Sell your life insurance policy for more than cash surrender value.
If you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and no longer need your life insurance policy, a life settlement may allow you to sell it for significantly more than its cash surrender value. High Yield Vault is a consulting firm — we evaluate your policy, explain your options, and connect qualifying policyholders with qualified investors in our network who purchase policies as part of their investment portfolio. We do not purchase policies ourselves; investors in our network do.
The short answer.
A life settlement is a transaction where a qualified investor — not High Yield Vault — purchases your existing life insurance policy from you. The investor pays more than your policy's cash surrender value but less than its full face amount. You receive a lump sum payment, and the investor assumes all future premium payments and collects the death benefit when the policy matures. High Yield Vault's role is to evaluate your policy, guide you through the decision, and match you with qualified investors in our network. Most sales close within 60 to 90 days.
Can you sell your life insurance policy?
Most life settlements follow a consistent set of qualification criteria. If you meet these, your policy may attract offers from qualified investors in our network looking to acquire policies as part of their investment portfolio.
Terminal illness required
Most qualifying policyholders have a qualifying medical condition.
Policy over $25,000
Face amount typically $25,000 or more. Larger policies often attract stronger offers.
Policy held 2+ years
Most states require policies to be past the contestability period (usually two years).
Health has changed
Decline in health since issuance often improves your policy's market value.
Not sure if you qualify? A free, confidential evaluation takes just a few minutes.
Get Your Free EvaluationThree simple steps to your free evaluation.
The process is straightforward. Most sellers complete it within 60 to 90 days, with no out-of-pocket costs.
Free consultation
Speak confidentially with a High Yield Vault Policy Specialist. We review your policy details — carrier, face amount, premiums, health profile — at no cost and with no obligation. Our role is to help you understand your options, not to pressure you toward any decision.
Investor offers
If your policy qualifies, we present it to qualified investors in our network. The investors — not High Yield Vault — review your policy and present their offers directly. We help you understand and compare them in plain language.
Closing with the investor
If you accept an offer, the transaction is executed under standard state-regulated life settlement procedures. Title transfer, beneficiary changes, and payment flow directly between you and the investor who purchased the policy. High Yield Vault supports you throughout, but the sale is between you and the investor.
Selling vs. surrendering.
A life settlement typically pays significantly more than what the insurance carrier offers you to simply surrender the policy. Here's a general comparison based on typical outcomes.
When you surrender your policy directly to the insurance carrier, you receive only the accumulated cash value — often a fraction of what the policy is actually worth on the tertiary market.
Based on a typical $500,000 universal life policy. Actual amounts vary.
A life settlement typically pays 3 to 8 times more than the cash surrender value. Your policy is valued based on its true market worth — accounting for age, health, and policy structure.
Based on same $500,000 policy. Actual offers depend on specific qualifying factors.
Why the difference? The insurance carrier has no incentive to pay you fair market value when you surrender — they simply stop owing the death benefit. A licensed life settlement provider, by contrast, pays what the policy is actually worth based on actuarial valuation. The result is often 3 to 8 times more cash in your pocket.
Common reasons people choose to sell a policy.
Every situation is different. These are the most common reasons our clients decide a life settlement is the right choice for them.
Retirement income
Premium payments have become a burden in retirement, and the lump sum from a sale would provide meaningful income for today's needs.
Medical or long-term care
Funding a long-term care plan, medical treatment, or in-home care — often when a policy's death benefit is no longer the family's primary need.
No longer needed
The original reason for the policy no longer applies — children are grown, a business was sold, or financial obligations have been resolved.
Debt reduction
Paying off a mortgage, medical debt, or helping family members — using cash that is otherwise locked inside a policy you don't need.
Family legacy
Creating meaningful gifts or experiences for children and grandchildren now, rather than leaving a death benefit later. Living legacy over posthumous transfer.
Business changes
A key-person policy, buy-sell agreement, or corporate-owned policy is no longer needed due to retirement or business restructuring.
Fair offers, clear process, no surprises.
Consultants working for you
High Yield Vault is a consulting firm, not a buyer. Our Policy Specialists represent your interests throughout the process — helping you evaluate offers from qualified investors in our network, not pressuring you toward any single outcome.
No cost to you
Our consultation and guidance are free. You pay no fees, commissions, or upfront costs. Our compensation comes from the transaction at closing — only if you accept an offer.
Access to qualified investors
We do not buy policies — qualified investors in our network do. Because we work with multiple qualified investors who review available policies, your policy can be evaluated by several potential buyers rather than a single company.
Plain-language guidance
Your Policy Specialist explains every offer, every document, and every step in clear language. Bring your spouse, children, or advisor — we welcome family involvement throughout the consultation.
No pressure, ever
We never push you to accept an offer. Take the time you need. Walk away if it's not right. Come back later if your situation changes. The decision is always yours.
Work with a dedicated specialist.
John Sandoval
Senior Policy Specialist
John has spent over a decade helping policyholders understand their options and navigate the life settlement process. As a Policy Specialist at High Yield Vault — a consulting firm, not a buyer — he guides each client through the evaluation and explains offers from qualified investors in clear, patient language. His role is to represent your interests, not to sell you anything.
Selling vs. your other choices.
Before deciding to sell, it's worth comparing all four options for an unwanted policy. Here's how they compare side-by-side.
| Option | Cash received | Future premiums | Death benefit | Tax implications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sell (Life Settlement) | 3–8× surrender value | None — buyer pays | Forfeited | Partially taxable |
| Keep the policy | None | Continues | Preserved | Tax-free to beneficiaries |
| Surrender to carrier | Cash surrender only | None | Forfeited | Partially taxable |
| Lapse the policy | None (or minimal) | None | Forfeited | None |
Tax implications vary by policy, jurisdiction, and personal situation. Consult your tax advisor before deciding.
Answers before you sell a life insurance policy.
The questions sellers most often ask before deciding.
Request free evaluationDoes High Yield Vault buy my life insurance policy?
No. High Yield Vault is a consulting firm, not a buyer. We do not purchase life insurance policies for our own account. Our role is to evaluate your policy, explain your options, and connect you with qualified Provider in our network who acquire policies as part of their investment portfolio. The purchase is executed between you and the investor — not High Yield Vault. This structure keeps our interests aligned with yours.
How much is my life insurance policy worth?
Policy value depends on your age, health, policy type, face amount, and premium structure. A life settlement typically pays 3 to 8 times the cash surrender value, though some policies can yield significantly more. The only way to know your specific policy's value is a free evaluation — it takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing.
Do I have to pay anything to work with High Yield Vault?
No. Our consultation and guidance are free, and you pay nothing out of pocket. No fees, no commissions, no upfront costs. If you decide not to sell your policy, you owe nothing.
How long does the process take?
The initial evaluation takes 10 to 15 minutes. If your policy qualifies, the full process — from first contact to receiving payment — typically closes in 60 to 90 days. Some transactions close faster; complex cases may take slightly longer.
Is a life settlement taxable?
Generally, the portion of the sale above your cost basis (premiums paid) is taxable, though the specific treatment depends on your jurisdiction and individual situation. Some proceeds may be classified as ordinary income or capital gains. We strongly recommend consulting with your tax advisor or CPA before closing. High Yield Vault does not provide tax advice.
Will this affect my Medicaid eligibility?
Possibly. Life settlement proceeds are considered a liquid asset and may affect means-tested programs like Medicaid or SSI. If you rely on these programs, discuss the timing and structure of a settlement with your elder law attorney before proceeding. Some structures (such as Medicaid-compliant settlements) may help preserve eligibility.
Can I involve my children or family in the process?
Absolutely — and we encourage it. Selling a life insurance policy is a significant financial decision. Many of our clients bring their spouse, adult children, or a trusted advisor into every conversation. Your Policy Specialist can schedule calls that work for everyone.
What information do you need from me?
For the initial evaluation, we need your approximate age, policy face amount, type of policy, the issuing carrier, and a general overview of your health. You do NOT need to share medical records, Social Security numbers, or bank information at this stage. If you decide to proceed, additional documentation will be requested in a secure, encrypted manner.
What happens to my policy after I sell it?
Ownership transfers to the qualified investor who purchased it. They become the beneficiary and assume all future premium payments. You are fully released from any premium obligations. When the policy eventually matures, the investor collects the death benefit — that's how they recoup their investment. You receive your lump sum at closing from the investor and have no further involvement in the policy.
High Yield Vault is a consulting and brokerage firm, not a buyer. We do not purchase life insurance policies for our own account. Our services include policy evaluation, option analysis for policyholders, and connecting qualifying sellers with qualified investors in our network who acquire policies as part of their investment portfolio.
All life insurance policy purchases are executed directly between the policyholder and a qualified investor in our network, under applicable U.S. state regulatory frameworks for life settlement transactions. Title transfer, purchase payment, and ongoing policy ownership flow directly between you and the investor — not through High Yield Vault.
Life settlement transactions involve complex financial, tax, and legal considerations. We strongly recommend consulting with your own legal counsel, tax advisor, and financial advisor before accepting any offer. High Yield Vault does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice.
Request your free evaluation.
Takes about 10 minutes. No cost, no obligation, fully confidential. A High Yield Vault Policy Specialist will reach out within one business day to discuss your situation and options.
Get your free policy evaluation
Fields marked with an asterisk are required. Your information stays confidential.
