Cash Flow is the buying, selling and brokering of privately held income streams in the secondary market. An income stream can be any future payment including real estate notes, business accounts receivables, viaticals or senior settlements, structured settlements or prize winnings. Investors purchase all or part of an income stream from sellers at a discount rate. The seller receives immediate cash for an asset that may not mature for many months or years and the investor receives a good return on their investment over time. Often a seller will deal with a cash flow broker who has a network of contacts to find the appropriate investor for the seller's asset. Brokers offer expertise and experience with specific income streams and may save the seller the time and research required to find and select an investor. Brokers earn a commission on each transaction they close which is paid either directly by the investor or as a percentage of the funds to be received by the seller.