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April 16, 2020

Avoiding Problems with Structured Settlements

HOW TO PRESERVE A STRUCTURED SETTLEMENT AS AN OPTION FOR YOUR CLIENT After years of litigation and contentious back-and-forth negotiations, you’ve finally resolved your client’s case. […]
November 18, 2019

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 […]
October 21, 2019

Providing Additional Income for Clients Who Are Unable to Work

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
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Protecting Your Claimant From Market Volatility

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

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

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

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

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
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Tax-Deferred Attorney Fees: Plan Your Strategy Now

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?

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

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®

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

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

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.  […]
May 21, 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 millions of dollars. From a risk […]
April 13, 2018

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 […]
March 29, 2018

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 […]
March 19, 2018

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 […]
March 9, 2018

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, […]
January 22, 2018

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 […]
January 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 proceeds. While some may believe that a lump […]
January 12, 2018

Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Assignments: What Do They Mean for Settlement Proceeds?

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

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 […]
December 5, 2017

Answers to Your Top Attorney Fee Deferral Questions

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 […]
October 27, 2017

Is it Wise to Structure Non-Injury Settlements?

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

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 […]
October 13, 2017

Does a Settlement Impact Disability Benefits?

  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

What is a Pooled Special Needs Trust- and is it the Right Option for Your Client?

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

The New Liability MSA Policy: What You Need to Know

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 […]
July 31, 2017

Is a Settlement Planner Necessary When Your Client Doesn’t Want to Structure?

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

Which Government Benefits are Affected by a Settlement—and Which Ones Aren’t?

  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

Are Factoring Companies Reaching Your Clients With This New Approach?

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

Don’t Believe Everything You Read About Structured Settlements

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

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 can be overwhelming. Even if the influx of money is the result of positive circumstances, […]
May 30, 2017

Can A Structured Settlement Benefit Claimants of All Ages?

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

Using Structured Settlements to Resolve Workers’ Compensation Claims

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 11, 2017

What Goods and Services Are Eligible for Special Needs Trust Distributions?

Disabled individuals who receive needs-based government benefits run the risk of losing eligibility if they accept a lump sum settlement. Fortunately, a special needs trust (SNT) […]
May 4, 2017

What Questions Should You Be Asking Your Client During Settlement?

  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

Are Structured Settlement Annuities Still Worth It?

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

Attorneys: Are You Minimizing Your Tax Obligations?

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

Using Rated Ages to Maximize Structured Settlement Annuity Payouts

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

Did You Just Jeopardize Your Client’s Settlement?

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

What Types of Cases Can Benefit From a Non-Qualified Settlement?

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

Annuities and Structured Settlements: What’s the Difference?

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

Settlement Planning: A Case Study

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

Back to the Basics of Structured Settlements

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

Settlement Planner Spotlight: Traci Kaas, CSSC, CeFT

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

A Quick Guide to Determining Case Value

  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

Your Client Says “I Accept” But Your Work Is Not Done

“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

5 Tips for Improving Client Satisfaction in 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 […]
December 6, 2016

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE SETTLEMENT Traci Kaas!