Secondary Market Annuities

Secondary market annuities (SMAs) involve the current owner of an annuity trading future payments for a lump sum. Annuities are designed to provide steady income, but some prefer a one-time payout at a discount. This transaction allows the owner to receive those funds without having to wait for the payment stream to end.

Written By Lindsey Crossmier
Lindsey Crossmier
Lindsey Crossmier
Financial Writer
Lindsey Crossmier is an accomplished writer with experience working for The Florida Review and Bookstar PR. As a financial writer, she covers annuities, structured settlements and other personal finance topics for Annuity.org.
Read More
Edited By Lamia Chowdhury
Lamia Chowdhury
Lamia Chowdhury
Financial Editor
Lamia Chowdhury is a financial editor at Annuity.org. Lamia carries an extensive skillset in the content marketing field, and her work as a copywriter spans industries as diverse as finance, health care, travel and restaurants.
Read More
Reviewed By Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EA
Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EA
Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EA
Co-Owner of Belonging Wealth Management
As a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and Retired Income Certified Professional®, Brandon Renfro is well-versed in the financial information and strategies needed to meet retirement goals. In addition to co-owning Belonging Wealth Management and assisting clients, Brandon writes regularly for financial publications.
Read More
Updated: October 3, 2024
4 min read time
This page features 4 Cited Research Articles

Key Takeaways

SMAs allow you to sell future annuity payments in exchange for an immediate cash payment at a discounted rate.
Selling and buying an SMA comes with different risks and benefits. Consult with a financial advisor to determine if either is a good option for you.
The secondary market is projected to grow in years to come.
The annuity selling process varies depending on the type you have. For example, selling structured settlements on the secondary annuity market requires court approval.

How Secondary Market Annuities Work

If you sell your annuity on the secondary market for a discounted lump sum, your annuity becomes a secondary market annuity (SMA). The SMA will be available for buyers to purchase, usually with a higher interest rate. A common term length for an SMA is 20 years, but it isn’t unusual to find SMAs with longer or shorter terms.

Once sold to a buyer, SMAs cannot usually be sold again. Whoever bought the SMA will receive scheduled payments while you walk away with a large lump sum.

An infographic of the Secondary Market Annuity Process

Typically, SMAs are purchased from a third-party seller, and the courts can be involved in the selling process. For example, selling structured settlements on the secondary annuity market requires court approval.

With careful planning and risk assessment, an SMA can create a win-win situation. The annuity seller can use the large sum of cash to live comfortably in the present and the SMA buyer gains a stream of steady income to last them throughout retirement.

However, you shouldn’t sell your annuity just to have a large amount of cash on hand. You will be receiving less than the value of your total scheduled payments. So, you should have sound reasoning behind selling your annuity on the secondary market.

Common Reasons Why People Sell Their Annuities:

Make a major life purchase (house, car or business)
Pay off credit card debt
Pay off medical bills
Finance a college education or pay off student loans
Unexpected job loss

Interested in selling some or all of your payments?

Turn your future payments into cash you can use right now. Get started with a free estimate and see what your payments are worth today!

Learn More

Pros and Cons of Secondary Market Annuities

Analyzing the pros and cons of SMAs from the seller and buyer’s perspective can help you understand the process.

From the seller’s perspective, the main pro of an SMA is having immediate access to a large amount of cash. The primary con is that the lump sum you receive will be less than what you were originally promised in the form of scheduled payments.

This pro will only outweigh the con if you have a dire need for the funds, such as needing to cover a health care emergency. Or, if you have a new stream of income that will keep you comfortable throughout retirement, making your annuity payments unnecessary in the long term.

Pros and Cons of SMAs from a Buyer and Seller Perspective

Seller

Liquidity
Freedom to cover large expenses upfront

The lump sum will be less than the original amount of annuity payments.
The selling process can require court approval

Buyer

Higher yield, which is the total average annual interest rate earned with your annuity over a specified time

Payment amount is not customizable
SMAs are a fixed-rate investment which makes them subject to interest rate risk
SMAs cannot usually be resold

Selling your annuity payments through an SMA provides you with a lump sum of cash that you can use for immediate needs, but often for a steep discount. It’s important to understand and weigh the tradeoffs before making that decision.

Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EACo-Owner of Belonging Wealth Management
As a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and Retired Income Certified Professional®, Brandon Renfro is well-versed in the financial information and strategies needed to meet retirement goals. In addition to co-owning Belonging Wealth Management and assisting clients, Brandon writes regularly for financial publications.

About the Secondary Annuity Market

The secondary market started in the 1980s with financial companies acting as the “lender of last resort” for annuity owners. While the secondary market started as a riskier way to access large sums of cash, the industry has quickly developed into a profitable market for many investors.

Some examples of annuity income streams sold in the secondary market include lottery winnings, insurance money, lawsuit settlements and money from a will.