The life settlement market is a multi-billion-dollar industry where institutional investors purchase existing life insurance policies from policyholders, with annual transaction volume exceeding $4 billion.
The Market
The secondary market for life insurance is one of the least understood corners of financial services — and one of the most active.
Over $4 billion in annual life settlement transactions. The number is large — but it represents a fraction of what's available.
Hundreds of billions in eligible policies go unsettled every year. The market is growing as awareness increases. More advisors are learning about life settlements. More policyholders are finding out they have options.
$4B+
Annual transactions
$200B+
Policies lapsing annually — unsold
Growing
Market trajectory year over year
Institutional investors: pension funds, endowments, hedge funds, insurance companies, asset managers.
These aren't speculators. They're sophisticated investors allocating to an uncorrelated asset class — one whose returns don't move with the stock market or interest rates. Life settlements have become a legitimate institutional alternative investment.
Multiple factors determine what a buyer will pay for your policy. The combination of these factors is unique to every policy — which is why every offer is different.
Age
Older insureds generally command higher valuations
Health
Health history shapes life expectancy estimates
Policy type
Universal life, whole life, and convertible term all qualify
Face value
Larger death benefits attract more institutional interest
Premium structure
Lower future premiums increase the policy's net value
Carrier rating
Highly-rated carriers are preferred by institutional buyers
Policy duration
Seasoned policies past contestability are more attractive
An estimated $200 billion in policies lapse or surrender every year. Most of those policyholders never knew selling was an option.
That's the real story of this market. Not the billions transacted — but the billions left on the table by people who simply weren't told they had a choice.
A free evaluation takes minutes. Most people are surprised by what they find.
Get a Free EstimateThe life settlement market processes over $4 billion in annual transaction volume. Institutional investors — pension funds, asset managers, and hedge funds — are the primary buyers.
Yes. The market has grown steadily as awareness increases and more policyholders learn that selling a policy is an alternative to surrendering or lapsing. Institutional capital continues to flow into the space.