What a Secondary Market Annuity Costs

Two questions come up on almost every call: what does this cost me, and who exactly am I buying from. The short answers are that there are no separate fees to you as the buyer, everything is priced into the effective yield you see on the listing, and that we are not just a broker. We originate most of what we sell, so we have a direct and continuing stake in each deal being done correctly.

What it costs: nothing beyond the price

There are no additional costs or fees layered onto your purchase. Everything is priced into the advertised effective yield, so the yield and purchase price shown on a listing are what you actually get and pay. There is no separate commission, no application fee, and no markup added at closing. The number on the listing is the number.

The only pass-through charges

There is one narrow exception, and it only applies if you choose it. If you voluntarily use a third-party servicer to administer a split payment, or a self-directed IRA custodian to hold the stream in a retirement account, those providers charge for their services. We pass those charges through at cost, with no markup. You are never surprised by them, and you only pay them if you opt into that arrangement. Our guides on servicers and IRA custody explain when each applies.

We are not just a broker

Most companies advertising these assets are brokers who arrange a purchase through a third party. We are different. Most of the transactions we sell are originated by our affiliated funder, Catalina Structured Funding, which means we are the party that sourced the stream, petitioned the court, and underwrote the file. We control the transaction from origination through court approval rather than reselling paper we have never examined.

Why that matters after you buy

Being the originator gives us a strong interest in getting every transaction completed correctly, because our name is on it. It also means we are still here afterward. In the rare event that an issue arises with a transaction, or when you later want to re-assign or resell the payment stream to a new buyer, the people who put the deal together are the ones you call. That continuity is part of what you get by buying direct through us rather than through a broker who moves on after the sale. You can read more about our underwriting and origination control on our for advisors page.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any fees to buy a secondary market annuity?

No separate fees to you as the buyer. Everything is priced into the effective yield shown on the listing, so there is no commission, application fee, or closing markup. The only additional charges are optional third-party servicer or self-directed IRA custodian fees, passed through at cost with no markup, and only if you choose to use them.

Do you charge a commission or markup?

No. There is no separate commission or markup added to your purchase. The effective yield and purchase price on the listing are all-in.

What happens if there is a problem with the transaction years later?

Because we originate and underwrite most of what we place, we are still here to help. We have a direct interest in the transaction being correct, and in the rare event of an issue, or when you want to resell or re-assign the stream, the people who structured the deal are the ones who assist. That is the difference between a direct funder and a broker.

Ready to see all-in yields on live deals? Browse our live inventory for full terms, or read how buying works.