Structured settlements expert John Darer reviews the latest structured settlements news, information and provides expert opinion and commentary, including settlement planning issues/ ideas for settlement management, incisive Structured Settlement Watchdog® commentary that may be helpful to lawyers, plaintiffs, claims adjusters, judges, the news media, sellers, buyers of structured settlement payment rights and interested others, The style is spicy, informative, irreverent and effective. The most prolific structured settlements blog, Now in 19th Year! Check back daily for something new.
We're pleased to have a business relationship with USAA Life Insurance Company . The San Antonio based USAA was founded June 20,1922 by a group of soldiers to take care of their own. Over the years the USAA customer base has explanded.
USAA Structured Settlement Annuity Issuer
Today the A++(Superior) A.M. Best rated insurer has become a highly respected issuer of structured settlement annuities for a wide spectrum of claimants, particularly competitive for use as a qualified funding asset to fund long duration cash flows as payment of damages in on personal physical injury, physical sickness and wrongful death in medical malpractice, aviation, trucking, maritime and other types of legal settlements.
USAA ranks 25th on Fortune’s2022 list of the world’s most admired companies. The ranking is based on the magazine’s poll of about 3,700 corporate executives, corporate directors, and business analysts.
USAA ranks 96th in the 2022 US Fortune 500 and 330th in the Global Fortune 500.
USAA is one of the Wards 50 Life & Health Insurers for 2021 (29 years).
Watch a short video about the history of USAA, immediately below
Dan Reisinger, a Pennsylvania and Delaware insurance agent, solicited Woodbridge First Position Mortgages to clients that ended up being associated with a Ponzi scheme. As this image retrieved from the website of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors -Delaware clearly states, Reisinger is/was also a contact for Genex Capital.
Genex Capital Corporation is based out of a mailbox in Dover Delaware, but ostensibly operates out of Vancouver Canada. Though Assured Annuity, Genex Capital markets factored structured settlement payment streams to investors with a misleading annuity label. despite knowing full well that the annuity is not transferred in a structured settlement factoring transaction. Genex Capital is one of the militant companies that persists in calling factored structured payment streams annuities despite a 2017 Delaware judge expressly stating they weren't.
NAIFA News
In a March 29, 2017 decision in Greenwald v Caballero-Goehringer, Delaware Superior Court C.A. No. K14C-04-027 JJC. a Delaware Superior Court judge rejected an attempt to portray structured settlement payment rights as an annuity in a minor's prove up hearing, stating. "The proposed "structured settlement" was described in the Third Petition as a structure to be purchased through a third party to be facilitated by a Houston, Texas law firm. The "annuity" proposed by the Petitioner was in fact a "receivable purchase agreement" which involved purchase of the rights of payment of a structured personal injury settlement from a California injured party having nothing to do with this case. In other words, the annuitant in the proposed plan facilitated by the Texas law firm was the California claimant, not the Minor. Furthermore, despite the Petitioner describing The Hartford as providing the annuity, the seller of the receivable purchase agreement was Genex Capital. No rating was provided for that entity in the petition. The Court denied the Third Petition, without prejudice"
Genex Capital is in a legal battle in Portsmouth Virginia that seeks to vacate a court order that would stop payments to its investor [see Terrence Taylor v Structured Asset Funding et al.]
Reisinger's website no longer advertises the investments, but one wonders why a licensed insurance agent would be willing to put his neck on the online to push investments that are so clearly not annuities.
It took years of prodding, but Genex Capital has finally listed its address in Vancouver in addition to its UPS store mailbox in Dover Delaware, at least on its main website. Nobody actually works in the UPS store #4335 mailbox at 73 Greentree Drive in Dover, Delaware.
Genex Capital Assured Annuity, the outlet for structured settlement derivatives that have been mislabeled annuity, still lists the UPS store mailbox and refers to itself as an "investing service" on Facebook. When Genex Capital sells an investor structured settlement payment rights, what the investor is buying is not an annuity because the annuity itself is not transferred in a structured settlement factoring transaction.
Potential for Consumer Confusion
There is the potential for consumer confusion in that AIG offers Assured Edge Income Builder, a fixed annuity with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit designed to offer guaranteed income for life, plus a rising income opportunity. Riversource also offers Riversource Assured, a limited flexible purchase payment deferred fixed index annuity. On the Genex Capital Assured Annuity website Genex includes a table comparing the " annuity" that it offers to other actual annuities from various companies including an AIG subsidiary.
Important difference between real annuities and what Genex Capital and other similar companies mislabel and are offering to investors is:
Risk. What Genex Capital offers and mislabels an annuity is more risky than annuities. Genex Capital is currently contesting the interpleader in the notorious Terrence Taylor case where 11 factoring transactions were approved in 2 years. They are doing what they need to in an effort to protect investors. Plaintiffs in that case want the interpleader to assure there is money to pay any counterclaims against the counter-party defendant in the underlying case. Class Action Lawsuit threatens thousands of such investments in Virginia. A Florida investor who was sold a structured settlement derivative by one of Genex Capital's competitors is in limbo and has not rceived any payments that were due to start in January 2018. The Wall case imploded for a Pittsburgh couple due to an underlying fraud at the time of the origination by a Genex Capital competitor.
Licensing requirements. Legitimate annuities are offered through licensed agents or brokers who are licensed in the state their clients live or work.
Seven Big Reasons that Settlement Depot is unreliable for structured settlement advice
Settlement Depot LLC was only formed in June 2018 in Delaware, it's website was anonymously registered June 12, 2018. Red Flag. The company is also registered in California through a registered agent. The company has published a website that has made some bold and unsubstantiated claims.
Settlement Depot Bogus Claim 1 "We can get you the money you’re owed, the money you deserve, quickly and easily".
FACT: No structured settlement buyer can get you "the money you're owed". The most any structured settlement buyer can get you is a money losing pennies on the dollar. Yeah, that's right! Settlement Depot compounds the misleading advertising by repeating the bogus claim on its Twitter feed just yesterday.
Settlement Depot Bogus Claim 2 " However in 1982, Congress deemed structured settlements tax-free so long as they come from cases involving wrongful death, personal injury and/or workers compensation"
Settlement Depot Bogus Claim 3 " Additionally annuity owners who want to transfer the money from one family member to another do not have to tax that money"
FACT: Annuity owners don't levy taxes.
Settlement Depot Bogus Claim 4 All structured settlements are tax-free. They’re often broken down into physical and non-physical injury categories. Physical injuries are things like broken bones. Non-physical injuries are everything else. "
FACTS: All structured settlements are not tax-free. Some are and some aren't. The tax exclusion under IRC 104(a)(2) includes physical sickness. Damages for wrongful imprisonment are income tax free subject to IRC 139F
Settlement Depot Bogus Claim 5 " Having decades of experience, Settlement Depot can help you figure out whether or not you have to pay taxes on your structured settlement"
Comments: See Settlement Depot Bogus Claim 3. Why should anyone trust Settlement Deposit when the evidence they themselves present shows a woeful lack of understanding of the fundamentals of structured settlements?
Settlement Depot Bogus Claim 6 "Our team of financial advisors are the best in the business".
Comments: The structured settlement secondary market is plagued by individuals and companies who hold themselves out as financial advisors without credentials. Settlement Depot is disingenuous for claiming that they have (a) a team of financial advisors and making the disprovable claim that they are the best in the business, by not identifying the individuals on their website so that they can be verified by or for consumers on the websites of relevant licensing or credentialing authorities.
A financial adviser is a professional who suggests and renders financial services to clients based on their financial situation. In many countries Financial Advisors have to complete specific training and hold a license to provide advices. In the United States for example a financial advisor carries a Series 65 or 66 license and according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authorty (FINRA), license designations and compliance issues must be reported for public view
FINRA describes the main groups of investment professionals who may use the term financial adviser to be brokers, investment advisers, accountants, lawyers, insurance agents and financial planners.
Settlement Depot claim to be financial advisors without identifying individuals so that their licenses and credentials can be verified by licensing or regulatory authorities.
Settlement Depot Bogus Claim 6 ."Another significant benefit of selling your structured settlement is that it gives you freedom. You can do whatever you want to do without having to worry about future payments or doing complicated budgets. You have full use of your money to use in whatever way you see fit".
Comments: Classic snake oil salesman talk by Settlement Depot. One of the reasons people get into financial trouble is because they don't budget and then have no way to measure and be accountable to themselves on spending.They don't plan to fail but they fail to plan. The Settlement Depot snake oil salesmen are predators who offer you a guaranteed to lose money value proposition.
Budgets do not have to be complicated. Intuitive software, like Quicken, has been available for more than 30 years. One of the biggest concerns is running out of money or outliving assets. Selling your structured settlement for the reasons propounded by Settlement Depot is a sure way to financial ruin.
Settlement Depot Bogus Claim 7:The defendant in a structured settlement case funds these payments, usually through a life-insurance-owned annuity
FACT: Life insurance a form of insurance to cover the contingent financial loss resulting from the death of an insured to the insured's family or business. Life insurance policy is a written contract on several sheets of paper. A life insurance is established after an application is made and the proposed insured undergoes an underwriting process. Premium is paid to cover the contingency of the insured's death. A written contract cannot own an annuity. Structured settlements are typically funded with a structured settlement annuity issued by a life insurance company. The owner of the annuity is the qualified assignment company in most cases.
Subsequent to this posting it was discovered that Settlement Depot is connected to a member of the National Association of Settlement Purchasers
Rising interest rates squeeze buyers of structured settlement payments as their investors seek alternative ways to invest with less risk. Originators must charge higher rates to keep investors interested and this leads to rising costs for sellers of structured settlement payment rights. Rising discount rates also make repeat transactions less attractive to sellers. A higher the discount rate means sellers receive less money in exchange for the rights to their payments if they choose to sell. It's bad enough that they may be looking at 50 cents or worse on the dollar if they sell, but it could have a greater impact, particularly on long money and distant life contingent payments
One insider opined that there may be some structured settlement factoring originators may resort to increasing outrageous behavior out of desperation more compete for an smaller pie. We've already seen one Maryland based structured settlement factoring outfit being banned from doing business in Maryland for 7 years due to fraud.
Beware Predators From Canada
Genex Capital notoriously warned US citizens about rising rates in 2009. Here is an excerpt from The Genex Capital CEO's "Hemorrhoid" on Structured Settlements that I reported about in November 2010. It still appears on Genex Capital's website at time of this posting.
"This national pension elimination has many people wondering what options exist for those employees who devoted years of service with the confident knowledge that a pension would supply them with the necessary financial security to retire? Unfortunately, there is no precise answer and, ultimately, these individuals are forced to find alternative means of financial support through their retirement years on their own.
Understandably, this national pension minimizing effect has been the impetus causing many recipients of structured settlements to begin to question the security offered in these government backed guaranteed payments. Given the seemingly overnight disappearance of pension plans, it is not challenging to understand why many structured settlement recipients are responsibly wondering how much longer their promised periodic payments will be maintained. In all actuality, no one can predict the future, but structured settlements could certainly begin to disappear too".
If the prospects of insurers paying out on structured settlements was so bad, why would Genex Capital buy Structured Settlement-Quotes from Andrew Cravenho for purportedly hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2011 and turn it into a brand jacking website in 2012 and set up Assured Annuity to peddle structured settlement derivatives scam labeled as "secondary market annuities".
Anyone who followed Roger Proctor's advice in regard to interest rate warnings in the last 8-9 years, might have had "roid rage" having lost lots of money when interest rates fell and Genex Capital and its investors capitalized on the fears it manufactured. Ironically structured settlement derivatives have been sold to retirees by SMA scan labelers, underscoring the conflicts in the marketing approach. How can Genex Capital, or any similar company warn selling annuitants that structured settlement payments could disappear, to get them in the door, while the same cash flows out slip out the back door to investors, including retirees, as stable cash flows?
Is Genex Capital a structured settlement annuity buyer? I cast my vote
Genex Capital claims to be a structured settlement annuity buyer by coding the term into the meta title of its website. The thing is that Genex Capital is not a structured settlement annuity buyer because Genex Capital buys, or acts as an intermediary in the purchase of structured settlement payment rights. In a structured settlement factoring transaction the annuity contract itself is never transferred or sold, even if a seller sold all of their structured settlement payment rights.
Consider these definitions under the United States Internal Revenue Code
IRC 5891 (c)(2) Structured settlement payment rights
The term “structured settlement payment rights” means rights to receive payments under a structured settlement.
The term “structured settlement factoring transaction” means a transfer of structured settlement payment rights (including portions of structured settlement payments) made for consideration by means of sale, assignment, pledge, or other form of encumbrance or alienation for consideration
I challenge Genex Capital to demonstrate a single structured settlement annuity contract that it currently owns, or ever owned, from an annuity issuer in the United States or Canada.
Questions continue regarding intermediaries, financial planners and settlement planners who distribute structured settlement payment rights (structured settlement derivatives) to investors, mislabeled as annuities (secondary market annuities).
Vancouver based Genex Capital is a company that distributes structured settlement derivatives to American investors through
Paint derivatives any way you like but they're not annuities
Assured Annuity, billed as "your source for annuities".
Peculiar, in my opinion, is that Genex Capital has justified its continued marketing of structured settlement derivative investments as annuities by citing Merriam Webster, in particular the "Annuity Defined For Kids". "Annuities = Contracts providing for the payment of 'a sum of money payable yearly or at other regular intervals'. Unfortunately investing in structured settlement derivatives (that have been labeled annuities) is not for kids and people can lose all their money as Mr. & Mrs. Wall found out dealing with another intermediary. So I disagree with Genex Capital's use of the term annuity both in its company name and the product being sold to investors.
Following is is the legal definition of annuity that appears on the very same page of the Merriam Webster website. It puzzles me why Genex Capital, whose CEO promotes his legal degree in his bio, has not cited it instead.
Annuity a contract (as with an insurance company) under which one or more persons receive annuities in return for prior fixed payments made by themselves or another (as an employer) [Merriam Webster dictionary legal definition of annuity-scroll down from link]
Here is a smattering of definitions of annuity from other sites including,among others, those of insurance regulators.
An annuity is a contract between you (the annuity owner) and an insurance company. In return for your payment, the insurance company agrees to provide either a regular stream of income, the right to withdraw up to a certain percentage per year, or even a lump sum payment at some future time Annuity FYI
"An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company. You buy the annuity by making one or more premium payments to the insurance company. The insurance company makes income payments to you, for life or for a limited time." " Annuities | What Seniors Need To Know" California Department of Insurance 2012
An annuity is a series of payments that acts similarly to a savings plan to provide primary or supplementary retirement income. An insurance company pays annuity benefits while you are alive (except for fixed-period annuities). DFS regulates life insurance agents and companies that sell annuities. Florida Department of Financial Services " Life Insurance and Annuities| A Guide for Consumers"
"An annuity is an insurance contract typically used in retirement planning. It is designed to protect you from outliving your assets". Oregon Insurance Departmentretrieved March 6, 2017
"Annuity - A contract in which the buyer deposits money with a life insurance company for investment. The contract provides for specific payments to be made at regular intervals for a fixed period or for life Texas Insurance Department retrieved March 6, 2017
In their definitions of annuity,. none of the above state regulatory agencies distinguish between annuities offered to consumers and purported annuities peddled by intermediaries or factoring companies to investor consumers.
Businessmen who make gobs of money by getting structured settlement annuitants to sell their structured settlements for cash now may not the best sources for financial advice when it comes to your structured settlement.
For instance mincemeat was made of Genex Capital CEO Roger Proctor's plaintiff wail from 2010 that you should sell your structured settlement "to protect yourself against interest rate rises that will make you poorer". Six years on, anyone who had heeded Roger Proctor's "joust at the windmill" of clairvoyance would have lost lots of money because Armageddon did not happen. Proctor was even peddling this sales pitch as far back as June 2009. Similar losses would have occurred if you succumbed to "The Sirens" of Woodbridge Structured Funding about AIG structured settlements in 2008.
But what would happen if there were even lower or negative interest rates in the savings or bond markets?
If there were even lower or even negative rates, investors would be scrambling for yield, right?. If your savings account is paying zero or confiscatory interest rates where do you think the investors backing purchasers of structured settlement payment rights would go? They are already doing it and we're not at zero or negative. They would seek out the exact type of safe yield that structured settlement payments provide to personal injury victims, wrongful death survivors and others who elect to receive structured settlements when their lawsuits settle. Insurance companies are legally required to maintain reserves to back up their obligations and such reserves are tested frequently, subject to annual audits in each of the states they are licensed to do business.
At a time when the reckless behavior of participants in the structured settlement secondary market is worse than ever, with no licensing or industry regulator, why would things get any better if interest rates were lower or negative and you hold the cards with your structured settlement? I would expect them to get significantly worse. The structured settlement secondary market, an industry with an already shady reputation as predators and carrion feeders, sprinkled with a few felons, has spawned forgery of hundreds of judge's names on structured settlement transfer orders in two states and national front page exposes about exploitation of African Americans cannot be expected to get better in those circumstances without adequate regulation that includes solicitation.
So don't be seduced by a free Ipad, gas card or a lap dance at a strip joint, or in the case of one company... a joint. If you have a structured settlement, don't let anyone fool you into selling your structured settlement for cash now if savings rates and go to zero or negative.
While most people put a lime in their Corona, THIS "Corona" is a lemon.
Our research suggests that Corona Capital of Lewes Delaware is a small time broker in the structured settlement factoring market saying some big words about insurance companies that have no factual basis, in an effort to possibly convince unsophisticated annuitants to sell for bigger discounts.
Corona Capital Misrepresents That Insurers Can Go Bankrupt in Order to Get People to Sell
"The insurance company that issues your annuity is also an important factor in determining how much your structured settlement is worth. If they are in the news due to economic troubles or flirting to go bankrupt then those payments will be worth less to a potential investor and may actually not be sold at all".
"There are a few insurance companies that have even gone bankrupt"
Our readers know that generally, insurance companies cannot go bankrupt under the law.
Is Corona using this misrepresentation to convince annuitants to accept higher discount rates and sell more of their structured settlements than need be.
Other advertising claims by Corona:
"You will find a number of organizations that pay for structured settlements, nonetheless, quite a few charge preposterous rates". (TRUE)
The company then advertises "get the most money for your structured settlement or annuity with Corona Capital" Our resource suggests that Corona is seeking a bigger margin for investors than the lowest discount rates to annuitants available in the market. Annuitants may be able to do better than the rates offered by Corona Capital by shopping around.
Justia Blawg search has ranked Structured Settlements 4Real14th in its weekly ranking of legal subject matter blogs (blawgs). Ranking as of August 3, 2010
Blawgs are ranked based on the number of visits to the Blawg from the Justia BlawgSearch search engine and directory listing pages. Featured Blawgers are chosen by editorial selection of the BlawgSearch team. Justia Blaw Search allows you to search thousands of legal blogs updated throughout the day. Includes a directory of blawgs broken out by practice area, law school and locality.
As of August 3, 2010 Structured Settlements 4Real has an "all time ranking" of 30th
Justia is focused on making legal information, resources and services easy to find on the Internet. The company provides Internet users with free case law, codes, regulations, legal articles and legal blog databases, as well as community resources
About Structured Settlements 4Real
A popular source of news and information about Structured Settlements, Settlement Planning and Lawsuit Recovery Management, written by settlement planing expert John D. Darer, with a stable readership targeted to settlement consultants, financial professionals, lawyers, injured persons and their family members, guardians, survivors, judges, magistrates, special masters, mediators, administrators, trust companies, insurance companies, financial advisers, insurance regulators, government leaders, the media and other interested parties. Using the Alexa metric, over the last 39 months Structured Settlements 4Real has consistently ranked in the top 2 websites in the structured settlements and settlement planning industry space with the most global traffic and 23 number 1 rankings
What is a Structured Settlement? What You Need to Know Structured settlements and what you need to know about them including a helpful introductory video featuring 2023 A.M. Best Client Recommended Structured Settlement Expert and Registered Settlement Planner John Darer® of 4structures.com® LLC
How Do Structured Settlements Work? How Structured Settlements Work How structured settlements work, including 4structures.com LLC's super helpful structured settlement flow chart/diagram showing how structured settlements fit in on the spectrum of settlement planning solutions.
Rated Ages and Structured Settlement Cost Rated Ages for Structured Settlement Annuities present advantages to all parties. Shift the mortality risk to a life insurance company whose business it it is to assess mortality risk to price its life insurance and annuities. Rated ages boost your structured settlement annuity benefit per premium dollar, or your yield on lifetime payments. Rated ages help to reduce the cost of funding a Medicare Set Aside arrangement where a Structured MSA, is being used { WCMSA LMSA or NFMSA].
Structured Settlement Annuity Companies 2023 Which life insurance companies issue structured settlement annuities going into 2023? A list of current structured annuity issuers, the location of their home offices and their financial ratings from A.M. Best, Moodys, Fitch, Standard & Poors and/or other Tier1 NAIC ratings, with links to their websites and other useful information.
Treasury Funded Structured Settlements Treasury Funded Structured Settlements are a settlement option for the most conservative using the OTHER permissible qualified funding asset under IRC 130(d), United States Treasury Bonds in addition to, or instead of, structured settlement annuities. Treasury Funded Structured Settlements can also be used to fund installment sales, also known as structured sales and other non qualified structured settlements.
Compare Structured Settlement IRR to Other Settlement Alternatives Use the Taxable Equivalent Yield chart to help compare the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of a structured settlement to other alternative or complementary investments. Need help with the chart? Call 4structures.com® LLC at 888-325-8640
Structured Settlement Payments | Types of Structured Settlements Ways You Can Structure Your Settlement Payments. With a structured settlement you can have more than one type of payment in a single contract. Different types of structured settlement payments can be customized and combined to meet your needs on a stand-alone basis, or in conjunction with other financial products. Diversify your structured settlement, if you wish, by funding with more than one annuity issuer, with treasury funded structured settlements, index linked structured settlement payments and market based structured .
Structured Attorney Fees for Tax Deferral for Contingency Fees Structured attorney fees is a financial strategy that offers a unique way to defer taxes for lawyers and law firms. Lawyers CAN structure their legal fees even if the plaintiff doesn't structure their settlement. There are multiple ways to structure your attorney fees, such as the an index linked structured settlement where payments are adjusted based on upside changes in the S&P 500 with no downside and a cap of 5%. Trial Lawyers may also use a special deferred pay/deferred compensation arrangement, if market based returns returns are desired with no cap. Plan NOW for year end! Put structured attorney fee expert John Darer® on your settlement planning team.
Structured Settlement Annuity Company Customer Service Phone Numbers Receiving structured settlement payments from your own structured settlement or inherited structured settlement? You'll like this huge time saver. Click the title for a link to a comprehensive list of customer service telephone numbers that includes both current AND former structured settlement annuity issuers and reinsurers. If you have simple bank or beneficiary changes, or if the insurance company that issued the structured annuity has merged, sold or spun off its block of structured annuity business (e.g. Aviva, Allstate, Transamerica, AEGON, GE Capital, Liberty, CNA, Confederation Life) or changed its name and you're trying to track them down, here you go! The list is regularly updated. Last updated September 14, 2023
Structured Settlement Quote Lock-Ins | What You Need To Know What does a Structured Settlement Lock-In Mean? How do plaintiffs, defendants and insurers benefit from a structured settlement quote lock in when finalizing a settlement? How does the defendant/insurer/court benefit from using a structured settlement lock-in? Where to be careful when using structured settlement lock ins.
What Are Structured Settlement Annuities? Structured settlement annuities are annuities that can provide one or more customized annuity payment streams in a single contract. Read about structured settlement annuities here.
History of Structured Settlements Tracing the roots of structured settlements history from 1918, when Congress exempted damages for personal injury or sickness from income tax, to the establishment of structured settlements as a core personal injury settlement planning tool to the present day.
What Are Market Based Structured Settlements? Market based structured settlements are an alternative or supplementary structured settlement solution for the plaintiff, attorney or law firm that:
1. Can afford to take some market risk
2. Have discretionary settlement dollars.
Claimants and attorneys alike may find that market-based structured settlements provide the opportunity to receive tax-free income, or tax-deferred income, while enjoying growth potential.
Firmwide Qualified Settlement Funds Debunked Firmwide qualified settlement funds have been heavily promoted to trial lawyers, but have been debunked in a detailed analysis in a July 2022 legal opinion a tax partner at the law firm of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP. Trial lawyers and firms who have established Firmwide QSFs or coinsidering establishing a Firmwide QSF should read the analysis as part of their evaluation.
Simply Click the Subscribe Button at the top left of the page above the blog title which will take you to the blog subscribe page or follow this link https://feeds.feedblitz.com/structuredsettlements
STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS 4REAL® Blog Is a Popular Source of Structured Settlement News and Information, John Darer Reviews, Settlement Planning News and Financial Solutions for over 17 years,
with a stable readership that seeks credible structured settlement information, John Darer Reviews, commentary and/or opinion about topical issues related to settlement planning, targeted to lawyers, injured persons and their family members, guardians, survivors, judges, magistrates, special masters, mediators, administrators, trust companies, insurance company executives and adjusters, financial advisers, settlement professionals, financial professionals, insurance regulators, government leaders, federal and state law enforcement, buyers and sellers of structured settlement payment rights, the news media and other interested parties.
4structures.com LLC established this structured settlement blog in 2005. John Darer ®, CLU ChFC MSSC CeFT® RSP CLTC, President of 4structures.com, located in Stamford, CT 06902. John Darer is an experienced New York City area structured settlement expert, structured settlement broker, Certified Financial Transitionist, and Registered Settlement Planner. He holds insurance licenses in 45 states, has 40 years financial services experience and more than 29 years in the structured settlements and settlement planning space.
In his capacity as a investigative journalist and commentator, and professionally, John Darer passionately believes that shining the light on a business practice is both healthy and newsworthy. It is in the best interest of injury victims, their families and their legal advisers, that the settlement planning discussion involve those that are properly trained in the topic, properly informed on the topic and, with respect to structured settlements, properly licensed and/or appointed. It has significant instructional and deterrent value to other practitioners and firms as well as those who may be caught in the cross hairs.
WHAT YOU GET here is the straight stuff with a touch of irreverence and humor. We hope you enjoy and find the content to be helpful.
Subscribe to the structured settlement blog feed, or a specific category feed through your blog reader, or through the Subscribe button at the top left of this page. Followers of JDDarer™ on Twitter may also receive select content.
If you would like to speak with John he can be reached at (888)325-8640
Thank you for reading!
Last updated October 8, 2023
New York City Structured Settlement Experts Bridge building settlement consultants who collaborate with clients using a humanistic process, providing creative and reliable advice and support for litigating parties and their lawyers with matters in Courts throughout the New York City metropolitan area
New York Structured Settlement Expert Whether you're at the crossroads of the world or the crossroads of your life, structured settlements provide stability for when life is at a crossroad. Call 888-325-8640
New York Settlement Planning Expert for NY Attorneys and Residents - YouTube New York settlement expert John Darer's comprehensive approach to Settlement Planning helps New York personal injury lawyers and their clients move through the financial transition resulting from a major life event. CPLR Articles 50A and 50B expertise for New York lawyers
New York Structured Settlement Expert Useful information and ideas about structured settlements, settlement planning and litigation recovery managements for New York residents, New York Lawyers and New York judges
New York General Obligations Law §5-1702 The New York Structured Settlement Protection Act imposes mandatory requirements on the defendant or the defendant's legal representative when a structured settlement is created (as part of the resolution of a case)
Structured Settlements v Structured Judgments Often confused by writers on the Internet, but there IS a difference between structured settlements and structured judgments under CPLR Articles 50A or 50B. Find out more...
Connecticut Structured Settlement Experts 4structures.com LLC is based in Stamford CT and Connectict works with clients all over CT, Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, New Haven, Hartford, West Hartford, West Haven, Torrington, Danbury, Wilton, Ridgefield, Norwalk, Midletown, New London, Westport, Oxford, Stratford, Old Greenwich, Stafford, Storrs, Groton
"Impressive Blog" -Counsel to Am Law 200 ranked International Law Firm July 22, 2020
"Thank you so much for giving us your time and leading us in the right path , Thank you, you are a God send , God bless you in all your works" -K April 11, 2017
"Once again, I can't tell you how appreciative I am for your help. In today's day and age, it is rare that you actually find people who are willing to go the extra mile..." -TC May 5, 2015
"I wanted to send you this email to say Happy New Year to you and your family. May God continue to bless you. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to meet you on the phone. I truly thank you for introducing me and my son, (redacted) to (lawyer). It is people like you that God put in the path of my son situation. Thanks a million times! {original on file] 1-2-2015
"John Darer has been nothing but honest,helpful,informative with options, & his
"time" was NEVER an issue!"-Andrew S 8/18/2012
" I wish there were more like you" JG 9-15-2014
In my opinion, John Darer is an excellent consumer advocate in the insurance industry. When I had no one else to turn to after running up against the stone walls of these giant insurance company, John Darer used hours of his own time to investigate my situation. Not only is this an invaluable service to me the consumer but it is also of great value to the insurance industry by providing them consumer feed-back. This allows the insurance companies to correct their faults and move toward greater transparency which improves the overall public image of the insurance industry as a whole" JW 9/4/2014
John, Keep fighting the fight. -NASP member 12-4-2013
John...Thank you for your professional advice-Brandon 11-13-2013
"...Thanks to Mr. Darer's blog and personal pointers I was able to obtain a fair price for the sale of client structured settlement. Therefore, if one has no choice, but to sell their settlement educate yourself first before selling start by reading John's blog" Mr P. 11/17/2012
"I always appreciate when he (John Darer) keeps us informed on regs and rules. No one does it better"- structured settlement industry colleague and reader RY 7/26/2012
"Amen - and continued thanks for your vigilance, John"- RL 8/18/2011
"Thanks for writing these great blogs on your site John! As an individual investor I have learned so much about the secondary market (for annuities, structured settlements, lottery payments, etc.) from your blogs and video series!!!" (6/5/2011)
I have found the intelligent and forthright information on your site a godsend. So much so I have tried in a small way to pass on my findings to others. Please keep up the good work and enhance your well deserved reputation as the authority on this subject- Mike 4/29/2011
John -
I can't thank you enough for bringing this to my attention. In my wildest dreams... PJ-May 12, 2011
John, I love reading your blog! Not only have I found very useful information there, but the comedy is much appreciated! Thanks for talking about "the big pink elephant in the living room" that everyone else ignores!
Thank you again for your help via phone and blog! I really needed to hear what you had to say today! BM 11/23/2010
John—this (video published 11/2010) is a well done piece. I like the way you always stick to the facts-AM
What a wonderful blog you have! I have completely enjoyed reading some of your posts (4/16/2010)
Thank you so very much for discussing my concerns about Symetra, my annuity company. I am amazed that PI attorneys as well as a settlement broker in San Diego, could not answer the simplest questions I had regarding the Safeco/Symetra issue. Your blog/web site is most interesting and informative, and I am grateful you have take on the "watchdog" role!
Thank you so much again (3/25/10)
"Keep up the good work exposing abuses in our industry - our future depends on clients being properly advised."-CD
Just checked out your blog and loved it. Keep up the good and balanced work-DL
"...we have never met but I thoroughly enjoy your web site and blog - excellent material…-PB
"I enjoy your website and its content. Informative and well written"-JC
I heard a radio ad for the Peachtree Settlement Fund as I was driving into work this morning. (San Francisco Bay area.) I decided to check it out on the Internet and came upon your blog. Thank you very much. I do not have a “structured” settlement,
"All the others that I had emailed & have seen on the net were "cash now types" & have no concern of me & just are looking for my $$$. When I came across your site & blog I realized that u are an upstanding guy & are not like others. That's why I emailed"
This was Great. Right On Point-TS
"Other Than John Darer No One Seems To Be Doing Anything"-J
Thanks for your help and also for the good work you do on behalf of our industry-L
"Thank you for being the inspiration that you are and for being a strong advocate for integrity in our business"-KL
"I Commend You On Your Effort To Make a Difference!" -R
"He is a fabulous writer who has a great passion for the structured settlement industry. I commend him on the passion he invokes when he writes on his blog listed above. That type of commitment and passion is hard to find and is rare in this world" -AC
Structured Settlement Best Practices Corner
New York Insurance Advertising law requires the full name of the Insurer to be listed along with the city and state of the principal office. Stating that you represent these fine companies using Insurance company logos without the preceding information are also illegal
When it comes to settlement documents it is the ultimate responsibility of the lawyers or claims adjusters who receive input concerning the structured settlement aspects of the documents to actually read the entire document, exercise independent thought and advise their clients properly
Be aware that financial advisors use of testimonials is prohibited or restricted
Most states require that Testimonials represent the CURRENT opinion of the person who made the testimonial. Be prepared to back it up.
Number of States That Prohibit Payment of QSF expenses by licensed agents and brokers
All posts, including memes created by John Darer, Copyright 4structures.com, LLC 2023. All rights reserved. Ongoing filings have been made with the United States Copyright Office. Except for those videos in which John Darer appears, or any video advertisements or public service videos appearing on, this blog, no claim is made to videos, music or images in any mashup which are the property of their respective owners. Disclaimer: The use of any marks herein does not suggest any sponsorship, affiliation or relationship with owners of such marks. Any marks used in commentary herein are in the context of fair use to discuss the newsworthy topics presented herein.
Structured Settlement Watchdog® is a registered trademark of 4structures.com LLC.Reg. 4711312 All rights reserved.
John Darer® is a Registered Trademark of John Darer, Stamford CT. Reg. 4674907 All rights reserved
4structures® Reg. 4640532 and 4structures.com® Reg. 4640531 are Registered Trademarks of 4structures.com LLC. All rights reserved
Structured Settlements 4Real® is a Registered trademark of 4structures.com LLC Reg.4345946 All rights reserved.
Comments and Trackback Policy
Comments and Trackback Policy
Comments to this blog are encouraged, welcome and add spice to the interactive nature of blogs. However, the unscrupulous practice by some to deliver comment spam, to connect all manner of unrelated products to structured settlements, detracts from user experience, is NOT tolerated by this author and thus necessitates the practice of comment screening.
Jay J. Sangerman, PLLC A New York and Florida based AV rated estate planning law practice with an emphasis in Supplemental Needs Trusts, which assists attorneys in efficient case settlement though the use of Supplemental Needs Trusts and Special Needs Trusts; and Elder Law
Day Pitney LLP - People - Keith Bradoc Gallant Brad's practice includes traditional trust and estate planning and administration, special needs and disabilities planning, planning for same-sex couples and their families, planning for incapacity, and all types of probate litigation.
Helpful Structured Settlement Information is Here!
Learn more about structured settlements by reading structured settlement expert John Darer's blog
Researching Structured Settlements? It may be helpful to check (1) in Archived Blog Posts (above left); (2) use the Google search box (below); (1) visit the 4structures® website at https://www.4structures.com, (4) vist 4structures® Structured Settemlent Experts YouTube Channel by clicking https://www.youtube.com/user/4structures1, or (5) call settlement expert John Darer® at 888-325-8640, toll-free in the USA, 646-849-1588 in New York City, or 203-325-8640 in CT.
Subscribe to this Blog
Simply click on the " Subscribe" link at the top left of this blog page and follow the simple instructions.
The John Darer® authored Structured Settlements 4Real® blog is the most prolific structured settlement blogger with over 5,330 blog posts, and counting!
Why Take a Structured Settlement?
A structured settlement offers guaranteed financial security to personal injury victims, wrongful death survivors and their families. A structured settlement involves a customized stream of payments, provides long-term stable tax-free income, for a period of years or a lifetime. Unlike other income annuities. a structured settlement annuity can have multiple payment streams to address multiple needs in a single contract.
London Market Structured Settlements Experts Bridge building settlement consulting using a humanistic process, providing creative and reliable support for London Market Insurers, Lloyds Syndicates, Claims Professionals and Lawyers
New York Structured Settlement Experts Bridge building settlement consultants who collaborate with clients using a humanistic process, providing creative and reliable advice and support for litigating parties and their lawyers.
FactCheck.org nonprofit "consumer advocate" for voters that Aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases.
NYC 9-11 Health The World Trade Center Health Registry is now the largest registry in U.S. history to track the health effects of a disaster. The federally funded program is information central for first responders and others with health issues from 9-11
Comments and Trackback Policy