November 18, 2019
With open enrollment happening, millions of Americans are weighing their 2020 health insurance options. Some employers offer a Health Savings Account (HSA) in conjunction with a […]
October 21, 2019
Few life events are more destabilizing than losing the ability to work. Employment often bestows a sense of pride, a mental challenge, and perhaps most importantly, […]
September 12, 2019
When a claimant is about to receive a settlement, the overriding concern is to make sure the money provides for their needs as long as possible […]
August 20, 2019
Earn Tax-Advantaged Supplemental Income Without Lifting a Finger You know that a successful legal career doesn’t necessarily equal a predictable paycheck. Case volume ebbs and flows, […]
June 25, 2019
How to Help Clients Preserve Settlement Funds For Future Medical Needs Success at the mediation table doesn’t always mean a claimant’s financial worries are over. In […]
May 20, 2019
Top Three Reasons Your Firm Benefits By Engaging a Settlement Professional Reason #1: Specialized Knowledge Settlement consultants are well-educated on a variety of topics. Their training […]
April 23, 2019
Settlement Scenarios You May Encounter An unexpected death launches the survivors into an extended period of trauma and uncertainty. When it’s a wrongful death, your clients […]
March 19, 2019
Tax-Deferred Attorney Fees: Plan Your Strategy Now You know your structured settlement consultant already works hard for your clients. Why not put her to work for […]
November 19, 2018
Lump Sum vs. Structured Settlement: What’s the Better Choice? Claimants involved in personal injury, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation cases have multiple options for handling their […]
November 19, 2018
How to Reap Long-Term Financial Benefits in a Taxable Damages Case: The Latest Options for Settlements Outside of the Realm of Physical Injury, Physical Sickness, or […]
November 19, 2018
What is a Certified Financial Transitionist®- and How Can Your Clients Benefit from Using One? When an individual suddenly receives a large sum of money, it […]
November 19, 2018
Providing for a Disabled Claimant’s Future The cost of a client losing government benefits can be very high, often in the hundreds of thousands or even […]
June 17, 2018
Most attorneys know that when it comes to physical injury settlements, traditional financial vehicles such as structured settlements are available to help preserve a client’s recovery. […]
May 21, 2018
The cost of a client losing government benefits can be very high, often in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. From a risk […]
April 13, 2018
When handling a minor’s case, contact Traci Kaas early in the process to explore the settlement options. Courts favor a conservative approach that protects the funds […]
March 29, 2018
The Settlement Alliance-WEST is proud to announce that we have been nominated as the Best Structured Settlement Provider in California. With offices throughout the state, we […]
March 19, 2018
Medicare Set-Asides serve as a glaring reminder that the legal sector must remain vigilant in its awareness and understanding of evolving government benefit guidelines. The following […]
March 9, 2018
Disabled individuals who expect to receive settlement proceeds may need to consider placing the proceeds into a trust account to preserve assets, protect government benefit eligibility, […]
January 22, 2018
When it comes to settlement, each side should engage their own experts. The claimant is entitled to representation by a plaintiff-loyal settlement professional, rather than relying […]
January 19, 2018
Claimants involved in personal injury, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation cases have multiple options for handling their proceeds. While some may believe that a lump […]
January 12, 2018
When it comes to placing settlement proceeds or attorney fees in an annuity, claimants and attorneys may find themselves confused about the tax implications associated with […]
December 29, 2017
It can be overwhelming to accept settlement proceeds as the result of a personal injury, workers’ compensation, or wrongful death case. The money is often more […]
December 5, 2017
As 2017 comes to an end, we’ve rounded up our most frequently asked questions about attorney fee deferrals. From choosing a payee to determining the tax […]
December 1, 2017
When settling a personal injury case, it is not uncommon for the claimant to have unclear expectations of the true impact that an injury will have […]
October 27, 2017
Structured settlements are typically associated with personal injury, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation settlements. The federal tax code permits income tax exclusion for structured settlements used […]
October 20, 2017
There is a gross misconception that structured settlements offer rates of return well below market standards, precluding them from serving as a viable settlement option. In […]
October 13, 2017
Disabled claimants may run into benefit issues when accepting proceeds from a personal injury settlement. The acceptance of a lump sum may render an individual […]
September 29, 2017
If you are an attorney working with a disabled claimant, you’ll want to bring in a settlement planner to review your client’s options. When a disabled […]
September 21, 2017
For years, plaintiff attorneys and settlement planning professionals have operated under a set of unclear assumptions when it came to liability settlements and future medicals for […]
September 6, 2017
Primary Office Location: San Francisco, CA What are three traits that define you? Dedicated, Compassionate and Easygoing Why did you choose to become a […]
July 31, 2017
A commonly held belief in the legal community is that settlement planners only provide structured settlement services. Unfortunately, that misconception can lead to missed opportunities to […]
June 26, 2017
Last week, the Senate unveiled its new version of the American Healthcare Act (AHCA). The proposed bill includes historically steep cuts to the Medicaid program. […]
June 22, 2017
You’re probably familiar with the television commercials inviting viewers to sell their structured settlements for “cash now.” Factoring companies like the ones you see on television […]
June 16, 2017
There is a wealth of information out there regarding structured settlement annuities. Much of it is informational, and with the help of a trusted advisor, claimants […]
June 7, 2017
When an individual suddenly receives a large sum of money, it can be overwhelming. Even if the influx of money is the result of positive circumstances, […]
May 30, 2017
Claimants who will be receiving settlement awards may have questions and concerns about their finances and the well-being of their families. Whether a claimant is just […]
May 19, 2017
If you have ever been injured on the job, you know how overwhelming it feels to try and replace your income while you and your family […]
May 4, 2017
When an attorney works with a personal injury or wrongful death claimant, the ultimate goal is generally to maximize the recovery for the claimant. While […]
April 26, 2017
When Congress enacted the Periodic Payment Settlement Tax Act of 1982, the Federal Tax Code was amended to provide special tax treatment for certain types of settlement […]
April 17, 2017
Today is the deadline to file 2016 tax returns and once again, you may have found yourself stuck with a large tax obligation. Every year, thousands […]
April 4, 2017
Structured settlement annuities are among the safest, most reliable financial options for claimants involved in personal injury cases. By placing settlement proceeds into a structured settlement […]
April 2, 2017
Your client has indicated that they want to structure a portion of their settlement, preferring the long-term financial stability that comes with a structured annuity. The […]
March 28, 2017
Structured settlements are a tool for claimants involved personal injury, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation cases. By structuring settlement proceeds into a series of periodic payments, […]
March 21, 2017
Many people hear the words “annuity” and “structured settlement” and assume they mean the same thing. While annuities and structured settlements do share a number of […]
March 13, 2017
Whether your client is a minor child, a working age adult, or an elderly claimant, a settlement planner can be a valuable addition to your team. […]
March 5, 2017
As you continue to provide the best service and dedication to your clients, it is impossible to know everything that could benefit your client’s ultimate recovery. […]
February 13, 2017
Primary Office Location: Orange County, California Why did you choose to become a settlement planner? I don’t think I chose to be a settlement planner as much […]
February 6, 2017
Taking on a new case can involve considerable time and money for a law firm. Depending on the complexity of the case, it can be […]
January 20, 2017
“Once you and your client have signed the settlement agreement, you’re done, right? Not even close. You still have a number of statutory and ethical matters […]
January 13, 2017
Whether you are a seasoned attorney or just starting out, you likely understand the importance of keeping a steady stream of satisfied clients. And sometimes […]