It seemed to me that the mood at the LISA Conference last week was much more downbeat than I had expected. Yes, this has been a challenging year for most companies in the Life Settlement industry. For some companies, it may even be two tough years in a row. I think the important thing to keep in mind is that this is not unique to our industry. We are in the midst of one of the most challenging economic environments in U.S. history. I heard many people question the long-term viability of the industry. I can tell you that I was not one of them. I have spent much of this year travelling around the world, and I believe that the potential for explosive growth in the Life Settlement market is out there. Just, not yet. The good news about life settlements is that the investment thesis is better now than ever – investors are desperate for low-correlated investments. The bad news is that “exotic” and “illiquid” are four letter words these days. I truly believe that we are headed in the right direction, though. Ultimately, good products and ideas get traction. At the same time, as the marketplace becomes more palatable to investors – better regulations and market conduct, investment return track records, substantial LE historical performance – capital will come into the asset class. The reality out there is not so good right now, but off in the horizon, I see a bright future.
