no spouse or partner with women comprising the largest proportion (16%). Millions more Americans live alone without regular contact with their children or families. With marriage and birth rates declining across the US and the world, this trend will only increase over time. 

If you find yourself as a solo ager, don’t fret! You have the freedom to take control of your future and make a plan. Whether you’d like to pass an inheritance to distant family, use your hard earned money to fund your favorite charity, or simply want to be sure your wishes are honored, there are steps you can take today to ensure things happen in accordance to your wishes after you pass. As a Solo Ager, if you don’t make a plan the state will be forced to step in to manage distribution of your assets, estate and remains.

Funeral Pre-Planning

Proactively addressing funeral expenses through pre-planning and pre-payment is a strategic financial decision. It allows you to secure the prices paid today, avoid future inflation, and ensure your wishes are carried out.

A pre-paid funeral or cremation is an arrangement made with a funeral home in advance of need. Whether you pay in full or through monthly installments, you can budget for this expense in a way that aligns with your financial goals. Plans are customized to your choices and typically start around $3,000. Discussing pre-payment options with a licensed funeral provider allows you to budget accordingly and prepare for securing your plans.

Each person has unique preferences when it comes to their final arrangements. Some may prefer a traditional religious service, while others envision a celebration of life. Some might choose cremation with their ashes scattered in a meaningful location, while others prefer a burial with a specific headstone inscription.

Without clear guidance, a Solo Ager’s remains may be left to the local authorities or a public administrator. Or worse, the Solo Ager’s wishes may be unknown or unrespected by family with whom they were not close in life. Pre-planning allows you to outline your exact wishes, ensuring that your funeral reflects your values, beliefs, and preferences.

Plan for your Assets

Many people question the necessity of an estate plan and often conclude that the size of their estate doesn’t warrant future planning. Regardless of the size of your estate, it is important to establish a plan for your remaining assets after you pass, especially if you are a Solo Ager. 

Establishing a living trust is the best option to provide for the future of your assets. A living trust is a legal arrangement that holds your assets during your lifetime and distributes them in their entirety according to your wishes after your death or incapacity. A living trust does not require a court process or probate to execute and therefore incurs no additional legal fees, allowing your assets to be distributed in full as specified. 

A living trust will allow you to designate the distribution of your property and assets wherever you choose. Solo Agers often select charities and causes of significance to receive charitable bequests through their living trust. This can include retirement accounts and life insurance policies, in addition to physical and financial assets.

Why should you use an attorney to draft your living trust?

An attorney will ensure a living trust is legally valid, properly structured, and tailored to your specific needs and state laws. Experienced and trained estate planning attorneys will guide you through the process, answer questions about funding the trust, and help you avoid potential legal complications and disputes. 

Planning = Freedom

Now is the time to choose the direction for your journey! Whether you are 50 or 80, utilizing your freedom as a Solo Ager to outline your goals and desires for your assets and end-of-life will set you up for success. Sometimes aging can feel out of control and pre-planning is your opportunity to create the roadmap for your future.

 

Check out the full feature in Peak NV Spring Summer 2026 here.

Nevada Business Magazine’s annual list of Most Respected Leaders are chosen by a panel of judges who reviewed their history, community activity and leadership, this year’s Class of Most Respected Leaders are exceptional individuals who have shared insights on who they are and how they lead.

This year Rick Noel, owner of Walton’s Funerals and Cremations has been honored.

Check out the Online Edition HERE. Rick is featured on Page 40

Kim Kandaras appointed to Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation board of directors

Walton’s Funerals and Cremations is proud to share that co-owner Kim Kandaras has been appointed to the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation Board of Directors and appointed for another 4 year term on the Nevada State Funeral and Cemetery Services Board. 

“I am so proud to serve our community in both a professional and personal capacity. It is a joy to contribute to NNCCF’s mission through fun events like our recent Dozers & Dirt fundraiser to help families in need and I’m honored to be selected by Governor Lombardo to serve on our industry’s governing board again as well.” said Kim Kandaras, co-owner of Walton’s Funerals and Cremations. 

The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation is the only non-profit in the region solely dedicated to helping local children and their families affected by childhood cancer. NNCCF’s programs and services include the Family Assistance Fund, Inspire Scholarship program, Hope for the Holidays program and emotional support through No More Chemo celebrations and family activities. For more information visit www.nnccf.org. 

The Nevada State Funeral and Cemetery Services Board is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public by regulating the funeral services profession. The Board is composed of  funeral professionals and members of the general public appointed by the Nevada Governor to 4 year terms. For more information visit www.funeral.nv.gov.

Read the full article HERE

Walton’s Funerals and Cremations is honored to announce that we’ve been voted the Gold Winner for Best Funeral Home in the Best of Sierra Nevada 2025 contest.

This recognition means so much to our entire team because it reflects the trust and confidence of the communities we’re privileged to serve — Reno, Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and beyond. Each year, the Best of Sierra Nevada contest invites community members to vote for their favorite local businesses across 290 categories. To be selected as the Gold Winner for Best Funeral Home is a true testament to the compassion, professionalism, and dedication our staff brings to every family we serve.

We’re especially proud to share that this is our third consecutive year being recognized in the Best of Sierra Nevada — having earned Bronze Winner honors in both 2023 and 2024 before achieving Gold this year. This continued recognition reflects our team’s ongoing commitment to excellence and the trust our community places in us.

Since 1959, Walton’s has remained committed to helping families through life’s most difficult moments with dignity, respect, and care. We understand that every life is unique and deserves to be honored in a meaningful way. Winning this award reminds us why we do what we do: to support families when they need it most.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who voted for us and to those who continue to place their trust in Walton’s. Your support inspires us to uphold the highest standards of service and compassion as we look forward to many more years of caring for Northern Nevada families.

View all the 2025 Best of Sierra Nevada winners.

Grief is a journey—one that takes time, care, and community. In the Fall/Winter 2025 edition of Peak NV, Walton’s co-owner Rick Noel shares thoughtful insights on how we can honor loved ones while navigating loss.

Drawing on the work of renowned grief counselor Dr. Alan Wolfelt, Rick explores the six essential steps of mourning—from acknowledging the reality of death to finding new meaning in life. He emphasizes that grief isn’t something to “get over,” but a process of learning to live forward with purpose.

Rick also highlights the powerful role of funeral ceremonies in healing. Services offer space to remember, share stories, and receive support—key elements in moving toward acceptance. Beyond the ceremony, he encourages families to honor those who have passed through meaningful memorials such as scholarships, charitable contributions, or community spaces like memorial benches.

“Grief never ends,” Rick writes. “Instead, we learn to live with it as we find ways to live forward with meaning and purpose.”

Read the full article in the latest Peak NV to discover more ways to heal, honor, and celebrate the lives of those you love.

We are honored to share that Walton’s Funerals & Cremations – Chapel of the Valley has once again been voted Best Funeral Home in the Best of Carson City awards—making this our fourth consecutive win (2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025).

A Community Honor

This recognition means so much because it comes directly from the people we serve. Every vote cast is a reminder of the trust Carson City families place in us during life’s most tender and meaningful moments.

Why It Matters

• Decades of care and tradition: Walton’s Chapel of the Valley has been a part of the Carson City community for generations, walking alongside families with compassion and dignity.
• Four years of community support: Being recognized four years in a row underscores the importance of staying true to our mission: offering comfort, guidance, and personalized service when families need it most.
• Our team makes it possible: This award is a reflection of our dedicated staff. Their kindness, professionalism, and commitment to every family’s unique needs are the heart of Walton’s.

Looking Forward

As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to serving with the same compassion, respect, and care that have defined Walton’s for more than a century.

From all of us at Walton’s, thank you, Carson City, for this incredible honor—for four years and beyond.

View the entire list of 2025 Best of Carson City winners here.

We’re proud to share that Rick Noel, owner of Walton’s Funerals & Cremations, was featured in the July edition of Northern Nevada Business Weekly’s “Smart Money” publication with a thoughtful column on the importance of funeral pre-planning as part of a broader financial strategy.

In the article, Rick explains how pre-planning is not just about end-of-life decisions—it’s about protecting your family, preserving your financial legacy, and ensuring your wishes are carried out without burdening your loved ones.

He shares practical examples of how pre-paid plans can shield families from unexpected costs and outlines simple steps for starting the process, including:

• Talking openly with loved ones
• Researching options
• Setting a budget that fits your financial goals

At Walton’s, we offer free consultations for those interested in exploring pre-planning—no pressure, just compassionate guidance. Whether you choose to fund your arrangements now or simply want to have your wishes on file, we’re here to help bring peace of mind.

You can read the full article in the July issue of Smart Money by Northern Nevada Business Weekly.

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from our Chapel of the Valley location in Carson City: Casey McGary, a familiar and compassionate face at Walton’s Funerals and Cremations, is now a licensed funeral arranger.

Casey has been a valued member of the Walton’s team, known for her warm heart and dedication to the families we serve. In her newly licensed role, she will continue supporting families through the funeral and cremation planning process, now with expanded responsibilities, including arranging services, working directly with families, and coordinating details with cemeteries, insurance companies, and pre-need counselors.

Before joining Walton’s, Casey worked in senior care, where she was a source of comfort and stability to many. That same compassionate approach is evident in all she does today. Her experience, empathy, and deep sense of service led her to pursue licensure, further strengthening her ability to support families during one of life’s most difficult times.

“Compassion is a cornerstone of our culture at Walton’s, and Casey truly embodies that,” said Rick Noel, owner of Walton’s Funerals and Cremations. “We’re proud of her continued growth and honored to have her serving families in this important role.”

Casey’s achievement reflects Walton’s long-standing commitment to professional excellence and heartfelt service. We know the families who walk through our doors will continue to feel the care and support Casey brings to every conversation.

LaTara Misher has been named licensed funeral arranger at Walton’s Funerals and Cremations.

In her new role, Misher will be responsible for responding to inquiries and scheduling meetings with families to plan and execute burial and cremation services.

Read more in the Northern Nevada Business Weekly here.

We are honored and humbled to share that Walton’s Funerals & Cremations has been named Best Funeral Home in the 2025 Best of Reno Community’s Choice Awards.

This recognition means the world to us—especially because it comes from the community we’ve proudly served for generations.

A Heartfelt Thank You

This award is especially meaningful because it’s decided by you, the members of our local community.

Through your nominations and votes, you’ve acknowledged the care, compassion, and dedication that our team puts into every service, every family, and every life we are entrusted to honor.

We’re deeply grateful for your trust.

Honoring Life, Supporting Families

At Walton’s, we believe that every life deserves to be remembered with dignity and every family deserves support during their time of loss.

Whether it’s through personalized services, preplanning support, or simply being a steady presence in difficult moments, we strive to serve each family with the utmost care and respect.

Winning this award reinforces our commitment to continue offering exceptional, compassionate service to the Reno-Sparks area and beyond.

Celebrating Local Excellence

The Best of Reno Community’s Choice Awards are a powerful reminder of how many outstanding businesses, organizations, and individuals are making a difference in our region.

We are proud to stand alongside this year’s winners and celebrate what makes Northern Nevada such a special place to call home.

See the full list of 2025 winners here: Best of Reno Winners
See photos from the awards gala here: Best of Reno Awards Gala Photos