A UNIQUE WAY TO DONATE TO PRO, YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY

Lisa Rehburg, Rehburg Life Settlements

With the financial markets in such flux, our company wants to help PRO with unique solutions for their donors.

    I thought a quick synopsis of common questions and answers may be helpful. Here is what we are asked most often:

1. Why should I suggest a donor consider selling their life insurance policy? Donors are being significantly impacted financially, and they may have a policy they no longer want, need or can afford. Perhaps a donor needs to cut expenses or has no more use for the policy. A life insurance settlement can offer liquidity.

2. What can be done with the cash generated in a life insurance settlement? The cash can be used for anything... donate to your organization, help shore up retirement savings, pay down debt, fund home care or assisted living, or a combination... anything.

3.             I don’t know much about life insurance settlements - are they legal? Are they regulated? Many people have not heard of a life insurance settlement, yet they have been legal since 1911 through a Supreme Court decision (Grigsby v. Russell) which deemed a life insurance policy an asset that can be sold. Today, life insurance settlements are heavily regulated by Departments of Insurance across the country.

4. How much is a policy worth? Every donor’s situation is unique. The main factors determining the value of a policy are the premium to be paid, the life expectancy of the donor and the face value of the policy. Yes, there are some policies that cannot be sold. But, policies can be worth several thousand to tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. We have recently sold clients’ policies for amounts ranging from $8,000 to $350,000. The clients were thrilled because they were going to drop these policies, and they realized a return for them.

5. What types of policies can be sold? Any type can be sold - including term policies. Face values of $100,000 or more are preferable.

6. But, doesn’t my donor have to be really sick to sell? No. While it is true that the shorter the life expectancy of the donor, the more money their policy is potentially worth, this does not mean that relatively healthy donors cannot sell their policies. Typically, donors should be 65 or over, but donors younger can sell too, depending upon their health.

7. Does it cost my donor money? There is no up-front application fee to find out how much a policy could be worth. There are commissions paid, based upon the amount of money obtained for the donor.

8. How does my donor know if an offer for their policy is the best price? A good life settlement broker presents a donor’s policy to many buyers to realize the best return. Our responsibility, passion and duty is to obtain the most money for a client’s policy.

9. How do I bring up life insurance settlements with my donor? “Do you have a life insurance policy you no longer want, need or can afford?” This is a very simple question to ask. You discuss assets with donors regularly. Their life insurance policy is just another asset. We have also helped professionals raise awareness through writing blogs for their website, articles for their newsletter, conducting webinars and podcasts. Let us know how we can support you.

10.          The financial markets have taken a hit, how is the life insurance settlement market? The life insurance settlement market is very active right now, and some buyers have been particularly generous in their offers for policies.

I hope this succinct Q & A has been helpful. If you would like more details, have additional questions, or a donor’s policy you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact me directly, or click through to our website here. In addition, the Life Insurance Settlements Association (LISA) has published a “Basics of Life Settlements” brochure. If you would like a copy, please let me know, and I will gladly send it to you.

    We are life settlements brokers and are here to be of assistance. It would be a privilege to be of service to you and your donors, should the need arise. When considering life insurance settlements, remember, “It can’t hurt to try, it can only hurt not to.”

For more information please visit Lisa and Rehburg Insurance Settlements in the Wellness Village at ParkinsonsResource.org/the-wellness-village/directory/rehburg-life-insurance-settlements/ where they have been members since July 2019.