New York-based Cantor LifeMarkets has introduced the Life Settlement Policy Marking System, which it says simplifies the sale of life settlement policies.

The marking system permits institutions to mark life settlement policies to market. Life Settlements are transactions where institutional investors purchase unneeded or unwanted life insurance policies from the policyholders, the company said.

Cantor has developed The Cantor Life Settlement Yield Curve, using proprietary methodology and data gathered from trades conducted between March 2007 and February 2009 on trading exchanges, and between providers and brokers. The Cantor Life Settlement Yield Curve reflects internal rates of return (IRR) over time. The Life Settlement Policy Marking System adjusts individual policy values based on a variety of characteristics applicable to a particular policy.

“The industry needs an evaluation tool like this so that financial institutions and investors can value their investments based on current market conditions,” said Stuart Hersch, president and CEO of Cantor LifeMarkets, in a prepared statement.

Cantor is the only major Wall Street firm that prices policies without owning or holding any policies for its own account, the company said.