Understanding "Present Value" of Future Payments

Sometimes, there is confusion surrounding the amounts paid to sellers for their future cash payments. Many Sellers initially think that our prices are highly discounted. This is simply untrue.

Part of the money you are getting in the future is interest that hasn't been earned yet.
On a structured settlement annuity for example. The insurance company is simply paying you the interest on the money they invested when you settled your case. The "amount" of the settlement (ie. the sum of all the future payments) includes a great deal of interest that hasn't been earned yet. Take the example of a United States Government bond:

As of August, 1998, a $100,000 zero coupon (pays zero interest) United States Treasury Bond due August 20, 2017 was worth $31,780, less than one third of it's nominal or face value.

Is the U.S. Government getting ripped off in a highly competitive global free market?
The answer is obviously no.

The simple fact of the matter is the promise to pay $100,000 (or any amount) in the future is not worth that amount today. The further in the future it is due, the less it is worth today.

It's the same as with lottery prizes.
Many state lotteries now offer a lump sum option instead of the traditional 20 - 25 year annuity payout. However, as we all know, when you elect to receive a lump sum you typically receive about one half of the advertised prize amount. In fact, what the lottery commissions do is identical to a structured settlement. An annuity or U.S. Treasury bonds are purchased to fund the future payments due to the winner. Attached is a copy of the State of New Jersey's lump sum formula and a thorough description of the California Annuity Prize Payment Procedure from the California Lottery. Both demonstrate that the actual value (the present value) of the stated jackpot is really about half that amount and both states allow people who have elected to receive an annuity to change their minds and sell some or all of their future payments to a Lottery/Settlement Purchasing Company.

Settlement purchases are similar to mortgages.
When one borrows money for a home mortgage the bank gives you - say $100,000. But if you add up the payments you make back to the bank they total 250,000 - 300,000 (depending on interest rates and terms). In essence, settlement purchasers do exactly the same thing only we take the risk if the insurance company goes bankrupt - you owe us nothing. Also, since these transactions are not loans they don't affect your ability to borrow from other sources.

Still not convinced? Consider the following:
It is an axiom that the further in the future you are expecting to receive a sum of money, the less it is worth today, in part because of inflation. Inflation will make the value of the payments shrink in coming years.

By converting future payments into a lump sum, an individual gains a potent weapon in fighting inflation. The following illustrates the effects of inflation and the power of compounding:

A lump sum grows in value.
The Rule of 72 states that an investment at a particular interest rate will double in a certain number of years. You can easily determine how quickly your investments will double simply by dividing 72 by the interest rate that you anticipate receiving in a given investment. For example, an investment that will yield 10% per year will double approximately every 7.2 years (72/10 = 7.2). A 12% yield would mean your investment doubles every 6 years. Below is a chart with the Rule of 72 applied to a $15,000 investment at various interest rates over the course of a number of years. This gives you some idea of how much a lump sum today can be worth in the future.

Future value of a $15,000.00 investment.

* Assumes monthly compounding.

Future payments aren't worth as much as you think.
Inflation is like a cancer eating away at the value of your money. The further in the future you are to receive a sum of money the less it is worth today because of, at least in part, inflation. Thus, no matter what the source, structured settlement payments, lottery prize or other type of annuity, inflation will make the value of the payments shrink in coming years.
Just look at what inflation has done over the past 34 years:

Imagine how little that "huge" $100,000.00 payment due in January 2021 will be able to buy at that time.