Structured Settlement Blog Feed

November 12, 2012

Structured Settlements 4Real® Blog 7th Anniversary!

Structured Settlements 4Real®marks the 7th anniversary of its publication on November 12, 2012. Structured Settlements 4Real®.  The John Darer authored blog is now up to close to 3,500 posts since inception. Structured Settlements 4Real offers an informative and sometimes irreverent look at the world of structured settlements, settlement planning and financial planning.

John Darer CLU ChFC CSSC RSP is a New York City/ Connecticut area structured settlement expert and Registered Settlement Planner who shares knowledge, experience and commentary wrought from over 29 years of financial services experience with over 20 years in the settlement industry.

Thank you readers!

 

 

Posted at 12:20 PM in News About Structured Settlements, Settlement Planning, Structured Settlement Blog, Structured Settlement Information, Structured Settlement Watchdog®, Structured Settlements 4Real® Blog | | Comments (0)

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August 03, 2010

Structured Settlements 4Real Blog Ranked in Top 15 of Blawgs by Justia

Justia Blawg search has ranked Structured Settlements 4Real 14th 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

About Justia

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
 

Posted at 09:35 PM in 4structures.com, LLC, Alexa Traffic Metrics, Delaware Structured Settlements, Detroit Michigan Structured Settlements, Financial Literacy, News About Structured Settlements, NYC Settlement Consultants, NYC Structured Settlements, Orange County Structured Settlements, Sacramento Structured Settlements, San Francisco Structured Settlements, San Francisco Trial Lawyers, Settlement Planning Information, Settlement Planning Issues, Settlement Planning News, Stamford Structured Settlements, Structured Settlement Blog, Structured Settlement Industry News, Structured Settlement Information | | Comments (0)

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December 07, 2009

Leading Structured Settlement and Settlement Planning Websites Experience Record Traffic

The three leading structured settlement/settlement planning subject matter websites have experienced record USA only traffic rankings of  late from Alexa, the search engine owned by Amazon.com.

Structured Settlements 4Real 115,852*

Speaking of Settlements 118,153

4structures.com, LLC 176,637

Compare to the leading factoring industry USA traffic generators, measured by Alexa 12/07/2009

JG Wentworth 53,263

Woodbridge Investments 89,122

Settlement Quotes 262,951

Note: The lower the number the better the ranking. Google is the most popular site on Alexa, ranked #1.

*the Alexa badge in the left margin represents the worldwide 3 month Alexa ranking

Structured Settlements 4Real was ranked #62 in the top 500 legal subject matter blogs by Avvo on December 7, 2009. In addition to Structured Settlements 4Real, content written by John Darer and video and audio content featuring John Darer appears on the Speaking of Settlements and Speaking of Justice channels of The Legal Broadcast Network where he is a featured commentator, on  YouTube and on the 4structures.com, LLC website.

Posted at 10:49 PM in 4structures.com, LLC, Legal Broadcast Network, News About Structured Settlements, Speaking of Settlements, Structured Settlement Blog, Structured Settlement Industry News, Structured Settlement Information, Structured Settlement Surveys, Structured Settlement Website Rankings, Structured Settlements, Structured Settlements 4Real® Blog, Structured Settlements Industry | | Comments (0)

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September 09, 2009

Lack of Published Thought Contributes To S2KM High Bounce Rate

The "Bounce Rate" for readers of the S2KM blog "Beyond Structured Settlements" is ridiculously high for someone who is the author of what was once considered the seminal text for structured settlements.

With a 1 month bounce rate of 73.5%, close to 3/4 of Patrick Hindert's readers go "bye bye" after hitting the landing page. The 3 month trailing trend is not much better at close to 70%. Over the past 7 days the average user spent less than one minute on S2KM blog.  Source: Alexa.com

It takes a long time to build a reputation on the Internet. A portion of readers will return to a reference source but may lose interest quickly if there is no fresh content. It's kind of like the "diminishing marginal utility" of seeing a movie for the umpteenth time, or reading something you've read a thousand times...you lose a little something each time...that sense of "yeah I know it already...NEXT".

Posted at 01:04 PM in Patrick Hindert, Structured Settlement Blog | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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September 06, 2009

Structured Settlement Blog Becomes Available on Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle Dx- Photo by 4structures.com, LLC announced today that Structured Settlements 4Real: What's Real in The Structured Settlements, Settlement Planning and Litigation Recovery Management Space will be available for download on the Amazon Kindle. The ability to download the structured settlement blog by Kindle users is scheduled to begin within the next 48 hours.

With over 2045 pages of content Structured Settlements 4Real is a popular source of news, information and provocative commentary in its space. It enjoys a stable and growing readership targeted to settlement professionals, 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. Established in 2005, the blog is authored by one of the industry's most prolific commentators, providing fresh structured settlement, settlement planning and litigation recovery management content and provocative commentary just about every day!

First introduced in 2007, the Amazon Kindle is a software and hardware platform developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 for reading e-books and other digital media. Three hardware devices, known as "Kindle", "Kindle 2," and "Kindle DX" support this platform, as does an iPhone application called "Kindle for iPhone".  Kindle users are able to download content over Amazon Whispernet using the Sprint EVDO network. Kindle hardware devices can be used without a computer, and Whispernet is accessible without any fee. These devices also provide free access to the internet. The Kindle is only available in the USA for a price at the time of writing, of approximately $299.  Source: Wikpedia

One of the attractions of the Kindle is that it allows you to download up to 4GB! You no longer have to carry bulky hardcovers or paperbacks in your luggage. Download the book you've been dying to read. Catch up with Structured Settlements 4Real at the beach, cabin, boat or other "favorite reading place"!

Irrespective of this new additional medium for delivery, this blog will continue to be available for free to non Kindle users with Internet access, and to subscribers.

Photo acknowledgment: Shakata GaNai

Posted at 03:12 PM in 4structures.com, LLC, Amazon Kindle, News About Structured Settlements, Settlement Planning, Settlement Planning Issues, Structured Settlement Blog, Structured Settlement Industry News, Structured Settlement Information, Structured Settlement Watchdog®, Structured Settlements, Structured Settlements 4Real® Blog, Tips For Judges | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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August 28, 2009

Structured Settlement Blog Experiences Dramatic Traffic Increase

Now with over 2,025 posts, the Structured Settlements 4Real blog  is experiencing a significant increase in quality traffic.

  1. Over the past 3 months the average time spent by readers on this blog is 14.5 minutes, with a 1 month average of 23.5 minutes.
  2. The average user views 7.4 pages of this blog, with a 1 month average of 12 pages.  Source: Alexa 8/27/2009

The Structured Settlements 4Real  blog is written by John D. Darer, CLU ChFC CSSC RSP of 4structures.com, LLC  Stamford, CT. Fresh content is added to the blog virtually every business day.

The primary focus of the Structured Settlements 4Real blog is:

  1. Structured settlement information
  2. Structured settlement news
  3. Settlement planning news and information
  4. Litigation recovery management news and information
  5. Financial news and information that, in author's opinion, may affect our readers, people they know, or people they serve
  6. Helping to improve financial literacy
  7. Correcting misinformation about structured settlements regardless of the source.
  8. Provocative commentary and opinion about structured settlements, settlement planning information, settlement planning issues and recovery management.
  9. Critical commentary concerning settlement industry and factoring industry business practices
  10. A vehicle which functions as a de facto industry watchdog.

Subscribe to Structured Settlements 4Real using by clicking the link at the top left of the page. 

Posted at 10:18 AM in Financial Literacy, News About Structured Settlements, Structured Settlement Blog, Structured Settlement Information, Structured Settlement Watchdog®, Structured Settlements, Structured Settlements Industry, Why I Do What I Do | | Comments (0)

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Guide to Structured Settlements 2024

  • 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 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].
  • Top Structured Settlement Annuity Companies 2024
    Which life insurance companies issue structured settlement annuities in 2024? 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. Last updated June 14, 2024
  • 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 2024
    Ways You Can Structure Your Settlement Payments in 2024. 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 Attorney 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 capped or uncapped index linked structured settlement annuities where payments are adjusted based on upside changes in the S&P 500 or another index, 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 in 2024.
  • 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), oran annuity issuer has changed its name and you're trying to track them down. Here you go! The list is regularly updated. Last updated May 20, 2024.
  • 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
  • Structured Settlements and Longevity Risk| What Are the Odds?
    Do your financial resources give you enough road, or will the road run out before you do? A structured settlement annuity helps mitigate the risk of outliving your savings, no matter how long you live. A structured settlement can include one or more customized payment streams and types.

Qualified Settlement Funds

  • What is a Qualified Settlement Fund?
    Qualified Settlement Funds | What You Need to Know
  • 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.

Contact Structured Settlement Expert John Darer®

About The Structured Settlement Blog

  • Subscribe to John Darer's Blog | Here's How!
    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, Information and Commentary, John Darer Reviews, Settlement Planning News and Financial Solutions for over 18 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 41 years financial services experience and 31 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 July 10, 2024

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Structured Settlements 4Real Reader Comments

  • "I'm with ***** Settlement Funding and appreciate your TRUTHFUL information"
    Structured Settlement Factoring Company representative on LinkedIn, January 26, 2024
  • "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? 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) visit 4structures® Structured Settlement 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, or from outside the USA.
  • 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 blog, providing information, commentary and opinion since 2005 with over 5,420 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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Tax Deferral Resources | Defer Taxable Settlement

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