Life insurance is designed to provide your estate with the funds necessary to pay debts and to leave your loved ones with some financial security. However, there are instances in which you may need money, or your circumstances change, and life insurance is no longer necessary. Selling your life insurance policy is a viable option, but it is critical to understand the process before making this financial decision.
It is essential to keep in mind that several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder may also have to pay surrender charges and could have income tax obligations. You should also consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments.
Selling your insurance policy to a third party for a specified amount of money is known as a life settlement. You receive cash, and the buyer now owns your policy and continues to pay the premiums. When you die, the new owner receives all the death benefits.
If the policyholder has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and is not expected to survive for more than two years, the life insurance sale is known as a viatical settlement. These settlements can pay for medical expenses and other debts, so family finances are not overwhelmed.
Not everyone can sell their life insurance policies, as certain conditions must apply. Generally, only those aged 65 and over qualify for a life settlement. Such policies must usually have death benefits of at least $100,000, and there may be a minimum period for which the policy must have been active.1
Viatical settlements do not have a minimum age requirement, but the policyholder must generally have two years or less in life expectancy.
Every policyholder has their own reasons for selling life insurance, but common motivations include:
For many older adults, paying monthly premiums becomes increasingly burdensome. After years of paying premiums, they may be at risk of losing their insurance due to an increasing lack of affordability. For some seniors, receiving a lump sum payment is a wiser option than simply losing insurance coverage due to premium costs.
Life insurance sales usually involve working with a settlement broker, who will find investors willing to purchase your policy. There is an opportunity to shop for the best deal. You can also work with a provider who will buy the policy from you directly.
Age is typically an important factor when selling a life insurance policy. Potential investors tend to favor policies held by older adults. Why? Because they're looking to pay as little as possible in future premiums before receiving the death benefit.
If you're looking to sell your policy, you should expect to provide all medical records. Using a mathematical formula, medical underwriting by the providers gives an estimate of how long the policyholder is expected to live.
You will likely not receive your policy's face value. On average, recipients of a life settlement get approximately four times the policy's cash surrender value. The death benefit value typically varies between 10 and 25 percent. This means a $100,000 policy will provide you with up to $25,000.1
Factors affecting how much you will get for selling your life insurance policy include life expectancy, its cash value, and the premium amount. Individuals with shorter life expectancy will likely receive a larger settlement amount.
When a policyholder sells their policy, the cash payment is almost always greater than the policy's surrender value, but less than the death benefit.
If you have a large policy, it is possible to sell only the amount you need. For example, if you own a $2 million policy, you can sell half of it, retaining the rest for the beneficiaries.
Finally, not everyone selling their life insurance policy receives a lump sum. Some people may prefer a settlement in which income is paid over a predetermined amount of time.
Before selling your life insurance policy, it is crucial to consider all the financial and practical aspects. Prior to making your decision, you should consult a financial professional or your accountant. You'll want to be sure that the sale of the policy does not trigger detrimental tax obligations or result in losing access to public benefits, such as Medicaid.
Life settlements include all sorts of fees, and it is vital that you understand all the costs involved. There are alternatives to selling your life insurance policy that may prove just as beneficial, such as borrowing from it. Your financial professional or insurance agent can help you review these options and decide what may be best for your financial picture.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your support as a valued sponsor means more to me and our team at My Care Finders than words can truly express. This open house and ribbon-cutting celebration is such a special milestone not just for our business, but for the community were so honored to serve. And it wouldnt be possible without you. Your belief in what we do helping families navigate senior care with compassion, clarity, and purpose is what fuels us every day. Knowing that we have partners like you standing beside us makes all the difference. Were expecting a wonderful turnout, and we truly believe this will be a joyful, memorable event for everyone involved. Light bites, music, laughter, and connection a true celebration of community. Attached is our event flyer created by Jesse, the owner of My Sanctuary of Wellness. A HUGE shoutout to Jesse for your patience and constantly updating the flyer when needed Thank you Jesse!!!!! Please be sure to bring your own table and chairs. Wed love it if you could help us spread the word by sharing it on Facebook and other social media outlets, along with your friends, family, colleagues, and even your patients. The more, the merrier! Lets make this an unforgettable evening. Additionally, our assistance, Becca will be sending each of you our w-9, along with an invoice for the event. Thank you again for being such an important part of this journey. I cant wait to celebrate with you!With sincere gratitude,Heather Tetrault
BrightStar Care of Venice & Port Charlotte- has won Best of Home Care Leader of Excellence , Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice for 2025 by Home Care Pulse. These are difficult awards. We are very proud of them.We can help your patients whenever they need home care to stay safe at home. No minimums- 1hr up to 24/7 careJoint Commission Gold Seal of Approval Our BrightStar Care location has earned accreditation from the Joint Commission, which validates that we follow their requirements for the highest level of safety and care.Best of Home Care Leader in Experience 2025 Recognizes our location as earning satisfaction levels in the top 5% based on caregiver training, compassion and communication.Best of Home Care Provider of Choice 2025 Indicates high satisfaction levels of our clients regarding our trustworthiness and ability to provide outstanding in-home care.Best of Home Care Employer of Choice 2025 Happy employees deliver better care. This award distinguishes us as best-in-Class for caregiver satisfaction. The Joint Commission Enterprise Champion for Quality Because of the commitment to quality standards from our local offices, were the only national home care brand that consistently earns the Enterprise Champion for Quality award from the Joint Commission. This independent, nonprofit organization accredits the nations best hospitals and major health care systems.
Your chronological age and your biological age dont necessarily match. Around the ages of 44 and 60 the aging process accelerates in what has been dubbed a biomolecular shift, which dramatically impacts health and internal aging. Researchers discovered these two bursts of aging during the human lifespan, singling out the mid-forties and early sixties as key periods. But the greater shift in biological aging happens during your early sixties.However, out of this seemingly bad news is some hope. Now that science has pinpointed when these changes occur, it could help researchers uncover what is driving chronic disease as we age, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis or even strategies for prevention. So exactly what is going on during these periods of rapid biological aging, how do they impact health, and what can you do to be proactive? Lets break it down.Aging Isnt Primarily GradualYou can no longer assume that aging happens gradually. Ever notice that some people seem to age overnight or are really showing their age? While there is obviously gradual decline, more dramatic changes happen quickly and during certain periods of life. It all comes down to the molecules that make up your physical body. These individual molecules are what age, and studies reveal that they undergo greater change at certain ages, making aging non-linear or not so much gradual over time.How Periods of Rapid Biological Aging Impact HealthIn both your mid-forties and early sixties most people experience molecular level changes related to skin and muscle aging, cardiovascular disease, and the metabolizing of caffeine. This is why people tend to start or increase cholesterol or blood pressure medications during these times of life.Researchers also noted differences between the two periods of biological aging. People in their forties had a greater shift in relation to fat and alcohol metabolism, while those in their sixties underwent shifts related to immune regulation, carbohydrate metabolism, and kidney function.These facts seem to correlate with experience as many people in their sixties are less able to fight off sickness and are even more prone to weight gain and kidney trouble or even kidney failure. Cancer rates tend to spike around this time as the immune system is less able to fend off the invasive cancer cells. Cases of heart disease also rise during this time as people struggle more with their weight and rising cholesterol levels.Less expected, however, was the evidence of rapid aging during the mid-forties. But it becomes more understandable as you consider what characterizes the lives of most people during this life stage. Lifestyle makes a difference and life moves at a rapid pace during your forties. Often this is a time of busy family and work schedules, high work stress, divorce, and weight gain. You often have less time for self-care during these frantic years, and all combined, this shifts your body into a period of rapid molecular aging.Combat Biological Aging with Proactive StepsYou obviously cant stop the aging process but its possible to slow it down. The steps to achieve this arent all new or innovative. In fact, it involves putting common knowledge into practice which many people resist, at least until later life. Here are some unsurprising practical tips for slowing biological aging: Avoid weight gainEat more fruits and vegetablesControl diabetes and high blood pressureStay physically activeDont smoke And the way to prevent or avoid diabetes and high blood pressure is to limit sugar, processed carbohydrates, and saturated fats. If youre in your 40s, in addition to the above, its also beneficial to monitor and minimize your cholesterol levels, exercise to build muscle mass, and limit or avoid alcohol. For additional ways to combat aging, read our article, How to Live Longer: 12 Life-Boosting Habits to Start NowThe best rule of thumb is not to wait until your health begins to decline before making these changes. Adjust your lifestyle while youre still healthy, and you will see the biggest payoff. However, its never too late to start living with your health in mind, because changes at any stage will make a positive difference.Key Takeaways About Biological Aging in Your 40s and 60sScience previously thought that the human body aged gradually in linear fashion, but recent studies show that aging on a molecular level occurs rapidly during the mid-forties and early sixties. During your forties, this change is often due to lifestyle changes that can be altered for better outcomes. You can slow the aging process during midlife with regular exercise and a diet rich in produce and low in saturated fat and processed carbohydrates.