What Is a Structured Settlement Buyer?
A structured settlement buyer — also called a factoring company — is a licensed company that purchases your future annuity payment rights in exchange for a lump sum of cash today. They profit by applying a discount rate to your future payments, similar to how a bank calculates a loan's present value.
The structured settlement secondary market in the United States processes more than $2.4 billion in transactions annually. Major buyers include J.G. Wentworth, Peachtree Financial Solutions, CBC Settlement Funding, and Fairfield Funding — among dozens of others competing for your business.
Why Do People Sell Their Structured Settlement Payments?
- Paying off high-interest debt (credit cards, medical bills)
- Covering unexpected medical expenses or emergencies
- Funding education or a child's college tuition
- Purchasing real estate or making a down payment
- Starting or expanding a business
- Consolidating debt into a single, lower-payment obligation
How Is the Lump Sum Calculated?
Structured settlement buyers use the present value (PV) formula to determine how much your future payments are worth in today's dollars. The formula is:
PV = PMT × [ 1 − (1 + r)−n ] ÷ r
Where PMT is your monthly payment, r is the monthly discount rate (annual rate ÷ 12), and n is the number of remaining payments. Our calculator uses this exact formula to give you an accurate real-world estimate.
What Discount Rate Will a Buyer Use?
Discount rates from structured settlement buyers typically range from 9% to 18% annually, with most offers falling in the 11–14% range. The rate depends on:
- The creditworthiness of the insurance company making payments
- How long until payments are complete (longer = higher rate)
- Current market interest rates
- The buyer's internal pricing policies
Getting multiple competing quotes from different structured settlement buyers is the single most effective way to increase your payout. Even a 2% difference in discount rate can mean thousands of dollars more in your pocket.
Is Selling a Structured Settlement Taxable?
In most cases, the lump sum you receive from selling structured settlement payments is not taxable under IRS guidelines, since the original settlement proceeds were tax-exempt. However, consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation, especially if your settlement includes punitive damages.