Is Pre-Settlement Funding different from the Sale of an Annuity or Structured Settlement?

Annuities or Structured Settlements are previously agreed upon financial instruments or Policies usually purchased by the losing side in a law suit, so they are existing and are to be paid over a period of several years. Many times the payment schedule may consist of both monthly and or annual payments for example; a $1,000,000 Annuity or Structured Settlement could be paid out at the rate of $1,000 per month with lump sum payments every 5 years, paid over a period of thirty years. Pre-Settlement Funding differs from Annuities and Structured Settlement Funding in that the settlement has not yet been agreed upon or in the case of litigation has not been settled or gone to trial. It is for this reason that Pre-Settlement Funding is so much more speculative since not award has been made.