Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Mon, Aug 16, 2010 @ 09:47 AM
By Ian F Smith
Well most agents need life settlement brokers. Except those agents that are captive agents to one insurance company.
Most financial advisors who submit cases directly to one settlement company may not need brokers. But they may be missing the boat. Life settlement brokers typically serve as an intermediary between the agent who brings the case together and the providers who are looking to purchase policies. Not all funding companies or providers operate the same. And there are a lot of them. So life settlement brokers can help to find the best fit for a particular case while also saving time and money to get the deal done for the client.
Although it is the brokers job to search for the ideal situation and to collect all the bids, it's still the advisors job to educate the client, facilitate the transaction and to finalize the delivery of the policy.
Compensation or fees are usually negotiated up front with life settlement brokers. Typically a small percent of the overall fee is divided by the broker and the agent/advisor. This should be a fully disclosed agreement between the client, agent and broker.
Working with a life settlement broker is the best way to get your cases the most exposure possible. It is in their best interest to be market experts in their field. But before working with or selecting a life settlement broker be certain that you
- find out if they are licensed to do business in your state
- find out all costs that are associated with working with them
- make sure there is no obligation to accept an offer
- make sure they are completely independent and don't have an alliance with any one provider
- are comfortable with them
Learn more about life settlement brokers and how they can help you. Visit our LIVEpdq webcast to learn more.
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.
Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 09:26 AM
By Donald Sonn, PhD
How can you understand what life settlement brokers can do for you? Imagine that you had bought Google stock in the IPO but it could only be sold back to Sergei Brin at the end of ten or even 20 years. That is what stock ownership would be like without the stock market. Life insurance policies were much like this before life settlement companies created a secondary market where investors and insured persons could meet and transact business. The hidden wealth of the asset was created by the secondary market, and insurers were no longer able to take a free ride at the expense of policy holders.
The value of life insurance is generally a good deal greater than the surrender value, but less than the full face value of the insurance. Therefore, a life settlement becomes a win-win proposition for all parties, as it allows you to tap into your life insurance value while you are still around to enjoy the proceeds.
Experienced life settlement brokers will explain the options and broker the best deal from a variety of sources. If there is a loser in the process, it might be the life insurance company that wrote the policy, which will no longer lapse or be sold off for surrender value, which is frequently less than the real value of the policy on the secondary market.
The experts in the life settlement field, the life settlement brokers, are needed to assess the positives and negatives of any individual transaction as it affects you, and these life settlement brokers ARE necessary to broker the life settlement transaction at the best possible price.
Click the LIVEpdq link for a free life settlement estimate and find out with little effort if life settlement policies are something that you should consider for yourself.
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.
Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Tue, Aug 10, 2010 @ 01:34 PM
By Rick S Cantville
Many clients that are pursuing a life settlement may not understand the value of life settlement brokers, but they may hold the key to the success of your settlement offer.
As the old adage goes, there is more than one-way to skin a cat. That being said, consumers can give direction to their life settlement producers to submit a life settlement, in some cases, directly to a life settlement funder. The reasoning behind this is that you cut out one entity that will receive commissions, and that those commissions, hypothetically, would make their way back to the client.
Experienced life settlement brokers spend a great deal of time processing cases through their funding sources and their job is to find the "high water mark" for your policy. Negotiating the best offer for your policy is what they do all day. Can you receive an offer for your policy without using life settlement brokers? Sure. Will it be the best offer available? You may never know. If you receive $200,000 for your policy but the best offer would have been $400,000, would it be worth giving a broker commissions for his ability to get a better offer? Sure.
I am of the opinion that professionals get paid because of the knowledge they have. If I sell insurance and the transmission goes out on my car, the last thing I want to do is spend time away from what makes me money to find out how to fix it, buying the part, and spending more time trying to fix it. Chances are, I would not fix it correctly and may cause more damage, which equals more time and money. Meanwhile, paying a professional that has the tools and knowledge can do it faster, better, and I keep doing what makes me money.
Using life settlement brokers is not much different. It will allow clients and producers to continue to do what they do and will allow the broker to do the heavy lifting to ensure the best possible price for a policy.
Determine the value of your policy today by using our online LIVEpdq tool!
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.
Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Sun, Aug 08, 2010 @ 12:21 PM
By Edward E Leisher
Life settlement brokers serve as an intermediary for financial advisors and settlement providers during a life insurance settlement transaction. While a client wishing to sell a life insurance policy will seek to do so through a life insurance agent or financial advisor, that agent or advisor may in turn look to life settlement brokers to get the job done. Brokers will shop the case around to various providers, ensuring the best offer to submit to the seller, and also help with closing the sale by providing aid with settlement documents.
Life settlement brokers must be licensed in the state they wish to do business in. Make sure your life insurance settlement agent has already arranged the terms of the deal between themselves and brokers to ensure that there are no hidden fees or obligation to accept any offers presented. Find out if you are eligible for a life settlement at LIVEpdq.
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.
Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Sun, Aug 08, 2010 @ 12:16 PM
By Scott J. Dressel
Recently the life settlement market has seen some positive changes and life settlement brokers certainly do exist. With the recent economic downturn over the last twenty four months the future did not look bright for the life settlement industry or for life settlement brokers the individuals who facilitate the transaction of a consumer (seller) trying to sell unwanted life insurance to an investor (buyer). There were several reasons why the life settlement industry fell on hard times the major reason was the tightening of the credit market which caused a lack of capital for investors to purchase individual life insurance policies. Another negative for the life settlement brokers was the past use of aggressive life expectancy actuarial calculations. Aggressive applies to calculating an early demise on the life insured which would result in a higher rate of return for the investor. Life expectancy calculations became and still reflect a conservative assumption today which translates into a longer life before a death benefit payout which lowers the investor’s rate of return. Recently in 2010 there has been some equilibrium and consumers are again able to sell their unwanted life insurance. If you own life insurance and would like a free policy review to determine the value of this asset please visit our LIVEpdq link for a free quote.
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.
Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Fri, Aug 06, 2010 @ 04:29 PM
By Joseph W. Horner
When selling a life insurance policy the goal is typically to acquire as much money as possible which seems a contradiction to involve life settlement brokers as a commission will be given. Good settlement brokers will earn their keep by ensuring the best possible offer is realized for the sale of a policy and generate enough monetary settlement to justify their existence.
In addition to achieving a good offer, life settlement brokers carry the appropriate licensing which is required in most states to process life settlements. Also, selling one’s life insurance can be a very personal thing and so you will want to deal with settlement brokers that will take time to best understand your particular needs and keep you informed throughout the process and ensure you are comfortable with the eventual sale of your policy.
Life settlement brokers can be one person or it can be a company of several people. Regardless of size licensing, knowledgeable negotiations and attention to a policy owner’s best interests must be maintained for a successful transaction. When first beginning the process of selling one’s policy one should interview life settlement brokers to assure the comfort level needed to feel comfortable moving forward or seek out another firm to deal with.
To find out more about life settlements please visit LIVEpdq.
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.
Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Thu, Aug 05, 2010 @ 11:05 PM
By Amie M Wirth
Life settlement brokers have been hit hard during this economic down turn. Many that entered the industry hoping to get a foot hold in the industry have had to close up shop and find other avenues of employment. There was a great influx of life settlement brokers into the industry in 2007-2008 because people in the mortgage and other financial industries saw it as an easy way to make money.
These life settlement brokers are no longer around because they found that it is very costly to be a broker with no guarantee that a policy will sell. Let me explain, a life settlement broker pays for all medical records and life expectancies that are required by a funder to purchase a life insurance policy. Once the economy took a turn for the worse very few policies were being purchased and being that the cost to process the files are expensive these life settlement brokers are no longer with us.
If you are looking for a life settlement broker to help you sell your life insurance policy click our LIVEpdq link now for a free policy evaluation. We are a made up of many highly qualified financial advisors that can help you in all aspects of your life settlement, life insurance and annuity needs.
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.
Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Sat, Jul 31, 2010 @ 10:58 AM
By Paul K Arbo
Life settlement brokers are life insurance professionals who specilalize in helping people who have life insurance policies they no longer need sell their policies to third party buyers. People sell their policies for a variety of reasons - they no longer need the coverage or they can no longer afford to continue paying the premium. When someone decides to retire and must choose a form of annuity payment during retirement, the options range from the highest payout with the lowest guaranteed payment duration - life only - to a low payout with the highest guaranteed duration - Joint and 100% to the last survivor. As an example, a life only payment (the payment ceases at the annuitant's death, even if that occurs in the first month) might be $7,000/month while a joint and 100% last survivor payment (same monthly $ benefit while either the husband or the wife is alive) might be $4500. Smart retirees take the life only payout of $7,000/month and with the extra $2500/month they might spend $1500/month on a life insurance policy to protect their spouse; if they die and the $7,000/month retirement annuity stops the death benefit from the life insurance policy would provide the surviving spouse money to replace the lost $7,000/month. But what happens if the smart retiree's wife pre-deceases him and he doesn't need the life insurance policy anymore? Simple. Life settlement brokers will help him sell his policy for a substantially higher amount of cash than the cash surrender value of his policy, plus he will then have full use of the total $7,000/month for the rest of his life. To find life settlement brokers who can help you get a fair market value for your life insurance policy just complete a quick survey here: LIVEpdq.
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.
Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 @ 04:11 PM
By Timothy A McQueen
Two major opportunities for life settlement brokers are being provided by LISA (Life Insurance Settlement Association). As the life insurance industry grows and changes so must life settlement brokers. LISA is providing two major conferences to address these particular issues.
The 2010 Life Settlement Compliance Conference to be held in Atlanta will bring together industry and legal experts to explain how to work within all of the new legislation being passed and what it means for the growth of the industry. Those attending can receive continuing education credits at certain venues.
The second opportunity for life settlement brokers is the Fall Life Settlement Conference. This is a 16th annual conference and is considered LISA’s biggest conference for the industry. Highlighted in this conference will be discussion of continued growth and awareness of the settlement option, and how to address the industries strengths and weaknesses.
Click the LIVEpdq Link for a free life settlement evaluation today!
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.
Posted by The Policy Settlement Alliance on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 @ 10:10 AM
By Stephen P. Turtur
Life settlement brokers are in business to sell life insurance policies which can benefit an insured/owner of a policy especially in this economic turbulent time. If you feel your objectives have changed since you obtained a life insurance contract or if you have had a medical complication during the insurance period, your a candidate to obtain offers on your life insurance policy. Life settlement brokers have flourished over the past ten years as the demand for these types of products have drastically increased as well as the structures in place in the market today to transact this type of financial business. If you are over 74 years of age, at a minimum, you should know the value of your policy. The cash surrender value is not the predominate value that is a predicating identifier of value as much as is the death benefit. The value is calculated regarding the life expectancy of the insured and the policy costs associated with the amount of death benefit. I advise that you hire an agent/advisor to help you in the submission of your policy to the life settlement brokers as the information will require full medical disclosure of the insured and presented in a proper form. Life settlements are an option that you did not have in the insurance arena when you may have purchased your life insurance policy; however, today you have a possible option to turn premium costs into cash which may solve many other estate planning issues. Try as this may surprise you in finding cash that will help you today verses surrendering your policy or sustaining costly premiums.
Let's get started and click on
LIVEpdq.
Note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author, which may differ from the opinion of policysettlement.com.