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 […]

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 ineligible for needs-based government benefits, while entitlement benefits remain intact. When it comes to disability benefits, which is which—and how can a claimant protect their eligibility? SSDI vs. SSI: […]

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 individual anticipates accepting proceeds from an injury settlement, certain steps must be taken to help the claimant maintain eligibility for needs-based government benefits (e.g., Medi-Cal, SSI) and preserve their […]

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 protect claimants’ long-term financial security. While we believe that structures are a valuable financial option for most personal injury settlements, not all cases will be the right fit for […]

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 help the disabled individual maintain benefit eligibility while protecting their assets. The trustee of the special needs trust (e.g. a parent/guardian or a corporate trustee) is in charge […]