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 17th Year! Check back daily for something new.
In this video, structured settlement expert John Darer discusses some of the concepts related to New York CPLR Articles 50A and 50B, also known as the New York State Periodic Payment of Judgments Act. This video podcast and others are part of a continuing series intended to be helpful to New York lawyers handling serious personal injury and wrongfuldeath cases in counties throughout New York State. It's also important information for both defendants and plaintiffs who encounter Article CPLR 50A and CPLR 50B statutes, which require future damages over a certain dollar limit* to be paid to the plaintiff or claimant in the form of periodic payments. If you are a New York City or NYC metropolitan area based lawyer, plaintiff, defendant, or claims organization, you will want to know how these laws impact your case or settlement, and whether some factors help determine whether a plaintiff should compromise and settle their case or simply take a CPLR 50A or 50B judgment.
* since July 2003 medical malpractice cases. where damages are subject to Article 50A, a slightly more formulaic approach is used in determining how much must be in the form of periodic payments, but the gist is the same.
Yahoo Finance reports that the price to the tax payers of the bailouts and financial rescue of 2008 and 2009 continues to fall sharply. Incredibly the final net cost of the Troubled Asserts Relief Program (TARP) is estimated to be $50 Billion, according to the report.
There has been alot of misinformation out there and to the extent it has affected structured settlement sales it needs to be corrected. If you are in the structured settlement industry , or an attorney, or a plaintiff in a personal injury case reading this a post I suggest you read this articleand watch the video.
While AIG is characterized as a huge wild card , having received more than $180 billion in support from Treasury and the Federal Reserve, including $69 billion in TARP funds, the company has a plan to extricate itself from Treasury and The Federal Reserve. As published last week in the media, the plan involves converting preferred shares owned by Treasury into common stock, which would then be sold piece by piece over several years, but less than the 5 to 8 years estimated in 2009. To underscore that Treasury is optimistic the plan will succeed, Treasury secretary Timothy Geitrner said ""The returns we'll get from our investments in banks and AIG will be more than enough to cover the money we'll lose in autos"
What happens after they have won a medical malpractice (or other liability) verdict in courts in the State of New York?
Gerry Oginski, a New York City area medical malpractice attorney, has released a useful video podcast on the above subject As Oginski points out, when a verdict is rendered by a jury, the defendant (or his/her/its insurer) doesn't simply write out a check. Oginski takes the viewer through the post trial motion and appellate process.
Although not mentioned directly on Oginski's video, it is important to point out that medical malpractice or liability awards in the State of New York are subject to the statutory requirements for a structured judgment. The structured judgment requirements provide that future damages in excess of a statutory threshold be paid periodically (i.e. over time). If you are fortunate enough to have a sufficiently large sustained verdict, ultimately the defendant (or its insurer) will be required to purchase (and guarantee) an annuity to fund the "excess" future portion of the damages in the judgment that is paid to you. The form of annuity for payment of the "excess" future damages other than lost earnings, is in the form of a temporary life annuity. A temporary life annuity pays over a fixed period of time or your lifetime, whichever is sooner.
In addition to the post trial issues raised by Oginski, a complex series of calculations must be performed in order to finalize a judgment in New York. The statutory requirements, which have been in effect since the mid 1980s are set forth in Article 50A (CPLR 5031-5039) for medical, dental and podiatric malpractice cases and Article 50B (CPLR 5041-5049) for other liability cases. The two articles were substantially similar until 2003 when Article 50A was amended. The calculations and proposed judgment are presented to a judge in a post trial hearing outside of the ears of the jury that rendered the verdict.
The manner in which such calculations are performed can also be a matter of dispute and may create additional appellate issues than those raised in the video. Generally experts in structured judgment calculations under New York CPLR Articles 50A and 50B are retained by the counsel for both sides. Providers of such services include certain economists, structured settlement consultants and settlement planners, although there are only a few structured settlement consultants (including this author) who have the experience working on such cases to have comprehensive knowledge on the subject. It is not simply the matter of calculating the cost of an annuity.
A significant issue for a plaintiff with large recovery is that a structured judgment does not offer the same customization as a structured settlement, and comes with the risk that the non guaranteed portion of the recovery could evaporate in the event the plaintiff dies prior to the end of the defined life contingent period. Careful attention must be paid to assessment of this risk, particularly where there is a spouse, children and/or other dependents. If the plaintiff is insurable the risk can be mitigated through the purchase of a life insurance policy. If the plaintiff is uninsurable based on medical history then the possibility of a settlement in lieu of judgment should be vetted carefully.
A structured judgment also exposes the plaintiff to the credit risk of the defendant, or its insurer.
If you have questions concerning New York Article 50A or 50B, the associated risks discussed here, or other settlement planning and lawsuit recovery issues please contact John Darer at 888-325-8640 or 646-849-1588.
Structured settlements funded with an annuity issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (USA) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York will now offer a security interest consistent with, and within the meaning of Section 130 of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC").
IRC 130(c)(2) states "the determination for purposes of this chapter of when the
recipient is treated as having received any payment with respect to which there
has been a qualified assignment shall be made without regard to any provision of
such assignment which grants the recipient rights as a creditor greater than
those of a general creditor".(emphasis added)
Benefit of secured creditor
Not only is the right to some form of property of benefit to assuring
repayment
to the securedcreditor, but it often
guarantees
some other rights. One of the major rights that many lenders get is the
right to
property first, before unsecured creditors get to make any
claim.
The terms of the security interest is set forth in a settlement document called the Qualified Assignment Release and Pledge. In essence the annuity contract is delivered to the payee as a form of collateral. In such cases you will see a stamp placed on the front of the annuity contract. The John Hancock language appears below but it is substantially similar to the pledge offered by many other qualified assignment companies offering structured settlements.
"NOTICE: This contract has been delivered to the possession of Claimant for the sole purpose of perfecting a security interest of such person in this contract. Claimant is not the Owner of, and has no ownership rights in, this contract and shall have no right or power to (i) accelerate, defer, increase or decrease any payments due hereunder; (ii) anticipate, sell or absolutely assign, or encumber by any means, regardless of form, any right to receive payments from Assignee, both directly and through its security interest in this contract; or (iii) pledge, collaterally assign, grant any security interest in, or otherwise use any right to receive such payments or security interest in this contract as any form of collateral. Any attempt to transfer this security interest will be void. For more information, please contact the annuity issuer. The Claimant’s exercise of the security interest in this Contract may have tax consequences; consult a tax advisor.
NOTES
It should be noted that IRC 130 is a tax code section referring to a tax exclusion that applies to qualified assignment companies. Commonly part of the structured settlement process today, a qualified assignment enables the defendant or its insurer to remove a long term payment obligation from its books and get a tax deduction, while at the same time helping the plaintiff because they do not have be exposed to any long term credit risk of the defendant or its insurer.
A qualified assignment company is generally a special purpose company that exists to facilitate structured settlement transactions. These companies charge modest fees ranging from $250 to $750 for taking on the assignment. Without the tax exclusion afforded under IRC 130 they would not be able to operate profitably and neither the Defendant, its insurer or plaintiff would be able to benefit.
The security interest discussed here only applies to structured
settlements where there is a qualified assignment.
Although the tax status of income received by a qualified assignee where there is a security interest has been codified since 1988, not all structured annuity issuers offer a security interest. Of the primary structured annuity issuers, the assignment companies of New York Life and Liberty Life Assurance of Boston do not offer a security interest.
In some states there may be extra steps needed to perfect a security interest.
Some companies offer a security interest and a wrap around guarantee from the annuity issuer or other upstream company. One offers a security interest but no secondary guarantee.
Despite the over the top scaremongering used by certain settlement planners to get business , a leading New York plaintiff lawyer suggests that structured settlements may be a "win win" that enables an otherwise impossible settlement"
InProtecting the Catastrophically injured Plaintiff's Recovery, Michael W. Kessler, Esq. states:
"Although a structure cannot "turn water into wine", shifting certain risks to annuity issuers can sometimes create an opportunity in which the plaintiff gets more than he or she would get under a 50-A or 50-B judgment AND still enable the Defendant to pay less than it would otherwise be obligated to pay. This can make it a win win for both sides".
Article 50A of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) is New York's periodic payment of judgments statute dealing with periodic payment of damages on medical, dental or pediatric malpractice cases.
Article 50B of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) is New York's periodic payment of judgments statute dealing with payment of damages on personal injury, injury to property and wrongful death actions.
Question: "I have a structured settlement from an accident settlement that says, " years certain and life", or "lump sum certain". What does that mean?"
Answer:
Years Certain or Period Certain with structured settlement annuity, simply means the number of years that the structured settlement payments will be paid regardless of whether or not the payee of the structured settlement annuity (or retirement annuity) survives the entire payment schedule.
In some cases, the number of years certain is referred to as the number of years guaranteed although such usage may be misleading because when there is a years certain and life the payee is guaranteed to receive payments for the rest of his or her life.
A 2017 legal decision examines the use of "guarantee" in settlement documents from another angle. In a lawsuit against the United States arising from the ELNY shortfall, plaintiffs argued (unsuccessfully) that a period certain period, referred to as a guaranteed period, meant the United States guaranteed the payments when the document expressly said they didn't.
John Hancock has announced organizational changes pending regulatory approval
Pending regulatory approval, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (“JHLICO”, which issues structured settlement annuities (and guarantees the payment of periodic payment obligations assigned to John Hancock Assignment) is to be merged into John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (“JHUSA”). As a result, John Hancock is to withdraw JHLICO’s license to do business in New York.
Under the withdrawal plan approved by the New York Insurance Department, JHUSA will then assume direct responsibility for the payment of all claims and benefits, and for all other policy obligations, under in force policies, certificates, or contracts. Servicing will continue without interruption.
All new insurance policies and annuity contracts in New York will be issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York or John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company.
A few bullet points from the John Hancock Q&A
Not final yet. It is pending regulatory approval.
The withdrawal and realignment is taking place in sequel to the Manulife Financial Corporation acquisition of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. in 2004. Despite the integration having been successful, as is often the case in combining large organizations, John Hancock now has an excess of legal entities. As a result, this measure is part of the process of streamlining these entities to better position the company for future growth.
We expect the withdrawal and realignment will become effective at the end of the day on December 31, 2009 and your policy, certificate, or contract to be endorsed effective at that time to show John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) as the insurer
Useful reference pieces
New York John Hancock Questions and Answers on Merger
What Does the Qualified Assignment Have to Do With Structured Settlement Secured Creditor?
A. Prior to the inception of Internal Revenue Code Section 130 (IRC 130)
Parties to a structured settlement would settle a case. As part of the consideration paid by the defendant (in exchange for a release), a promise to make future periodic payments was made. The defendant, or its insurer, would typically fund the obligation with a structured settlement annuity.
The annuity would be owned by the defendant, or insurer, and the plaintiff would be no more than a general creditor of the defendant or insurer. The plaintiff was exposed to credit risk that the insurer or defendant holding the periodic payment obligation (and the annuity) would run into difficulty. The possibility existed that a defendant could be in financial jeopardy long after the settlement concluded and that the general creditors of the defendant or insurer could go after the structured annuity which was being carried as an asset on its books.
B. Creation of IRC 130
IRC 130 was created as a result of the Periodic Payment Settlement Act of 1982, enabling the option for the periodic payment obligation to be transferred to a third party "qualified assignment company". A qualified assignment then served two purposes. For the the plaintiff it essentially eliminated the exposure to the credit quality of the defendant or its insurer. For the defendant the "novation" of the claim meant balance sheet relief and a tax write off.
Yet at that time (1983-1988). the structured settlement payee was still a general creditor, only that time of the qualified assignment company.
C. Amendment to IRC 130/ Introduction of Qualified Assignment Release and Pledge Agreement
In 1988, IRC 130 was amended to include language at IRC 130(c) (1)(d) that effectively extended the benefit of IRC 130 to cases where the qualified assignment granted status greater than that of general creditor (i.e. "secured creditor"). Through the use of the so called Qualified Assignment Release and Pledge the path to being a secured party to the qualified funding asset begins. Typically the language in in the QARP will provide for the assignee-debtor to grant " a lien on and security interest in" in the qualified funding asset. The original annuity contract is delivered to the secured party with, among other things, a stamp to that effect. It is important to note that in some states there may be a need for Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filing. Check with your attorney.
Please refer to the following flow chart which details the typical annuity funded structured settlement transaction. Structured settlements may also be funded with United States Treasury Obligations.
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
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 updated July 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.
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 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 investigative journalist and commentator, and professionally, John 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.
If you would like to speak with John he can be reached at (888)325-8640
Thank you for reading!
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.
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