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Make sure you are on the right page. This guide is for people who want to sell payments from an annuity they already own for a lump sum, including inherited annuity beneficiaries, holders of non-qualified deferred annuities, and recipients of structured-settlement annuities. It is not about choosing an insurance company to buy a new retirement annuity. If your payments come from a personal physical-injury structured settlement, that money is tax-free under IRC Section 104(a)(2), and a court-approved transfer under Section 5891 keeps it that way. See our annuity tax calculator and structured settlement guide for the distinction.
Why Catalina Structured Funding Belongs on Your Shortlist
Here is what matters before you scroll. CSF is attorney-led, funds quotes from our own capital, buys annuity payments alongside structured settlements and lottery winnings, and has closed more than 4,000 transactions over more than 15 years. Our team includes four licensed attorneys who handle the legal process directly. Many buyers use outside counsel.
- In-house funding. We fund your quote from our own capital, so your timeline does not depend on a separate party approving the deal after you sign.
- Transparent pricing. The amount we quote is the amount you receive. Every quote comes with a written disclosure showing the discount rate.
- A+ BBB rated, 110+ verified reviews averaging 4.3 stars on Google. Read recent customer reviews.
- Multi-service. Beyond annuities we also buy structured settlements, lottery winnings, and offer probate advances.
That said, no single buyer always wins. Get quotes from at least two or three companies before you decide. We say that because we know what happens when people compare.
Annuity Buyout Company Comparison
A side-by-side look at the established companies that buy annuity payments in 2026.
| Company | Est. | BBB Rating | Buys | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina Structured Funding (CSF) | 2011 | A+ | Annuities, SS, Lottery, Probate Advances | 4 attorneys on staff, funds own deals, multi-service |
| J.G. Wentworth | 1991 | A+ | Annuities, SS, Home Equity | Largest by volume, parent of Peachtree and Stone Street |
| Peachtree Financial Solutions | 1996 | A+ | Annuities, SS, Pre-settlement funding | Brand of J.G. Wentworth |
| Stone Street Capital | 1990 | A+ | Annuities, SS | Brand of J.G. Wentworth |
| DRB Capital | 2013 | A+ | SS, Annuities | Competitive on larger payment streams |
| CBC Settlement Funding | 2008 | A+ | Annuities, SS, Lottery | Publishes annuity-purchaser content |
| Strategic Capital | 2001 | A+ | Annuities, SS | Smaller operation, direct access |
| Annuity Payment Freedom | Not listed | Not listed | Annuities | Dedicated annuity-buyer focus |
Swipe to see all columns →
Founding dates and BBB ratings reflect public BBB profiles as of 2026, and annuity-buying is confirmed from each company's public annuity page. Blank cells mean the figure is not published on a citable public page. Ratings change, so verify directly with the Better Business Bureau (opens in a new tab).
How Annuity Buyout Offers Are Priced
Every annuity buyer prices your payments the same way, by applying a discount rate to your future payment stream to arrive at a present-value lump sum. The discount rate is the buyer's effective return on the money they advance you today. A lower discount rate means a higher lump sum for you. Two things drive the offer more than anything else. The first is how far out your payments are due, because money years away is worth less today. The second is whether the payments are guaranteed or life-contingent, since life-contingent payments carry actuarial risk that not every buyer will underwrite.
The only meaningful way to compare buyers is a written quote priced against the same payments. The same payment dates, the same dollar amounts, the same guaranteed-or-life-contingent status. Anything else is comparing apples to oranges. We see customers come to us holding a verbal number and assume it is competitive. It rarely is. Ask any buyer one question first. Can you put that in writing, with the discount rate, the gross purchase price, and the net amount I will receive after every cost? A buyer that will not answer that in writing has disqualified itself.
| Compare this | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Net lump sum | The actual amount you receive after every deduction. The only headline number that matters. |
| Discount rate | The buyer's effective interest rate on your future payments. Lower is better for you. Get it in writing. |
| Exact payments being sold | Which specific payments, which dates, which amounts. Different buyers price different subsets and call them all your annuity. |
| Fees and costs | Processing, document, and administrative costs. Some buyers absorb them, others deduct them from your net. Ask explicitly. |
| Buyer vs. lead generator | A buyer quotes, signs, and funds the deal itself. A lead generator collects your information and sells it to multiple companies. CSF funds its own transactions. |
| Funding timing | How long after you sign, and after any court approval, until the money reaches your account. This ranges from days to weeks. |
The amount we quote is the amount you receive. Every CSF quote shows the discount rate, the gross purchase price, the costs we absorb, and the net lump sum. Put any competitor's quote next to ours and compare on the same axes. Request a written quote or call us at (800) 317-3769.
Why “Best Annuity Company” Lists Can Mislead
Search for the best annuity company and most results rank insurance companies that sell retirement annuities, not buyers that purchase your existing payments. The two are opposite transactions for opposite audiences. When you do find a list of annuity buyers, it is often published by a site that earns a referral fee when you click through, so the company at the top is frequently the one that paid for the placement or ranks well editorially. Those lists are useful for learning names. They cannot tell you which buyer will hand you the highest net lump sum for your specific payments. Only written quotes can do that.
Annuity Buyer Profiles
Each company operates a little differently. Some are direct funders that purchase payments with their own capital. Others route your deal to a third party. Below is a closer look at the established buyers of annuity payments in 2026.
Catalina Structured Funding (CSF)
CSF is an attorney-led direct funder that has closed more than 4,000 transactions over more than 15 years. The company maintains a BBB A+ rating and employs four licensed attorneys who handle filings, compliance, and customer communication in-house. CSF funds deals through its own capital, so no broker markup gets added to your discount rate. Alongside annuities, CSF buys structured settlements and lottery payments, and offers probate advances, which makes it one of the few multi-service firms in the market.
J.G. Wentworth
J.G. Wentworth is the largest buyer in the secondary payments market and the most visible, thanks to decades of national advertising. The company buys annuity and structured settlement payments and holds a BBB A+ rating. J.G. Wentworth also operates under two family brands, Peachtree Financial Solutions and Stone Street Capital, which share the same parent company. The high-volume model means a long track record and nationwide reach, often with less personalized service than a smaller firm provides. We regularly see customers who started with a J.G. Wentworth quote and came to CSF for a second number on the same payments.
Peachtree Financial Solutions and Stone Street Capital
Peachtree Financial Solutions and Stone Street Capital are both brands within the J.G. Wentworth family. Both buy annuity and structured settlement payments and carry a BBB A+ rating. Because they share a parent with J.G. Wentworth, a quote from one is effectively a quote from the same organization, so treat all three as a single data point when you compare offers rather than three independent ones.
DRB Capital
DRB Capital is a direct funder that entered the market in 2013 and focuses on structured settlements and annuities. The company holds a BBB A+ rating and tends to be competitive on larger guaranteed payment streams. It is a newer entrant than the J.G. Wentworth brands but has built a steady track record over the past decade.
CBC Settlement Funding
CBC Settlement Funding has operated since 2008, holds a BBB A+ rating, and buys annuity payments alongside structured settlements and lottery payments. CBC publishes its own educational content on annuity purchasing and leans on a fee-transparency approach. If you are gathering quotes, CBC is reasonable to include in your comparison set.
Strategic Capital
Strategic Capital is a smaller buyer that has operated since 2001 and holds a BBB A+ rating. It buys annuity and structured settlement payments and, as a smaller operation, can offer more direct access to the people making the decision. Get a written quote and set it next to an offer from a larger firm before you commit.
Annuity Payment Freedom
Annuity Payment Freedom markets itself specifically as an annuity buyer and runs a dedicated annuity-buyers page. Its founding year and BBB grade are not published on a citable public page, so ask about both directly when you request a quote, and compare its written offer against at least one other buyer on the same payments.
A note on SenecaOne
SenecaOne was a structured settlement and annuity purchaser based in Bethesda, Maryland. SenecaOne is no longer in active operation. If you previously received a quote from SenecaOne, you will need a different buyer for any new transaction. Your original annuity and payment schedule are unaffected by a purchasing company leaving the market.
How to Choose an Annuity Buyout Company
The best buyer for one seller is rarely the best buyer for another. A seller with guaranteed monthly payments may be priced differently than a seller with deferred lump sums or life-contingent payments. The right buyer depends on the deal, which is why a written quote beats a reputation every time. Work through this short checklist before you sign anything.
- Get two or three written quotes on the exact same payments and compare the net lump sum.
- Confirm the discount rate is in writing. If a buyer will not commit it to paper, walk away.
- Ask who funds the deal. A direct funder uses its own capital. A lead generator sells your information.
- Check the BBB profile. Look at the letter grade, recent complaints, and how the company resolved them.
- Ask about every cost. Find out what is deducted from your payout and what the company absorbs.
- Confirm funding timing. Approval is not the same as the wire landing in your account.
Already holding a quote? Send it to us and we will put a written CSF offer next to it on the same terms so you can see the gap. Call (800) 317-3769 or request a quote on our annuities page. You can also read more on how to sell annuity payments and whether to sell or cash out.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who buys annuity payments?
- Annuity payments are bought by licensed factoring companies that purchase your future, guaranteed payment stream in exchange for an immediate lump sum. The established buyers in the U.S. include J.G. Wentworth, Peachtree Financial Solutions, Stone Street Capital, DRB Capital, CBC Settlement Funding, Strategic Capital, and Catalina Structured Funding. These buyers are different from insurance companies, which sell you a new annuity rather than purchase an existing one.
- What is the difference between an annuity buyer and an annuity provider?
- An annuity buyer purchases the future payments from an annuity you already own and pays you a lump sum today. An annuity provider is an insurance company that sells you a new annuity in exchange for premiums. This page covers buyers. If you searched for the best annuity provider for retirement, that is a different decision and a different set of companies.
- How much will I get for my annuity payments?
- Your lump sum depends on the number of payments you sell, their dollar amounts, how far out they are due, and the buyer's discount rate. The further out the payments, the lower the present value, so the amount you receive is always less than the total of the future payments. The single best thing you can do is get written quotes from two or three buyers and compare the net lump sum each one offers for the same payments.
- Do annuity buyers charge fees?
- Policies vary by company. Some buyers deduct processing, document, or administrative costs from your lump sum. At CSF, the amount we quote is the amount you receive, and you never pay out of pocket. Always ask any buyer for a written disclosure that itemizes every cost before you sign.
- Is it safe to sell my annuity payments?
- Selling to an established buyer with a verifiable BBB record, a written disclosure that matches the verbal quote, and no high-pressure tactics is a routine transaction. If your annuity funds a personal-injury structured settlement, a judge reviews and approves the transfer under your state's Structured Settlement Protection Act, which is a consumer protection that confirms the sale is in your best interest before it becomes final.
- Will I owe taxes if I sell my annuity payments?
- It depends on the annuity. Gains inside a non-qualified or inherited annuity can be taxable when paid out, so talk to a tax advisor about your specific contract. Payments from a personal physical-injury structured settlement are different. They are tax-free under IRC Section 104(a)(2), and a court-approved transfer under IRC Section 5891 preserves that tax-free treatment, so selling those payments does not create a new tax on the settlement money.
- How do I choose the best annuity buyout company?
- Get written quotes from at least two or three buyers, then compare the net lump sum on the same set of payments. Beyond price, check the BBB rating, ask whether the company funds the deal with its own capital or passes your information to a third party, ask whether costs are deducted from your payout, and confirm how quickly they can fund after the paperwork is done.
Compare a CSF Offer Before You Sell
A free, non-binding quote takes minutes. See the discount rate and the net lump sum in writing, then compare it against any other buyer on the same payments.