Life settlements also known as life insurance settlements, senior settlements, or senior life settlements have quickly become an important tool for insurance agents, financial planners, estate planners, elder law attorneys, and other financial related professionals.

A life settlement is a financial transaction in which a senior citizen policy owner of an unneeded, underperforming, or unwanted life insurance policy sells the policy to a third party, as opposed to surrendering or lapsing it back to the life insurance company. The senior citizen policy seller receives immediate cash for the policy from the purchaser.

Agents and financial planners are beginning to market life settlements to their current client base and to potential clients. The most current effective methods of marketing life settlements are one-on-one presentations, seminars, and client newsletters. There has also been success with direct mailing either a client base or demographic base fitting the life settlement parameters.

A life settlement broker can assist life settlement agents with marketing material, educational material, and evaluation material. Having the correct knowledge about the life settlement product and material is important for any financial planner or agent meeting with a client or potential client. Each life settlement case is looked at differently, the biggest factors are the age of the insured, health of insured, policy size, premium amount, and current cash value (if any). Most life settlement brokers can provide simple qualification or evaluation forms that will quickly determine if a settlement would be available for that specific individual.

Life settlements are still a new concept for most agents and financial professionals. Many still do not understand the concept or have the right education about life settlements. It is important for these professionals to take the time to learn about life settlements so that in return they can relay this information to their clients. Many policy owners do not understand that there could be a cash settlement available for a life insurance policy that they are going to surrender or lapse. Insurance agents and financial professionals need to take the correct marketing and education steps to reach those clients in need. A life settlement can create added financial benefits for both the client and the financial professional.

Grant Shellhammer