Who Buys Structured Settlements? Top 10 Companies (2026)

Who Buys Structured Settlements?

Structured settlements are bought by licensed factoring companies that specialize in purchasing future periodic payments in exchange for an immediate lump sum. They are not insurance companies, banks, or law firms. They are dedicated buyers regulated under each state's Structured Settlement Protection Act, and every transaction they close requires a judge to approve the transfer.

The major buyers in the U.S. include JG Wentworth, Peachtree Financial Solutions, Stone Street Capital, DRB Capital, CBC Settlement Funding, and Catalina Structured Funding. Some are part of the same parent company. JG Wentworth's published Consumer Privacy Notice lists Peachtree Financial Solutions LLC, Peachtree Settlement Funding LLC, Stone Street Capital LLC, and Stone Street Originations LLC as entities in The J.G. Wentworth Company family. Others (CBC, CSF, DRB) operate independently. Pricing, service, and discount rates vary across the independent buyers, which is why getting multiple independent quotes matters.

The 10-company comparison below covers the structured settlement buyers most likely to compete for your transaction, with BBB ratings, transparency on discount rates, and notes on whether the company quotes and closes its own deals or operates as a lead-generation referral site.

What Do Structured Settlement Companies Do?

If you are comparing structured settlement companies, you are already ahead of most sellers. We see customers every week who accepted the first offer they received and left thousands of dollars on the table. Getting multiple written structured settlement quotes is the single best thing you can do to protect yourself. For a narrower walkthrough on structured settlement buyers specifically (who they are, how they are regulated, and how to evaluate them), that page goes deeper than the broader list below.

Structured settlement companies purchase future periodic payments from individuals who received legal settlements and need cash now. Instead of waiting years or decades for scheduled payments, you can sell some or all of your future payments to one of these companies in exchange for an immediate lump sum.

Every transaction requires court approval under your state's Structured Settlement Protection Act (SSPA), a consumer protection framework supported by the National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA). A judge or responsible administrative authority must review the sale and confirm it is in your best interest before the transfer becomes effective. Some companies may offer optional cash advances before final approval. This legal safeguard exists to protect you, but the company you choose to work with still matters enormously. The right company will offer a competitive discount rate, handle all court filings, be transparent about costs, and treat you with respect throughout the process. The wrong company can cost you thousands of dollars, delay your funding, or pressure you into a deal that is not in your best interest.

Below, we compare the most prominent structured settlement companies operating in 2026 and explain what to look for when choosing a buyer for your payments.

Structured Settlement Buyer Profiles

Each structured settlement company operates differently. Some are direct funders that purchase payments with their own capital. Others are brokers that pass your deal to a third party. Below is a closer look at the major companies buying structured settlements in 2026.

Catalina Structured Funding (CSF)

CSF is an attorney-led direct funder that has completed more than 4,000 structured settlement transactions since 2011. The company maintains a BBB A+ rating (accredited since 2015) and employs four licensed attorneys who handle court filings, compliance, and customer communication in-house. CSF funds deals through its own capital network, which means no broker markup gets added to your discount rate. Beyond structured settlements, CSF also purchases lottery payments, annuities, and provides probate advances, making it one of the few multi-service firms in the industry.

J.G. Wentworth

J.G. Wentworth is the largest structured settlement buyer in the United States. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania, the company processes the highest volume of transactions in the industry. JG Wentworth also operates under two acquired brand names: Peachtree Financial Solutions (founded 1996) and Stone Street Capital (founded 1990). All three brands share the same parent company and BBB A+ rating. We see customers who started with JG Wentworth and came to CSF for a second quote. The high-volume model means less personalized service, but the company has a long track record and nationwide reach. For a detailed side-by-side breakdown, see our Peachtree Financial vs. CSF comparison.

DRB Capital

DRB Capital is a mid-size direct funder based in South Florida that entered the market in 2013. The company focuses on structured settlements and annuities, and holds a BBB A+ rating. DRB tends to be competitive on larger guaranteed payment streams. They are a newer entrant compared to firms like JG Wentworth or RSL Funding, but they have grown steadily and built a reasonable track record over the past decade.

RSL Funding

RSL Funding has been in business since 1980, making it one of the longest-operating structured settlement companies. The company focuses exclusively on structured settlement purchases and is particularly active in Texas and the Southeast. RSL is a smaller operation with competitive pricing on guaranteed payment streams. The company is not rated by the BBB, so you will not find a letter grade on their profile.

Rightway Funding

Rightway Funding is an active independent buyer of structured settlements, annuities, and lottery winnings. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Their site emphasizes handling the paperwork and court process internally and offering free quotes. Specific founding date and transaction volume are not disclosed on their public site, so we recommend asking directly when you request a quote, and comparing their written offer against at least one other buyer on the same payment stream.

Fairfield Funding

Fairfield Funding is a niche buyer that has operated since 2008. The company holds a BBB A+ rating and specializes in structured settlement purchases. Fairfield runs a smaller operation, which can mean more personalized attention during the process. That said, a smaller firm may have fewer funding partners, which can affect pricing on complex deals like life contingent payments.

CBC Settlement Funding

CBC Settlement Funding has been in business since 2008 and holds a BBB A+ rating. The company purchases both structured settlements and lottery payments. CBC has built its reputation partly on a fee-transparency approach, openly discussing how costs factor into their offers. If you are evaluating multiple companies, CBC is worth including in your comparison set.

SenecaOne

SenecaOne was a structured settlement purchasing company that operated out of Bethesda, Maryland. SenecaOne is no longer in business. The company closed operations, and its BBB profile is no longer active. If you previously worked with SenecaOne or received a quote from them, you will need to find a different buyer for any future transactions. Your original annuity and payment schedule are unaffected by a purchasing company going out of business.

Strategic Capital

Strategic Capital is a smaller structured settlement buyer that has been operating since 2001. The company holds a BBB A+ rating and focuses primarily on guaranteed period certain payments. As a smaller operation, Strategic Capital may offer more direct access to decision-makers. Get a written quote and compare it against offers from larger firms before committing.

Annuity Transfers Ltd

Annuity Transfers Ltd is a smaller buyer that purchases structured settlement payments and annuities. The company has operated for over two decades. Annuity Transfers tends to be less visible than national firms, with a lower marketing profile. If you come across this company while shopping for quotes, apply the same evaluation criteria: ask for a written offer, confirm the net amount, and check the BBB profile.

How Catalina Structured Funding Compares

CSF is a mid-size firm that competes with the largest players in the industry on price and service while offering a level of legal expertise and personalized attention that bigger companies often cannot match. Here is what makes CSF different:

Four licensed attorneys on staff. This is rare in the structured settlement industry. Most companies outsource their legal work or rely on a single in-house counsel. CSF's legal team handles court filings, compliance, and customer communication directly. You can review the full team on our leadership page.

Multi-service firm. Unlike companies that only purchase structured settlements, CSF also buys annuity payments, lottery winnings, and provides probate advances. This breadth means we have experience handling a wider range of financial instruments and court requirements.

Life contingent payment specialist. CSF is one of the few companies that actively and regularly purchases life contingent structured settlement payments. If your settlement includes payments that continue "for life" rather than for a fixed period, CSF has the underwriting expertise and funding partners to provide a competitive offer.

Transparent pricing. The lump sum CSF quotes is the amount you receive. We never deduct costs for court filings, document preparation, or administrative processing. Every quote includes a written disclosure statement so you understand exactly how the numbers work.

Transparent discount rates. We provide written quotes that clearly state the discount rate, the gross and net lump sum, and the total value of payments being sold. We encourage you to compare our offer with any other company in the industry. If you want to talk through your options, call us at (800) 317-3769. That gets you a direct line to our team, not a call center.

What Companies Should You Avoid? Red Flags to Watch For

Avoid any structured settlement company that refuses to provide a written quote, pressures you to sign immediately, or cannot explain the court approval process.

Most companies operate ethically, but there are bad actors in every industry. Watch out for these warning signs:

• Pressure tactics and urgency language. A legitimate company will give you time to review your options. If someone tells you the offer expires today or pressures you to sign immediately, that is a red flag. Court approval takes weeks regardless. There is no reason to rush the decision.
• Refusing to provide written quotes. Every reputable company will put their offer in writing, including the discount rate, lump sum amount, and any fees. If a company will only discuss numbers verbally, move on.
• Unclear pricing or vague discount rates. Ask specifically: "Is the amount you quoted the amount I will receive, or will costs be deducted?" Some companies advertise a lump sum figure and then deduct thousands in costs at closing.
• No BBB listing or unresolved complaints. A company with no BBB presence at all may be too new or too small to have a track record. Check the BBB website directly and read complaint details.
• Cannot explain the court process. If a company representative cannot clearly explain how the court approval process works in your state, they may lack the experience to handle your transaction properly.

Direct Funders vs. Brokers: What's the Difference and Why Does It Matter?

A direct funder purchases your payments with its own capital, while a broker shops your deal to a third party and takes a cut that reduces your payout.

This distinction is one of the most important things to understand when comparing structured settlement companies. A broker collects your information, shops your deal to one or more funding companies, and takes a fee for connecting the two parties. That fee comes out of the lump sum you receive, even though you may never see it itemized on your paperwork.

CSF funds quotes from our own capital and works with an established financial network. Your timeline does not depend on a separate party approving the deal after you sign, which is often the difference between a smooth close and a slow one. Combined with the lower overhead of a smaller specialized team, the result is typically a higher net payout for the same set of payments.

We see the difference play out regularly. A seller gets a quote from a broker for $28,000 on a set of monthly payments. The same seller calls CSF and gets a quote for $32,000 on the exact same payments. The broker was not quoting a bad rate. They were quoting a rate that included their own margin on top of the funder's rate. That $4,000 difference went to the broker, not to the seller.

The Structured Settlement Buying Industry

The structured settlement purchasing industry is smaller than most people expect. While thousands of LLCs have appeared on court filings over the years, many of those are subsidiaries, DBAs, or shell entities owned by the same parent company. States that require registration provide a clearer picture. Georgia's registry lists roughly 25 active registered buyers as of early 2026. Minnesota has about 20. At least seven states now require SSPC registration, including Georgia, Minnesota, South Carolina, Nevada, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Maine. Most require a $50,000 surety bond payable to the state as consumer protection. The actual number of companies actively purchasing settlements nationwide is probably in the range of 30 to 50 at any given time. CSF is registered in every state that requires it.

The market is heavily concentrated at the top. JG Wentworth operates under multiple brand names, including Peachtree Financial Solutions, Stone Street Capital, Settlement Funding LLC, and 321 Henderson Receivables. All of these entities share the same corporate address in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania. Based on CSF's review of prior-buyer data across thousands of transactions, 62% of all cases where a customer had previously sold payments involved JG Wentworth or one of its subsidiary brands. This is not surprising. JG Wentworth spends more on national advertising than any other company in the industry, so most first-time sellers contact them first.

Many of our customers initially sold to a larger company and later chose CSF for subsequent transactions. The most common reasons we hear are better pricing, more direct communication, and a dedicated representative instead of a call center. We have completed more than 3,900 structured settlement transactions since 2011, and 99% of our customers had previously worked with another company before choosing CSF.

The industry also loses participants regularly. Companies enter and exit the market as economic conditions and regulations change. SenecaOne, a company that was once among the larger buyers in the country, is no longer in business. Several smaller companies listed on state registries have let their registrations lapse or been cancelled. Your annuity and payment schedule are always unaffected when a purchasing company shuts down. The insurance company that issued your settlement continues making payments regardless of what happens to any factoring company.

Because the industry is relatively small, comparison shopping is straightforward. You are not sifting through hundreds of options. Get written quotes from at least two or three companies, compare the net lump sum each one offers for the exact same set of payments, and ask the questions in our checklist above. The company that gives you the highest net payout with full transparency is usually the right choice.

What is the best structured settlement company?

The best structured settlement company is one that offers competitive discount rates with full transparency, ensures the amount quoted is the amount the seller receives, provides a written disclosure statement with every offer, and has experienced attorneys who handle the entire court approval process. Look for a company with a strong track record, including a BBB rating, verifiable customer reviews, and years of industry experience. Catalina Structured Funding holds a BBB A+ rating (accredited since 2015) and has completed more than 4,000 transactions since 2011. We provide free, no-obligation quotes and the amount we quote is the amount you receive. Get your free quote or call (800) 317-3769.