Using a Structured Settlement Annuity instead of a Health Savings Account
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 high-deductible health care plan. This option allows individuals to pay for out-of-pocket medical costs with their pre-tax earnings. What you may not know is that structured settlement annuities for […]
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 Wrongful Death
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. What about non-physical injury settlements when the proceeds are taxable? There are several financial products that offer a variety of benefits for non-physical injury settlements and attorney fee deferrals, […]
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 millions of dollars. From a risk management standpoint, it is wise to ensure that all possible options for settlement distribution as well as the implications of a plaintiff accepting a cash settlement are examined up […]
Settlement Options for Minors: Case Examples
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 until the minor reaches the age of majority. Because a minor cannot own an investment, traditional financial vehicles such as 529 plans and mutual fund accounts are off the […]
Vote for TSAW as California’s #1 Structured Settlement Provider!
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 are committed to providing plaintiff attorneys and injured claimants with the legal industry’s most comprehensive settlement planning services. If you are an attorney, paralegal, or judge in California, please […]
Stay Informed: MSAs for Liability and Workers’ Comp Cases
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 article discusses the current status of the Liability Medicare Set-Aside process and offers insight into existing Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside procedures. Current Status of Liability Medicare Set-Asides In 2017, […]
Is a First Party Special Needs Trust Right for Your Client?
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, and help ensure that their needs are being met. A First-Party Special Needs Trust (sometimes referred to as a “d4A trust,” as a nod to the section of federal […]
Are You Failing to Retain your Own Settlement Planning Expert?
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 solely on a defense broker engaged by the liability insurer or self-insured defendant. Most defense brokers have alliances with the liability insurer, meaning they have a conflict of interest […]
The Top 5 Reasons to Consider a Structured Settlement
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 than most people have handled at one time and in many cases, the claimant may not know what to do with it. It is important to work with a […]
Can Structured Settlements Stand Up Against Traditional Investments?
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 reality, rates of return on structured settlements are very much in line with rates offered by other fixed income investments. Structured settlements produce returns that are net of income […]