Rated Age Tips Feed

March 18, 2010

Rated Ages and Structured Annuities, Structured MSA and Structured Judgments - Part 2 Video Podcast

by John Darer CLU ChFC CSSC RSP

In second part of a two part series which explores rated ages and the challenges of impaired risk underwriting for structured settlement annuities John Darer's special guests include Rosemary Brindamour, Chief Medical underwriter for John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and John Hancock Life Insurance Comapny of New York, and Robert Shavelle PhD of the Life Expectancy Project. The podcast was stimulated by the Ron Houben case in which the patient was initially diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state for many years but later was discovered to be in a locked in syndrome.

Link to Part 1 of our podcast series on Rated Ages and Structured Settlement Annuities, Structured MSA and Structured Judgments

More on Rated Age and Structured Settlements

Learn more about the Ron Houben, the Belgian man misdiagnosed for 23 years as being in a persistent vegetative state

Posted at 08:23 PM in Buffalo New York Structured Settlements, News About Structured Settlements, Rated Age Hints, Rated Age Tips, Rated Ages in Structured Settlements, Settlement Planning Issues, Structured Annuity, Structured Settlement Information, Structured Settlement Underwriting, Structured Settlements, Structured Settlements 101, Structured Settlements Essentials, Structured Settlements in Connecticut, Structured Settlements New York | | Comments (0)

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March 11, 2010

Rated Ages and Stuctured Settlement Annuities, Structured MSA and Structured Judgments

In this video, John Darer and Mark Wahlstrom discuss the subject of structured settlement rated ages and impaired risk underwriting as it applies to structured settlements and structured judgments. Attorneys, judges, plaintiffs and claims adjusters can all benefit from the information in this podcast, which is the first of a two part series. How do you benefit from a rated age?

Posted at 12:25 PM in New Haven CT Structured Settlements, New Jersey Structured Settlements, New Orleans Louisiana Structured Settlements, New York City Structured Settlements, New York Structured Settlement Practice, New York Structured Settlements, Plaintiff Settlement Planning, Rated Age Hints, Rated Age Tips, Rated Ages in Structured Settlements, Settlement Planning Issues, Structured Annuity, Structured Annuity Cost, Structured Annuity Underwriting, Structured Settlement Information, Structured Settlement Pricing, Structured Settlements, Structured Settlements in Nassau County, NY | | Comments (0)

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December 20, 2009

Terminated Structured Settlement Brokerages Need to To Update Websites

We understand that, In December 2009, one of the structured settlement annuity insurance companies has terminated the appointments of 5 structured settlement general agencies. The purported reason for the terminations was to assure the continuation of a higher level of service amidst staffing cutbacks.

While it is possible that such  terminated structured settlement agencies will be able to establish "pipeline agreements" with other appointed general agencies. on the date of termination  it became inappropriate for the terminated general agencies to advertise that they are directly appointed with (a list of life) insurance companies" that includes the one that they have been terminated from. To continue to say so would be inaccurate in light of the developments.

Plaintiffs and plaintiff lawyers must  also be aware of and seek a disclosure from these companies that confidential medical information submitted for rated age determinations from the terminating annuity issuer must see an additional set of eyes in order to happen. In other words the terminated broker will no longer be able to submit the information directly to the annuity issuer and must instead submit these documents through its pipeline partner.

This author looks to the relevant company or companies to update their websites forthwith, to bring them in compliance with state insurance advertising statutes, the code of ethics of the National Structured Settlements Trade Association and the Standards of Professional Conduct of the Society of Settlement Planners.

Posted at 03:47 PM in Attorney Responsibility to Clients in Settlement Planning Process, National Structured Settlement Trade Association, Rated Age Tips, Society of Settlement Planners (SSP), Structured Annuity, Structured Annuity Company, Structured Annuity Issuer, Structured Settlement Advertising, Structured Settlement Industry News, Structured Settlement Watchdog®, Structured Settlements Industry, Truth in Advertising Structured Settlements | | Comments (0)

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July 01, 2009

Liberty Life Offers Program to Ease Structured Settlement Rated Age Underwiting Back Log

In April 2009  Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston introduced its Concierge Underwriting Program. This new program allows for underwriting on any case that you submit for a rated age, regardless of carrier.

To qualify for Concierge Underwriting, a broker must place $500,000 in non-Liberty Mutual Group premium with Liberty Life per quarter, and Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston will underwrite any case that you submit for rated age throughout the following quarter. 

Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston is a members of Liberty Mutual Group. Structured settlement annuities placed with Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston are guaranteed by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

Posted at 03:58 PM in Insurance Company News, Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, Liberty Life Concierge Underwiting, Liberty Mutual, Liberty Mutual Structured Settlements, Medicare Set Aside Arrangements, Medicare Set-Aside, Rated Age Tips, Rated Ages in Structured Settlements, Workers Comp Structured Settlements, Workers Compensation Settlements | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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May 27, 2009

Longer Rated Age Response Times From Structured Annuity Issuers

by John Darer® CLU ChFC CSSC RSP

Rated age requests are trending tiwards a longer response times following submission of medicals  . What was once the matter of several hours is now taking 24-48 hours in some cases. Whether the cause is a matter of a trimmed work staff, or a flood of workers comp medicals clogging up the system, the delays are something that now needs to be planned for in advance.

A rated age is an important component of a structured settlement pricing when there are life contingent payments such as:

  • Pricing out a life care plan
  • Providing a back stop to a special needs trust or  to an investment strategy
  • Funding the deferred component of a Medicare Set Aside Trust (MSAT) at the maximum discount
  • Funding the temporary life elements of a New York 50A or 50B Structured Judgment
  • Funding lifetime retirement benefits or any other lifetime payment stream

Brokers and their staff are encouraged (if they do not already do so) to take the time to review the medicals that they send before they send them. This helps to eliminate redundant reports and may identify salient points for the underwriter's consideration. Perhaps there will be enough resulting time saved to help speed up response times.




Posted at 10:41 AM in Information About Annuity, Life Annuity, Rated Age Hints, Rated Age Tips, Rated Ages in Structured Settlements, Settlement Planning, Settlement Planning Issues, Special Needs Trusts and Structured Settlements, Structured Annuity, Structured Annuity Company, Structured Annuity Cost, Structured Annuity Issuer, Structured Annuity Underwriting, Structured Judgments, Structured Settlement Brokers, Structured Settlement Industry News, Structured Settlement Underwriting, Structured Settlements Essentials | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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Guide to Structured Settlements 2022

  • What is a Structured Settlement? What You Need to Know
    What you need to know about structured settlements. General explanation of structured settlements, including the stable guaranteed income and favorable tax benefits that give structured settlements their "juice" and a helpful introductory video featuring 2022 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 | Structured Settlement Diagram
    How structured settlements work, including 4structures.com LLC's super helpful structured settlement flow chart/diagram showing how structured settlements fit in with other 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 2022
    Which life insurance companies issue structured settlement annuities going into 2022? 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, Transamerica, AEGON, GE Capital, Liberty, CNA) or changed its name and you're trying to track them down, here you go! The list is regularly updated. Last update January 13, 2022.
  • 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.
  • iStructure |Uncapped Fixed Index Structured Settlement Annuity
    iStructure is an innovative game changing fixed index structured settlement annuity for plaintiffs or attorneys. with an intermediate to long term horizon

Contact Structured Settlement Expert John Darer®

About The Structured Settlement Blog

  • 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 16 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 and 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 journalist, and professionally, Darer passionately believes that exposing 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. Thank you for reading!

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Structured Settlements 4Real Reader Comments

  • "You have a wonderful blog"
    Partner in Philadelphia law firm August 30, 2020
  • "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
    5 Survey not yet complete.

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.

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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.

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