3 Alternatives to a Life Settlement

Financial advisors and insurance agents are well versed on the topic of life insurance policies. In some cases, these policies can be the most important asset in a client’s portfolio — a way to ensure costly medical bills and other expenses are paid, and that family members have financial security in the future.

Still, staying on top of every nuance and variation in the world of life insurance is no easy task. Advisors and agents are required to monitor an ever-changing regulatory environment (not just on the federal level, but also on the state level). They must track the fine print of every policy, understand if and how life settlements are taxed, and craft custom approaches for each and every client.

(Related: 3 Things to Know About Real Estate and Premium Financing)

As a result, there is some knowledge that even the most seasoned advisors and agents may not know — especially when it comes to the topic of alternatives to life settlements or viatical settlements.

1. Life Insurance Rider Options

A common misconception, even among professionals, is the belief that selling a life insurance policy is generally the best way to net the most cash for the seller. It’s important to note that the sale of a policy will often create taxable income — a potentially significant downside. Complicated transaction processes and the inefficiencies of the life settlement market also means that a policy holder may have to wait up to six months from initially discussing a sale before receiving the funds.

Providing faster access to funds, many industry representatives view accelerated benefit riders (which allow policy holders who are ill to access funds during their lifetime) as a tool with limited drawbacks. In fact, these riders are often very narrow in their availability and funds are typically only paid out to a person with a life expectancy of less than 12 to 18 months. Accelerated benefit advances are also generally limited to 30% to 60% of the policy’s face amount. For those that qualify, however, these riders can be a low-cost option to access funds quickly.

Another alternative to an all-cash life settlement is a newer hybrid transaction known as a retained death benefit sale. In this scenario, only a portion of the policy’s death benefit is sold. The insured receives a lump-sum payment and retains a portion of the death benefit, while the buyer agrees to pay all future premiums. Limitations include a lower upfront payment (the value of the immediate payment is reduced), less access to the policy, a capped long-term benefit (smaller benefits to heirs, even if the insured passes earlier than life expectancy), as well as potential tax implications.

2. Assistance With Premium Payments

Financing to pay life insurance premiums has been available as a tool for many years. Premium financing can be very useful for people who take out larger policies to help defray the cost of the yearly policy premiums. It’s important to note, however, that premium financing typically involves recourse and term-limited loans. That means that a borrower exposes their entire portfolio of assets to the lender. Repayment is required at a date certain.

When cash-flow issues make coming up with premium payments difficult, there may be a variety of options. The insured can choose to seek funds from relatives (particularly the beneficiaries under the policy) if they are liquid. Additionally, funds can be borrowed from other sources of equity, such as a 401(k), pension plan or stock portfolio on margin.