Through case narratives and market analysis, the study presents competing perspectives from insurers, regulators, financial planners, and consumer advocates, including Beca Life Settlements' Yehuda Tropper. Drawing on industry data, regulatory history, and...
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Through case narratives and market analysis, the study presents competing perspectives from insurers, regulators, financial planners, and consumer advocates, including Beca Life Settlements' Yehuda Tropper. Drawing on industry data, regulatory history, and expert commentary, the article situates life settlements within a broader retirement income environment marked by inflation pressures, longevity risk, and limited consumer awareness. It traces the legal foundation of the market to Grigsby v. Russell (1911), outlines the evolution from viatical settlements to today’s regulated framework, and analyzes the persistent information asymmetry between institutional buyers and elderly policyholders. It concludes that while life settlements can generate significantly higher payouts than cash surrender values in certain cases, structural opacity and uneven regulation continue to shape outcomes in this growing but still largely invisible asset class.
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