Life Settlement News

A new association has formed to transfer longevity and mortality-related risk to the capital markets in the same way that some of the world’s biggest perils, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, are protected against by shifting the risk to investors via catastrophe bonds.

Four factors that have slowed America’s push for greater longevity

How long can you expect to live? The answer to that tantalizing question tells a lot about the success of a nation—or the lack of it.

Leading life expectancy underwriter, Fasano Associates, announced the development of an automated life expectancy calculator. The LE Calculator will be used as a screening tool for life settlement acquisitions and to assist individuals in financial planning applications.

Advanced Underwriting Solutions now offers provisional reviews prior to initial purchasing decisions

Advanced Underwriting Solutions leads the life expectancy (LE) market in a trend toward transparent reviews. In an environment of recent economic uncertainty, AUS continues to lead with the philosophy that it is vital to focus on consistency in the methodology and tracking of Senior Market impairments that have mortality implications affecting life expectancies. The LE’s provided by AUS provide in-depth detail on medical impairments combined with ICD codes - this allows investors a clear understanding of how to appropriately bucket risks within their portfolios.

Fasano Associates released the Agenda for its 5th Annual Life Settlement Conference, to be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Legal & General Group Plc, the U.K.‘s third-largest insurer, has a solution to the problem of aging: high-yield corporate bonds.

Four months ago it took over a $475 million pension fund at Smiths Group Plc, betting it can improve returns enough to pay off 7,000 pensioners and turn a profit. Smiths, the world’s biggest maker of airport bomb detectors, was happy to rid itself of what insurance companies call ``longevity risk.’’ Longer life expectancies mean a 65-year-old man in Britain will probably live to 82 and claim payments until 2025.

In an industry that is largely driven by the speed of underwriting, the life settlement sector is seeing a significant increase in average transaction times as life expectancy underwriters increase their turnaround time from an average of two weeks to upwards of six weeks.

Investors in settled life insurance policies need to thoroughly understand
the impact of underwriting and mortality assumptions on investment performance, according to a new analysis
issued today by Phoenix Life Solutions, a subsidiary of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (NYSE: PNX).

As part of its efforts to support the premium finance industry through effective regulations, legislation, industry best practices and educational events, the Life Insurance Finance Association (LIFA) has announced an expansion to its membership.
Currently open to premium finance lenders and insurance producers, LIFA’s membership is now extended to any organization assisting in premium finance business, such as life expectancy underwriters, legal counsel and other professionals.