NEWS & ARTICLES

• Online Extra: Life Settlements: Betting on Death
From the Lowinger clan to hedge funds, investors are cashing in on the business of trading unwanted life insurance policies. But buyers should be wary | Read More

• Golden Opportunities
Articles in this series will examine how businesses and investors seek to profit from the soaring number of older Americans, in ways helpful and harmful.

Two years ago, Mr. Margolis bought a large life insurance policy. Now, he’s considering selling it to a group of investors, a deal that should give him as much as $2 million to enjoy in his final years. In return, the investors will get the policy’s $7 million payout when he dies — which they hope will be soon, so they can stop paying his premiums. | Read More

• Late in Life, Finding a Bonanza in Life Insurance
Marvin Margolis, an 80-year-old Manhattan financial consultant, is looking for investors willing to bet on when he will die.

Two years ago, Mr. Margolis bought a large life insurance policy. Now, he's considering selling it to a group of investors, a deal that should give him as much as $2 million to enjoy in his final years. In return, the investors will get the policy's $7 million payout when he dies — which they hope will be soon, so they can stop paying his premiums. | Read More

• Premium-financing for estates a hot commodity
Premium-financing for life insurance policies isn't a new concept, but advisers with wealthy clients are jumping aboard.
Among the new adopters are Lincoln Financial Group in Philadelphia and Manulife Financial Corp. in Toronto. | Read More

• Old concept helps wealthy clients to pay for insurance costs
Despite the obvious advantages of early estate planning - after all, who knows what tomorrow may bring - it's a process that many people put off.

Tom Stroud, a financial adviser for MetLife Inc. in Birmingham, says people "never want to talk about their own mortality," and estate planning can be a confusing, costly process. | Read More