Plain language. No jargon. Just the information you need to make the best decision for your family.
A second to die policy pays only when both spouses have died, and most were bought to pay estate tax. The federal exemption has nearly tripled since 2017. Here is what that means for your policy, and when keeping it is still right.
When the term ends, the coverage ends and nothing is paid back. Renewal, conversion and a possible sale all have to happen before that date. Here is how each works, and when letting the policy go is the right call.
STOLI schemes were aimed at seniors, and regulators outlawed them. Selling a policy you already own is a different transaction entirely. Here is the line between the two, and the signals that tell them apart.
If you stop paying premiums, your policy guarantees you three options, and picks one automatically if you say nothing. Here is how reduced paid-up, extended term and cash surrender compare, and the fourth path your carrier cannot offer you.
Your carrier will point you at the rider already on your policy. It is fast and it is often right, but it pays a capped slice of the death benefit at a discount. Here is how it compares to selling the policy outright.
The question that decides most sales is not what the policy pays. It is what happens afterward. Who pays the premiums, whether you can change your mind, and what your family should know.
Almost nobody buys life insurance for its own sake — it gets bought to do a job. Six questions to work out whether yours is still doing one, including the cases where the answer is keep it.
A viatical settlement is defined by one thing: a doctor certifying a specific timeline. Here is what that means, how it differs from a life settlement, and which one applies if nobody has given you a number.
Medicare does not cover most long-term care, and the costs are steep. Here are the real ways families fund care — including one many overlook: the life insurance policy they already own.
Guaranteed universal life policies have little or no cash value by design — but that does not mean they are worthless. Here is what makes a GUL policy valuable, or not, to buyers on the secondary market.
Letting a policy lapse returns nothing. A life settlement may return more than the cash surrender value. Here is how to weigh the two head to head — and how much time you have to decide.
Life settlements are a legitimate, state-regulated transaction — but not every company is equal. Here is how the industry is regulated and how to vet a buyer before you sell.
There is an established market of institutional buyers who purchase life insurance policies — including some term policies. Here is who they are, why they want them, and what they look for.
Term life builds no cash value, so there is nothing to withdraw and no surrender payout. Here is what a term policy can and cannot pay you — and the one route that may still turn it into cash.
An illustrative advisor case study: a client about to surrender a $500,000 policy for $18,000 — and how the secondary market valued the same policy at roughly $140,000.
Viatical settlement proceeds are often tax-free under federal law when the insured is terminally or chronically ill. Here is how the IRS treats them, and how that differs from a life settlement.
What do life settlements actually pay? Industry data from LISA and Conning shows the typical range, what drives it, and why averages can be misleading for any single policy.
Cash surrender value is the amount the insurance carrier pays to take your policy back. Here is how it is calculated, why it is often lower than expected, and what to know before surrendering.
Most disqualifications come down to four factors — but 'no' today is rarely 'no' forever. Here is what actually keeps a policy from qualifying, and what to do if yours falls outside the lines.
How life settlement proceeds may be taxed, broken into the three commonly-discussed buckets — basis recovery, ordinary income, and capital gains. Educational only — consult your tax professional.
A practical walkthrough for financial advisors and insurance agents — what your role actually looks like when you refer a client to a life settlement broker, from first conversation to closing.
It is not based on face value. It is not the surrender value. It is not what you have paid in premiums. Here is what actually drives a life settlement offer — and why two similar policies can produce different numbers.
Convertible term policies have a quiet conversion deadline — and once it passes, your client's options narrow sharply. Here's why advisors miss it and how a life settlement may still help.
A life settlement broker shops your policy to multiple buyers to get you the best offer. Here's how brokers work and why most seniors choose them over going direct.
Both let you sell your life insurance for cash — but they work differently. Here's a plain-language breakdown of which option applies to your situation.
Most life settlements close in 60 to 120 days. Here's a plain-language guide to every step of the process — so you know exactly what to expect.
Learn what a life settlement is, how it works, and whether selling your policy could put real money in your pocket.
Before you surrender your policy back to the insurance company, read this. Full side-by-side comparison, how each route is taxed, and when surrendering is genuinely the better call.
These 5 factors determine what you could receive in a life settlement — and one of them might surprise you.
Not sure if a life settlement is right for you? These 5 signs suggest it might be time to explore your options.
Struggling with life insurance premiums? Before you let your policy lapse, you may have a valuable alternative.
Term life insurance can sometimes be sold — but the rules are different. Here's when it's possible and what to expect.
A lapsed policy means losing years of premiums with nothing to show for it. Here's what happens — and what you can do before it's too late.
When a client calls about a lapse notice, a life settlement may be the best option. Learn how to guide the conversation.
Everything agents need to know about adding life settlements to their practice, from compliance to compensation.
Practical scripts and conversation starters for introducing life settlements to senior clients naturally.
Learn the key criteria for life settlement eligibility so you can identify opportunities across your book of business.
Understanding the root causes of policy lapses helps advisors identify and act on life settlement opportunities before it's too late.
