Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing costs associated with life settlement transactions include an initial economic evaluation and a targeted but abbreviated verification of information provided by a potential customer and gathering of additional information, followed by a conditional offer for those policies that satisfy the economic criteria (e.g., face value of policy, stated life expectancy, etc.) and for which the abbreviated verification is positive. The verification and additional information may be performed by one or more of following: 1) a query of a prescription database in which the identity and use of the prescription drugs identified by the customer are determined; 2) a questionnaire filled out by a physician treating the patient for a particular illness; and 3) a telephone inquiry of the insured. If the additional information and verification are consistent with the initial information, the life settlement is completed.