
A life settlement broker is someone who facilitates life insurance settlements, helping policyholders sell their unwanted or unaffordable life insurance policies to third-party investors. They act as a middleman between the policyholder and the investor, ensuring a smooth transaction.
Life settlement brokers are typically licensed professionals with expertise in the life insurance industry. They have a deep understanding of the complex rules and regulations surrounding life insurance settlements.
Their main goal is to maximize the policyholder's financial return, while also ensuring that the investor receives a secure investment. By doing so, they create a win-win situation for both parties involved.
A good life settlement broker will thoroughly evaluate the policyholder's situation, taking into account factors such as the policy's face value, the policyholder's age, and any outstanding premiums. This helps them determine a fair market value for the policy.
What Is a Life Settlement Broker?
A life settlement broker is someone who helps you sell your life insurance policy to a third party. They assess your eligibility for a life settlement, which involves researching providers that will buy your policy.
A broker will present their findings to you, including the potential payout from each provider. This can include providers who exclusively purchase policies through brokers.
Life settlement brokers have your best interest in mind and strive to secure the most money possible on your policy. They can often get 4-7 times the amount of your policy's surrender value.
By working with a broker, you open the door to additional selling opportunities.
Key Differences and Alternatives
A life settlement broker is someone who guides you through the process of selling your life insurance policy, but did you know that they're not the same as a provider? A life settlement provider is the individual or company buying your policy, while a broker is the one selling it.
A provider receives the death benefit once you pass away, but a broker gets a commission, a percentage of what you receive from the life settlement. This is a key difference to understand before you apply for a life settlement.

To help you navigate this, here's a quick breakdown of the roles:
It's worth noting that viatical settlement brokers and life settlement brokers are often used interchangeably, but there is a distinction between the two. Viatical brokers deal with policies for terminally ill individuals, while life settlement brokers deal with policies for anyone who wants to sell.
Difference Between a Provider
A life settlement can be a complex process, but understanding the roles of providers and brokers can make a big difference.
Providers are the ones who buy or represent the buyer of a life insurance policy in exchange for a life settlement. They receive the death benefit once the policyholder passes away.
A key distinction between providers and brokers is who initiates the process. The provider buys the policy, while the broker guides the policyholder through the process.
Here's a quick summary of the key differences between providers and brokers:
It's essential to understand these differences to ensure you receive the best offers from reputable life settlement companies.
Viatical - Key Differences

Viatical policies are specifically designed for individuals who are terminally ill, allowing them to sell their existing life insurance policy for a lump sum payment.
A key difference between viatical and life settlements is the health status of the policyholder. Viatical policies are only available to those who are terminally ill, whereas life settlements can be sold by anyone, regardless of their health status.
Viatical settlement brokers deal with viatical policies, which are the sale of an existing life insurance policy for a terminally ill individual.
Alternatives Available
If you're terminally ill, you may not have to rely on viatical settlement brokers for financial help. Viatical brokers are not the only option for someone who is terminally ill seeking money for medical and living expenses.
Accelerated death benefits are an alternative that's worth considering. Some life insurance policies allow for a portion of the death benefit to be advanced prior to an insured's death. This may or may not be advantageous over selling a policy through a viatical life settlement broker.
Average Payout

The average payout for a life settlement is significantly higher than the cash surrender value. Typically, it's 4-7 times higher.
You might be surprised to learn that the average cash surrender value is only 20% of a policy's value. That's a relatively small amount, often around $460 for every $100,000.
The exact amount of payout will depend on your qualifications, policy, and other details. This is why it's essential to use a life settlement calculator to see if you qualify for a life settlement.
Marketplace and Recommendations
The secondary market for life insurance is similar to real estate, where the asset is unique, and consumers maintain the right to sell their policy directly to a Life Settlement Provider.
Consumers can choose to work with a Life Settlement Broker, who represents them and has a fiduciary capacity to that owner. This means the broker is supposed to shop the policy to available licensed buyers in the policy owner's state of residence.
Life Settlement Brokers attempt to get competitive bids for a life insurance policy and charge a fee, usually around 30% of the policy's value, but it can be lower or higher.
Marketplace

The life insurance secondary market is quite unique, much like real estate. It's a marketplace where policies are bought and sold, and consumers have the right to sell their policies directly to a life settlement provider.
Life settlement brokerages work to gather policy and health information to establish a value for each policy. They then shop the policy to licensed buyers in the policy owner's state of residence.
A life settlement broker represents the policy owner and has a fiduciary capacity, meaning they're supposed to act in the owner's best interest. They charge a fee, usually around 30% of the policy's value, but this can vary.
In most states, life settlement brokers are required to disclose their fees to the policy owner. However, there are still a few states that don't have laws or regulations in place to protect consumers with transparency.
Provider Recommendation
If you're considering a life settlement, you may be wondering whether to work with a Life Settlement Broker or a Life Settlement Provider. Here's the thing: both can cost hundreds of dollars upfront, and it's not uncommon for a provider to spend over $1000 on the appraisal process.

A Life Settlement Provider will either buy or represent the person or company who buys your life insurance policy in exchange for a life settlement. They're the ones who receive the death benefit once you pass away.
In regulated states, Life Settlement Providers are required to report all policies they purchase throughout the year and review these reports for consistency in purchase pricing methodology. This means they must treat every case similarly, including making the same gross offer to consumers as they would to brokers.
Here's a comparison of the roles of Life Settlement Providers and Brokers:
Ultimately, many reputable Life Settlement Providers will use the same pricing schedule whether they're buying directly from a consumer or through a Life Settlement Broker, which can be a relief for those looking to avoid unnecessary fees.
Brokerage and Industry
A life settlement broker typically gets a commission from the sale of a policy, making their services a valuable investment for policyholders. They can also purchase policies themselves, but usually seek a buyer.
Life settlement brokers are professionals who act on behalf of policyholders, helping them navigate the process of selling their life insurance policy for a settlement. A broker will help a policyholder compile all the necessary information to ensure a higher payout, such as a complete medical file and life expectancy report.
Not every policy can be sold, and there are requirements policyholders must meet, like being at least 65 years old.
What Is a Provider?
A life settlement provider is a person or company that purchases your life insurance policy or represents someone who does.
They pay your monthly premiums until you pass away and receive the death benefit upon your passing.
Directly purchasing from a provider can result in a smaller payout, as they have a fiduciary responsibility to buy at the lowest possible value.
This means they'll often purchase directly from you rather than competing with other providers, which can impact your payout.
What is a Brokerage?

A life settlement brokerage is a professional who acts on behalf of a life insurance policyholder, helping them sell their policy for a life insurance settlement. They search for and secure a finalized offer, often getting a commission from the sale.
A brokerage typically starts by helping the policyholder compile necessary information to ensure a higher payout, including the complete medical file of the insured and life expectancy report. This information is crucial in determining the value of the policy.
A good brokerage will shop the policy around to various life settlement providers, bringing all potential offers back to the policyholder for review. This ensures the policyholder gets the best payout possible.
Having a brokerage makes selling a life insurance policy much easier and ensures a higher payout for the policyholder. It's a much better option than lapsing on the policy or surrendering it, which can result in a lower payout.
Life settlement brokers also help policyholders understand whether their policy can be sold and what requirements they need to meet, such as being at least 65 years old.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does the broker represent in a life settlement contract?
In a life settlement contract, the life settlement broker primarily represents the policy owner. They act as the owner's advocate to secure a higher sale price for their life insurance policy.
Sources
- https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/agents_and_brokers/licensing_application_forms_lsb
- https://www.lsa-llc.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-life-settlement-broker-and-provider/
- https://viatical.org/blog/life-settlement-broker-life-settlement-provider/
- https://www.lsa-llc.com/life-settlement-broker-near-me/
- https://www.amritafinancial.com/what-is-a-viatical-settlement-broker
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