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FINRA Bulletin Uncovers Blind Spots for Wealth Managers About Life SettlementsFINRA Bulletin Uncovers Blind Spots for Wealth Managers About Life Settlements

What are the risks you need to discuss with your clients?

Jon B Mendelsohn, Co-founder and CEO

May 21, 2024

9 Min Read
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As an estate planner or investment advisor, you may be faced with a client who asks you for advice about considering a life settlement for their insurance policy. A life settlement is an option for a policy owner to sell and exchange their life insurance policy for a lump sum payment that’s higher than the cash surrender value and less than the death benefit. All policy types can qualify, including term. However, participating in a life settlement comes with risks, as detailed in a July 31, 2023 bulletin by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).1 Although this bulletin is targeted at broker-dealers and registered investment advisors (RIAs), all wealth advisors, attorneys and tax professionals can benefit from the informatio...

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About the Author

Jon B Mendelsohn

Co-founder and CEO, Ashar Group

Jon B. Mendelsohn is CEO of Ashar Group, a family-owned business focused solely on the life settlement and policy valuation market for more than 17 years. Jon has been published in Trust & Estates and Tax Adviser Magazine and speaks nationally about the importance of treating life insurance as an asset, providing defensible life insurance policy valuations, and planning implications due to increased longevity among senior clients. Ashar Group is a nationally licensed life settlement fiduciary with a reputation as the industry benchmark for transparency, compliance, and innovation. The company has recently filmed a 6-part life settlement series for AALU as well as education for The American College RICP program and has been invited to speak at the AICPA, Forum 400, countless estate planning councils across the nation, and even educational institutions like Harvard Business School and Columbia University’s Ph.D. Finance Program. Jon earned two bachelor's and a master’s degree from the University of Florida. He and Ashar are proud supporters of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation for over 20 years to support his family members living with this challenge. Jon and his wife Angie reside in Central Florida with their two daughters, Ella and Payton. Ashar Group deliberately chooses to partner with organizations whose values align with the meaning of Ashar, “do what is right, and you will be blessed."