Insights into Life Settlements Investment Trends – 44% Investors in ILS Looking to Increase Their Allocations 

January 13, 2025


HARTFORD, CT – January 13, 2025 – In 2023, investors acquired approximately 3,400 policies with a total face value of $5 billion.  This was just a fraction of what Conning estimates is $200 billion in total face for all policies that would meet investor criteria. This pattern has remained steady since the 2010s and raises the question of why investors are not more actively pursuing life settlements. 

In its role as Europe’s life settlement trade association, ELSA partnered with Conning’s insurance research group, publishers of an annual life settlement market report and forecast, to survey institutional investors in the fall of 2024. The purpose of the survey was to identify current attitudes among those investors who are active in the life settlement market. As important, the survey sought to identify the reasons some investors continue to shy away from the asset class. 

Preliminary results of the survey were shared in September at ELSA’s 2024 annual meeting in Stockholm. With the survey now complete, with 156 responses, we are delighted to share the in-depth report titled Unlocking Value: Insights into Life Settlements Investment Trends.  The study found that those investing in life settlements had positive attitudes, with a majority deciding to maintain their allocations or increase them.  

The top three reasons for investing in life settlements are overall portfolio diversification (52% of life settlement investors in strong agreement), risk-return profile (47%), and low correlation to other asset classes (46%). For investors in the asset class, the survey asked about their plans to increase or decrease their investments in life settlements. 44% were looking to increase their allocations to life settlements over the coming year, compared to 12% that were looking to decrease their allocations. We think this points to the continued interest in life settlements once an investor enters the asset class. 

“We think the results of the survey point to the continued interest in life settlements once an investor enters the asset class. However, challenges remain in increasing participation. Many prospective investors cite the need for greater education, historical return data, and transparency regarding fees as barriers to entry, making education crucial,” said Manu Mazumdar, Head of Data Analytics and Insurance Technology at Conning, and lead author of the report. 

ABOUT ELSA 

The European Life Settlement Association (ELSA) was founded in 2009 to set standards for participants in the European life settlement industry. ELSA represents institutional investors, life settlement asset managers, and service providers to the life settlement market both in Europe and around the world, promoting transparency by providing accurate, authoritative information to investors, regulators, and the media. For more information visit www.elsa-sls.org.   

 

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ABOUT CONNING
With a long history of serving the insurance industry, Conning (www.conning.com) supports institutional investors, including insurers and pension plans, with investment solutions, risk modeling software, and industry research.  Founded in 1912, Conning has investment centers in Asia, Europe and North America. 

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Media Contacts
Alyssa Gittleman
Conning
860-299-2288
alyssa.gittleman@conning.com

 

Chris Wells
ELSA
chris@elsa-sls.org