Life. Home. Liquidity: A Second Path to the Cash You’re Looking For

Most people who contact Lighthouse Life are exploring one question: can the life insurance policy I’ve been paying for become cash I can use today? For many policyholders, the answer is yes — a life settlement can turn a policy into meaningful liquidity. But for others, the policy isn’t the right fit right now. It may be too new, too small, or simply more valuable kept in force.

Here’s what doesn’t change in either case: the need that brought you here. That’s why we’ve partnered with Cornerstone Financing, whose CHEIFS program gives homeowners a second path to liquidity — one that comes from your home instead of your policy. For most people, your policy and your home are two of the largest assets you own — and now there is a thoughtful way to put either one to work.

What Is CHEIFS?

CHEIFS stands for Converting Home Equity Into Financial Success. It is a home equity investment agreement offered by Cornerstone Financing — not a loan, not a reverse mortgage, and not a HELOC.

In simple terms: Cornerstone makes an up-front cash payment to you today in exchange for a share of your home’s future value. You keep the title, you keep living in your home, and you take on no new debt. There are no monthly payments and no interest charges. Cornerstone receives its share later, at a settlement event — typically when the home is sold or transferred, when you permanently move out, or at death. You can also pay it off early at any time, with no prepayment penalty.

How Does CHEIFS Work?

• Step 1 — Cornerstone invests in a share of your home’s future value. You receive a lump sum of cash today. There are no restrictions on how you use it.

• Step 2 — You keep the title and stay in your home. You remain the owner, and you continue to handle property taxes, insurance, and any existing mortgage, just as you do now.

• Step 3 — No new monthly payments, and no interest accrues. Unlike a HELOC or second mortgage, CHEIFS adds nothing to your monthly obligations.

• Step 4 — Settlement happens later, and it’s capped. Cornerstone’s share of your home’s value is contractually capped, and CHEIFS is non-recourse — Cornerstone shares in both the upside and the downside of your home’s value.

Is This a Reverse Mortgage?

No — and the differences matter. Like a reverse mortgage, CHEIFS has no monthly payments. But a reverse mortgage is a loan on which interest accrues over time, without a cap — over the years, it can consume much or all of the equity in your home. CHEIFS is not a loan: no interest accrues, Cornerstone’s share is contractually capped — preserving the remaining equity for you and your heirs — and there is no age requirement. Qualification is based on your home’s equity and credit, not your income.

Who Might CHEIFS Fit?

CHEIFS may be worth a conversation if you own your home, have built up meaningful equity, and any of these sound familiar:

• You explored a life settlement and your policy wasn’t the right fit — but you still need liquidity.

• You want to keep your life insurance policy in force, and cash from your home could fund the premiums.

• You want to age in place on a fixed income, without adding a monthly payment.

• You’re funding care for yourself or a loved one.

• You’re helping an adult child or grandchild with a down payment, tuition, or a business.

• You have a large one-time expense and don’t want new debt to cover it.

How Do Life Settlements and CHEIFS Work Together?

They’re complementary, not competing. Your policy and your home answer the same question — where can I find liquidity? — from two different assets. Some households are best served by a life settlement, some by CHEIFS, and some by CHEIFS today with a life settlement later, once a policy matures into a stronger candidate. When you talk with Lighthouse Life, we can connect you with a CHEIFS specialist at no cost and no obligation — and help you see which paths are realistically open to you.

What Does It Cost?

There are no monthly payments and no interest. Cornerstone earns its return from its capped share of your home’s future value at settlement, and there is a one-time origination fee. Because every home and situation is different, the clearest answer comes from a free, no-obligation estimate — it shows exactly what you’d receive today and what settlement could look like under different home-value scenarios.

How Do I Find Out What My Home Could Provide?

It takes a few minutes and costs nothing. Get a free estimate from Cornerstone Financing, or ask your Lighthouse Life representative to connect you directly with a CHEIFS specialist — we work together, so the hand-off is seamless.

This article is for educational purposes and does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult qualified professionals about your specific situation. CHEIFS is a home equity investment agreement offered by Cornerstone Financing, an independent partner of Lighthouse Life. Not available in all states. Subject to underwriting and approval; terms may vary and are subject to change.