J.G. Wentworth Review
Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, J.G. Wentworth is a structured settlement company founded in 1991, becoming a household name with well-known television commercials offering “cash now” in exchange for structured settlements and other annuities. The company grew to be the largest U.S. purchaser of future payments from structured settlements, with about 5,000 transactions each year and more than $9.1 billion in total payments purchased.
Pros
- Highly rated customer service representatives
- Three options for selling your settlement
- Online chat on their website
- Free, no-obligation quote
Cons
- Speed of payment
How Much J.G. Wentworth Pays for Structured Settlements
J.G. Wentworth purchases structured settlements for a discount rate, which is how they make a profit, so your payment will be less than the full value of your structured settlement. The discount rate, which is J.G. Wentworth’s fee, varies depending on several factors, like the value of your structured settlement and how many payments are remaining. While J.G. Wentworth does not publish their discount rates, financial review websites listed it as between 8% and 22%.
This chart is an example of how the discount rate might look, and how it affects what you might receive:
| Value of Payments Sold | Discount Rate | What You’d Receive |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | 8% | $92,000 |
| $150,000 | 15% | $127,500 |
| $200,000 | 20% | $160,000 |
| $300,000 | 22% | $234,000 |
How to Sell to J.G. Wentworth Structured Settlement Company
When you decide to sell your structured annuity, J.G. Wentworth’s process usually follows this schedule:
- Contact J.G. Wentworth using the inquiry form on the company’s website or call to speak to a representative on the phone. You’ll need to provide your name, contact information, and the value of your settlement. It’s best if you can give the name of the insurance company issuing the settlement payments and the number of payments you sold previously, if any. A structured settlement specialist will contact you within 24 hours to talk matters over and gather more information.
- Discuss your structured settlement with a representative. Tell the J.G. Wentworth representative the amount of money you’d like to receive to learn if you need to sell all or part of your payments to reach your goal. If the amount you’re hoping to get in exchange for your structured settlement is not feasible, the representative will present other options that may work for you.
- Receive a free, no-obligation quote which you can accept, reject, or attempt to negotiate.
- Sign a contract after agreeing on the payment amount. Be sure to have your financial advisor or lawyer (or both) look over the contract before signing.
- A judge must approve the contract since a structured settlement is a legal matter. You will attend court on a specified date to receive a judge’s approval to sell your structured settlement payments to J.G. Wentworth. It can take 60 to 90 days to receive a ruling after your court appearance.
- Receive your money as a check. Typically you will receive your check within a few months of starting the process.
Options for Selling a Structured Settlement to J.G. Wentworth
J.G. Wentworth offers three ways to sell your structured settlement annuities:
- Full: A full sale entails selling all of your future structured settlement or annuity payments at once. This plan pays the highest lump sum, but you will lose the guaranteed income from future settlement payments.
- Partial: In a partial sale you sell a specific number of future payments. For instance, you may choose to sell a year’s worth of monthly payments to J.G. Wentworth. You’ll receive a check from the company for the negotiated amount, and then your structured settlement payments will resume after one year.
- Lump sum: This structured settlement sale option is another way for you to receive a check now while still retaining some income from your structured settlement. With this plan, you sell a portion of every future payment.
J.G. Wentworth Structured Settlement Company Complaints
J.G. Wentworth has an “A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, but customers give the company 2.5 out of 5 stars. However, many of the complaints on the BBB site have to do with the company’s home lending solutions, not structured settlement buyouts. ConsumerAffairs readers are happy with J.G. Wentworth, reflected in a cumulative 4.5 out of 5 stars and many reviews commenting on the personalized customer service. NerdWallet awards J.G. Wentworth 4 out of 5 stars for ease of applying online and flat fees in most states.
J.G. Wentworth Structured Settlement Company Q&A
- What types of structured settlements does J.G. Wentworth purchase?
J.G. Wentworth mainly purchases medical malpractice, personal injury and wrongful death settlements. The company also buys lottery winnings, retirement annuities, and inheritance annuities. - Will J.G. Wentworth honor a past quote to buy a structured settlement?
All quotes from J.G. Wentworth expire within a certain amount of time. If you’ve received a quote from J.G. Wentworth in the past for your structured settlement, the company will have to create a new quote taking into account the current value of your settlement, market conditions, and other factors that may have changed since you last received a quote. - Will J.G. Wentworth purchase a structured settlement with a few years remaining?
Most structured settlements J.G. Wentworth purchases have 10 or more years’ remaining payments to the owner. Contact a representative to see if your settlement qualifies for a buyout if the arrangement has fewer remaining payments. - Can I get a pre-settlement advance from J.G. Wentworth?
J.G. Wentworth may offer you an advance on your settlement before the court approves the sale. An advance is not a loan but a portion of the amount you will receive when the purchase agreement finalizes. To find out if you are eligible, you’ll need to call and speak with a representative. - Did J.G. Wentworth Structured Settlement Company go bankrupt?
In January 2018 J.G. Wentworth completed Chapter 11 reorganization after coming to agreeable terms with lenders. The Wall Street Journal reported the bankruptcy, filed 13 months earlier, was necessary due to competition from an increasing number of structured settlement companies and mortgage lenders.
Conclusion
Selling structured settlement payments is not for everyone, but many people benefit from these arrangements. If you need money for a medical emergency, unexpected expense or other urgent need, and want to sell all or part of your structured settlement, talk to a financial advisor to see if selling payments to J.G. Wentworth might be the right solution. The company finalized tens of thousands of structured settlement buyouts over many years, a level of experience you’re unlikely to find with most other structured settlement companies.