Structured settlement expert John Darer® connects the dots for readers with structured settlement news, information and expert opinion, including settlement planning issues/ ideas for settlement management, incisive Structured Settlement Watchdog® reports 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 settlement blog, Now in 18th Year! Check back daily for something new.
A retirement annuity company is offering 3.05% for 5 years, or so says the email solicitation that I received as a Connecticut resident where the product is not even licensed to be sold.
More Food for thought
A. M. Best rates the company B+
Weiss rates the company D+
Here's what Weiss might be looking at
Bonds In or Near Default 21.2% (Bonds are 55% of portfolio) Problem Mortgages 5.9% Real Estate Acquired by Foreclosure 23.9% Total Non-Performing Assets/Surplus & AVR 51.0% As a Percent of Invested Assets 5.5%
Errors and Omissions insurance policies often have policy restrictions or exclusions if the insurance company is less
In the words of Planet Patrol "Play At Your Own Risk". Not a place for the "Stray Cash Strut".
Imperial Structured Settlements is now teaching consumers how to pinch pennies at the grocery store*. It's very thoughtful, but perhaps they should be "pinching" their own discount rates to give consumers a better deal than the competition.
Sorry Imperial, the illogical conclusion of "Save a penny, but spend thousands of dollars**" is a stinker. What's the point in suggesting consumers save a few pennies at the grocery store when Imperial Structured Settlements' traditionally high discount rates are costing consumers thousands when compared to what they might receive by simply shopping around?
** the cost of selling structured settlement payments rights will be thousands of dollars lost no matter who you sell our structured settlement to. Clipping coupons isn't going to make up the gap.
Image source-right Suzanne Tucker /Dreamstime
Image source left: Saitorman/Dreamstime
* Imperialstructuredsettlements (dot) com/financial-news/conserve-cash-when-shopping-at-grocey-stores/ Yes grocey stores! You can ride there on your "horsey" !
Image: Birgit Brandhuber
The question "What is a structured settlement annuity?" is simple enough. Yet an annuity blog called "Simply Annuities" has somehow found a way to mess it up.
"Structured settlement annuities are financial investments designed to provide personal injury victims with liquify (sic) in years to come. As with any major decision relenting(sic) to personnel (sic) finance and future financial security, there are risks and rewards,pros and cons, and even a few road hazards, regards (sic) selling your annuity for a lumpsum (sic)".
So typical of non credentialed marketing companies who "pimp" for cash now hustlers"pay per click manna. The observed formula is (1) ask a legitimate financial question , (2) put out an uninformed effort to answer it; and then (3), the inevitable sinking to the depths of the cash now hustle non sequitur.
It's a foolish strategy that deserves the irreverence The Structured Setttlement Watchdog gives it.
With the wealth of legitimate information out there such writers have no excuse to churn out the garbage they do. How about producing something of value?
Check with the Structured Settlement Watchdog, John Darer, or another credentialed structured settlement expert to make sure what you are putting out as fact about structured settlements really is. One entity who I recently strongly criticized has taken the positive step of contacting us and asking us to review certain content for accuracy.
It does not have to be us, but it should be reviewed by someone with valid and relevant credentials, who is a natural English speaker rather than a non English speaker running a translation program or someone with less than an upper percentile high school graduate's English proficiency.
NOTE: Review of submitted materials does not imply endorsement. We simply want accurate information out there about structured settlements, and consumers to have the clearest path to accurate and relevant information.
A structured settlement factoring writer implies that selling structured settlements to buy an in ground pool is a valid reason to cover your over drafted check book.
In a February 7, 2013 post citing "Clark Griswold" ( lampooning being on "Vacation" left) , "Larry" asserts that "however misguided, Clark Griswold does have a point when it comes to wanting an in-ground pool. In-ground pools no (sic) only make summers memorable; they can also add great value to your home".
So what do real estate experts say?
Source: Baloncici|Dreamstime
Following is a selection of comments from realtors on Zillow.com on the subject of whether swimming pools add value to a home. The general consensus is that an in-ground pool can be "ingrown toenail"!
"If the appraiser is not able to support an adjustment for the pool, they will not give the pool any value" " In Silicon Valley/Milpitas area ... there really is no additional value for having a pool" " Pools in that area is (sic) not popular anymore. Often the appraisers will not add or value. When it comes to sell, it may be problematic as many home owners do not want the hassle and cost to maintain it".
" in AZ, yes a pool adds value, but nothing close to what they cost. Maybe 50% if you are lucky!" "most of the pools I have seen really don't add value - too generic and doesn't add to the aesthetics of the landscaping - just a "cement pond". Some, I'd even consider that the downside (i.e., maintenance, insurance, etc.) would de-value the house". "In many instances, home buyers consider a pool a negative because of the additional work and expense it creates. It is also sometimes viewed as a cause for concern by home buyers especially if the home is in an area that is sought after by families with young children"
Clark Griswold DOES teach us a few things.
Jumping naked into an in-ground pool with a 1985 model Christie Brinkley is not a good long term move. As tempting as the hot babe in the red sports car is, she's just a "passing" fancy, just like what's likely at the end of the line of BS that the factoring shill "Larry" is trying to feed you.
Your vision of "Wally World"may not come to fruition. A "poolhardy" quote inspired by National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and factoring shill "Welcome to your annuity, what's left of it"
When that discounted lump sum is spent on a potential depreciating asset like a pool, and you later want to get all your money out, just remember that "Wally World" is closed (left).
As an aside, the contextual links for each of the shill's posts lead to structuredsettlement-funding dot com, which is appears to be a domain controlled by J.G. Wentworth. Not only does the website have a live BBB seal for JGW, but the website states it is powered by JGW. While the domain is privately registered, our research shows that it is hosted on a server with other entities that are historically J.G. Wentworth related such, as FS Gerard.
The woman who called me today is a role model for those who have no alternative but to go down the road of selling structured settlement payments rights.
Her initial offer was from one of the "low hanging fruit grabbers" with a lofty 15.5% plus discount rate. Simply by being patient and shopping around the woman was able to receive two offers with less than a 7% discount rate. Simply outstanding.
This result is on the back of a recent report about another annuitant who also consulted with us, pro-bono, who we encouraged to shop around, who did shop around, and was able to negotiate a 6.28% discount rate from a Texas based structured settlement purchaser.
A common thread between the two cases is the how both annuitants' shopping efforts make mincemeat of a claim by a bank which claims "other companies are simply brokers who wedge themselves between structured settlement annuitants (such as you) and the financial institutions (such as us) that actually purchase the payments. ... Bank cuts out the middleman — so you get more money, and you get it faster! Why pay a broker when you can go direct?". That entity's offer in the other claimant's case turned out to be the worst of all offers according to the annuitant. In the woman's case it embodied a discount rate of close to 14% and was one of the worst. The difference could be big bucks.
"Unfortunately, single quote transfers remain a common practice within the structured settlement secondary market resulting in unnecessarily high discount rates"-blogger and Structured Settlements and Periodic Payment Judgments text book co-author Patrick J. Hindert.
There is a growing body of evidence that elaborate social media networks are being used in dubious link building and to fabricate testimonials, to promote certain purchasers of structured settlement payment rights and fabricate complaints and documents with the intent to harm competitors and others whose business interests are not aligned with the beneficiaries of the scheme.
But social media is being used by "actors' to augment the traditional approach to the classic 'pump and dump" stock promotion scheme. Based on what I have just seen and heard it is time to sound the alarm bell.
I received a call the other day from a Los Angeles California area based company that was pitching penny stocks (a/k/a microcap stocks). As I heard it, the scheme works like this:
Step 1
Company A contacts and draws interest from lead investors who each agree to buy 10,000 shares in a touted penny stock to show to others that there is interest. The pitch from company A lays out the scheme and Company promises that it will let the lead investors know exactly when to get out (2 weeks into the promotion the solicitor told me)
Step 2
Once the lead group of investors has been 'filled' Company A begins to promote ("pump") the stock through the Internet, drawing in the secondary group of investors
Step 3
Company A stops promoting the stock and the stock plummets. Secondary investors and greedy initial investors lose their shirts.
The promoter who contacted me related some "recent examples of recommendations" that included a stock that they "recommended " at 17 cents" that went to $2.40 and then down to 5 cents between April 2012 and June 2012. I was shown three examples whose charts looked like a squished bell curve.
Plaintiffs should be aware of pump and dump schemes. Protect your recovery! Know one when they hear the approach and AVOID.
Apparently the motility of one's sperm is a new "benchmark" for financial advisers, at least by the recent "standards" of "The Huffington Post. The "Huff Poo" reveals"Levi Johnston's Plan to Make Fast Cash" only days after it became public that the "Baby-duddy" blew through "10 large" and is living penniless at home with Mum.
"Large trades in zinc" have been observed in recent days as people go "Zinc for Pink"
"Rumors are circulating" that some of the trolls of the structured settlement factoring industry are in a state of panic and are "scrambling" to counter the effect of the "Johnson (sic) method" for "fast cash now".
My financial "Illiteradar" has beamed onto " Structured Settlements: Methods, Suitable Clients and Assistance", "made for advertising" (22 ads!) shlock published by yet another anonymous poster whose site is registered through Go.Daddy.com. Here's a slice of financial ignorance on display at structured-cash-settlement.com :
"The secondary market is the structured settlement company".
"On other hand, the accussed party will be the one to to pay the life insurance company".
"Unlike the buy and hold method, the third party will be assigned in purchasing thee annuity"
"In yearly payments, the agreed amount will be divided into equal amounts. It will be distributed on the period that is agreed by both parties".
"In inflation hedging, payments may depreciate or increase over a period of time. If the economy is good, then the money will likely increase. On the other hand, if the economy is in crising, then the money will depreciate".
"In monthly indexed installments, the payment can be done by month, every 3 months or 6 months. Payments that changed in amount due to some financial index is tracked over time".
"Clients must be qualified for Social Securoty benefits either as retiree or must meet the criteria of the U.S. federal health program"
In its post " Fundamentals of Structured Settlements"
"When we say annuities, we mean of regular deposits to regular deposits to a savings account, monthly home mortgage payments and monthly insurance payments. The payment may be done weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly or in any time interval as long as it guarantees future payments."
"As long as you settle it properly, the structured settlement may reduce the complainant’s tax obligation and may even lead in tax-free senarios"
"We invest our money to double or triple the money we invest in a couple of years". "Look for the flaws and the brighter side".
"On the other hand, its not even bad if we squander our money but if we squander it too much. Then, its bad after all. Just buy the things that you need and not the things that you want. If not, there will be no money left for you, without you knowing it."
In its post on Wrongful Death... kudos may be due...
"Your lawyer will "advice" you as to whether a wrongful death clam can be made"
Comment: Not only CAN they "be made", but I've dined at several seafood restaurants that seem to have specialized in "wrongful death clams". Very popular with the "sharks" I might add.
(All emphasis ours!) Cue the circus music!
There are a number of legitimate primary market practitioners who have been unfortunately and unwittingly associated with this tripe due to: 1) their subscription to Google Adwords which placed their ads on the aforementioned website; 2)Due to the website publisher's use of the Amazon carousel widget; 3) Due to the publisher placing a video podcast of them on the site. I was actually tipped off by a Google news alert which referred to the posting of a video on the site which featured an industry colleague.
Selling your structured settlement for a lump payment of money can be a good option for people who need to get their full settlement soon to pay off debt or are planning to use their settlement money"
- website of structured settlement factoring broker December 23, 2011 10:00am EST (emphasis ours)
The statement is bogus because should someone try to sell their structured settlement payments, they will NEVER NEVER NEVER get the full settlement.
An offer to purchase structured settlement payment rights involves the discounting the structured settlement payments to present value. There are also legal fees and other costs, whether they are built into the discount rate at the time of solicitation, or disclosed up front.
Settlement planners who fail to demonstrate fundamental knowledge essential to the advice they are doling out to injury victims that are relying on them by publishing information that is so out of date are an embarrassment to the profession.
Here is a quote from a website of a "serial offender" in this regard:
"The receipt of settlement proceeds, either by a lump sum or through periodic payments, when combined with the claimant’s other assets, can create an estate in excess of $1,000,000 which would be subject to estate taxes at the death of the claimant. Estate tax rates range from 37 to 55 percent of amounts above $1,000,000, and payment generally is due in cash in nine months after the death. With proper planning, the impact of potential estate taxes can be minimized" quote from website of a particular settlement planner November 27, 2011 1:48pm EST. The owner of the website claims a copyright 2007-2011.
Year
Exclusion Amount
Max/Top tax rate
2001
$675,000
55%
2002
$1 million
50%
2003
$1 million
49%
2004
$1.5 million
48%
2005
$1.5 million
47%
2006
$2 million
46%
2007
$2 million
45%
2008
$2 million
45%
2009
$3.5 million
45%
2010 *
Repealed *
35%
2011
$5 million
35%
* See paragraph to left with respect to reinstatement of this exemption
To the right is a table of the amount of exemption by year an estate would expect. Estates above these amounts would be subject to estate tax, but only for the amount above the exemption.
The 2001 tax act would have repealed the estate tax for one year (2010) and would then have readjusted it in 2011 to the year 2002 exemption level with a 2001 top rate. However, on December 17, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. Section 301 of the 2010 Actreinstates the federal estate tax. The new law sets the exemption at $5 million per person A top tax rate of 35 percent is provided for the years 2011 and 2012. (Chart: Wikipedia)
I am embarrassed for the settlement planning profession that such individual apparently doesn't care to stay on top of the news and publish accurate information. Furthermore, by citing that he is a CSSC, the settlement planner is dragging down the integrity of Certified Structured Settlement Consultant designation with him. Thank god that NSSTA has instituted new continuing education requirements.
In discussing structured settlement rates of return the subject settlement planner is currently using (11/27/2011) examples with 7% plus rates of return and taxable equivalent yields in the 11 plus% range! The published web page disclaimer states "NOTE: The rates used in these examples were for one annuity company and were valid on the date quoted. However, rates will vary between companies are are subject to change". With a copyright of 2007-2011 listed at the bottom of the web page, when the heck were the structured settlement rates on your website quoted and with which annuity company?
The United States Treasury Department publishes an interactive chart that allows you to compare interest rates of different maturities over different time periods. The chart shows that neither of the 10 year or 30 year nominal rates exceeded 5% between 2007-2011. Structured settlement rates typically exceed, but closely track Treasury rates.
The individual in question feels it is important for every claimant to have their own consultant who is independent from the liability insurer. I agree (as a practical matter most deals are done today with brokers on both sides). Otherwise, he says you will be relying on an adversary to handle a large financial transaction on your behalf. On the aforementioned showing perhaps the adversary's advice might prove be more accurate, eh?
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 for 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 January 23, 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.
STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS 4REAL® Blog Is a Popular Source of Structured Settlement News and Information, Settlement Planning News, Tax Deferral and Deferred Income Planning Solutions,
with a stable readership that seeks credible structured settlement information 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 the structured settlement blog in 2005 and for over 17 years it has been a leading source for critical commentary. The John Darer authored blog has been among the most prolific, regularly providing fresh structured settlement, settlement planning, litigation recovery management content and commentary. John Darer®, CLU ChFC MSSC CeFT® RSP CLTC, President of Stamford, CT based 4structures.com, LLC, is an experienced New York City area structured settlement expert, structured settlement broker, Certified Financial Transitionist, and Registered Settlement Planner.
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 tort 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 Feedburner icon on 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 10, 2022
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...
"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 2022. 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? Check (1) in Archived Blog Posts (above left); (2) use the Google search box (below); (3) visit the 4structures® website at https://www.4structures.com, (4) 4structures® YouTube Channel by clicking the above link, or (5) call settlement expert John Darer® at 888-325-8640, toll-free in the USA or 646-849-1588 in New York City
Subscribe to a Specific Category Feed for a subject you like or the Whole Blog
SUBSCRIBE to the dedicated RSS feed for the Structured.Settlements 4Real® blog category that interests you. For example, if you are just interested in reading about "New York Structured Settlements" you can follow that feed. Just click on the category title tag at the bottom of a post you like and then the little RSS symbol on the resulting page.You can also subscribe to the whole blog
The John Darer® authored Structured Settlements 4Real® blog is the most prolific structured settlement blogger with over 5,200 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