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<import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2012-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2012/country-2012-01-31.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2012-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2012/currency-2012-01-31.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/exch/2012-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.sec.gov/exch/2012/exch-2012-01-31.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/naics/2011-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.sec.gov/naics/2011/naics-2011-01-31.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/sic/2011-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.sec.gov/sic/2011/sic-2011-01-31.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2011-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2011/stpr-2011-01-31.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negated" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/net" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/net-2009-12-16.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/arcrole/fact-explanatoryFact" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/arcrole/factExplanatory-2009-12-16.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2012-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2012/dei-2012-01-31.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/numeric" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/numeric-2009-12-16.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/non-numeric" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/nonNumeric-2009-12-16.xsd"/>
<import namespace="http://fasb.org/us-types/2012-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2012/elts/us-types-2012-01-31.xsd"/>
<element name="DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract" id="gwg_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="RevolvingCreditFacility" id="gwg_RevolvingCreditFacility" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="GainOnLifeSettlementsNet" id="gwg_GainOnLifeSettlementsNet" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="EmployeeCompensationAndBenefits" id="gwg_EmployeeCompensationAndBenefits" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="InvestmentBankingServices" id="gwg_InvestmentBankingServices" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="IncomeBeforeIncomeTaxesProforma" id="gwg_IncomeBeforeIncomeTaxesProforma" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="IncomeTaxExpenseProforma" id="gwg_IncomeTaxExpenseProforma" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="ProceedsFromLifeSettlementInvestingActivities" id="gwg_ProceedsFromLifeSettlementInvestingActivities" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="NonCashConversionOfSeriesISecuredNotes" id="gwg_NonCashConversionOfSeriesISecuredNotes" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="NonCashConversionOfAccruedInterestPayableOnSeriesISecuredNotesToPreferredStock" id="gwg_NonCashConversionOfAccruedInterestPayableOnSeriesISecuredNotesToPreferredStock" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="NonCashConversionOfDividendsPayableToConvertibleRedeemablePreferredStock" id="gwg_NonCashConversionOfDividendsPayableToConvertibleRedeemablePreferredStock" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="WarrantsIssuedToPurchaseCommonStock" id="gwg_WarrantsIssuedToPurchaseCommonStock" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="NonCashConversionOfAccruedInterestPayableOnSeriesISecuredNotesToPrincipal" id="gwg_NonCashConversionOfAccruedInterestPayableOnSeriesISecuredNotesToPrincipal" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="ConversionFromLlcToCorporation" id="gwg_ConversionFromLlcToCorporation" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="InvestmentInLifeSettlementsIncludedInAccountsPayable" id="gwg_InvestmentInLifeSettlementsIncludedInAccountsPayable" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="NotesReceivableFromRelatedPartiesTextBlock" id="gwg_NotesReceivableFromRelatedPartiesTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="RevolvingCreditFacilityTextBlock" id="gwg_RevolvingCreditFacilityTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="RenewableSecuredDebenturesTextBlock" id="gwg_RenewableSecuredDebenturesTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="GuaranteesOfSecuredDebenturesAbstract" id="gwg_GuaranteesOfSecuredDebenturesAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="GuaranteesOfSecuredDebenturesTextBlock" id="gwg_GuaranteesOfSecuredDebenturesTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="NatureOfBusinessPolicyTextBlock" id="gwg_NatureOfBusinessPolicyTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="OperatingAgreementPolicyTextBlock" id="gwg_OperatingAgreementPolicyTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="DeferredFinancingAndIssuanceCostsPolicyTextBlock" id="gwg_DeferredFinancingAndIssuanceCostsPolicyTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="EstimatedExpectedPremiumPaymentsToMaintainLifeInsurancePoliciesInForceAssumingNoMortalitiesTableTextBlock" id="gwg_EstimatedExpectedPremiumPaymentsToMaintainLifeInsurancePoliciesInForceAssumingNoMortalitiesTableTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="FairValueSensitivityAnalysisOnInvestmentInLifeInsurancePoliciesTableTextBlock" id="gwg_FairValueSensitivityAnalysisOnInvestmentInLifeInsurancePoliciesTableTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="WarrantsLevelThreeInstrumentsAndMeasuredAtFairValueUponIssuanceTableTextBlock" id="gwg_WarrantsLevelThreeInstrumentsAndMeasuredAtFairValueUponIssuanceTableTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="FutureMaturitiesOfRenewableSecuredDebenturesTableTextBlock" id="gwg_FutureMaturitiesOfRenewableSecuredDebenturesTableTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="ScheduleOfFaceValueOfInsuranceContractsWithSpecificLifeInsuranceCompaniesTableTextBlock" id="gwg_ScheduleOfFaceValueOfInsuranceContractsWithSpecificLifeInsuranceCompaniesTableTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="ScheduleOfNumberOfInsuranceContractsHeldInSpecificStatesTableTextBlock" id="gwg_ScheduleOfNumberOfInsuranceContractsHeldInSpecificStatesTableTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="MaximumSharesSaleDueToPrivatePlacementOffering" id="gwg_MaximumSharesSaleDueToPrivatePlacementOffering" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="LifeSettlementContractsFairValueMethodNumberOfContractsMaturingInYearSix" id="gwg_LifeSettlementContractsFairValueMethodNumberOfContractsMaturingInYearSix" type="xbrli:integerItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="LifeSettlementContractsFairValueMethodNumberOfContractsMaturingInYearSeven" id="gwg_LifeSettlementContractsFairValueMethodNumberOfContractsMaturingInYearSeven" type="xbrli:integerItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="LifeInsuranceSettlementsPremiumsAndOtherAnnualFees" id="gwg_LifeInsuranceSettlementsPremiumsAndOtherAnnualFees" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="FairValueInputsWeightedAverageLifeExpectancy" id="gwg_FairValueInputsWeightedAverageLifeExpectancy" type="xbrli:durationItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
<element name="FairValueInputsAverageFaceAmountPerPolicy" id="gwg_FairValueInputsAverageFaceAmountPerPolicy" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="NumberOfWarrantsIssued" id="gwg_NumberOfWarrantsIssued" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="IncreaseDecreaseInDiscountRate" id="gwg_IncreaseDecreaseInDiscountRate" type="num:percentItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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<element name="MinimumTangibleNetWorthToBeMaintainedByCompany" id="gwg_MinimumTangibleNetWorthToBeMaintainedByCompany" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" />
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