With a life insurance settlement, seniors now have the ability to receive a payout larger than their cash surrender value. Life insurance companies have always had the advantage by offering a low cash surrender payout for unwanted or unneeded life insurance policies. Now however, senior consumers are using a life settlement to receive a large lump payout for their insurance policy.

A life insurance settlement, (also referred to as a senior life settlement or life settlement) is a financial transaction in which a senior citizen possessing an unneeded 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 seller receives immediate cash for the policy from the purchaser. The purchaser becomes the new beneficiary of the policy at maturation and is responsible for all premium payments from the time of the purchase until the seller passes away.

For senior citizens to receive an estimate on the amount available to them, they simply need to sign a release and provide information about the policy, there is no need for a physical or medical visit. "The life settlement process is a very simply process," says Grant Shellhammer of Life Settlement Pro, "Once the necessary documents are received we can provide an estimate of the settlement amount, there is never any obligation or cost to the client." With life insurance policies being surrendered and lapsed on a daily basis, it is important for consumers to understand how beneficial a life settlement can be.

There is no standard amount available through a life settlement and every individual case is different. The industry has seen anywhere from 2-10 times the case surrender value available through a life settlement. Many seniors are not aware that there is potentially a lot more value in their policies.

The education and availability of life settlements could also be blamed on the agents and financial professionals. They have a duty to provide their clients with the best options and recommendations. By letting a policy lapse or surrender without seeing if a life settlement is available is not servicing your clients correctly. "We gladly work with agents and financial professionals across the nation to help them assist their client with life settlements," stated Grant Shellhammer.

No longer should you just settle for a cash surrender payout; find out if a life insurance settlement can pay you more.