Readers of Structured Settlements 4Real can now qualify for discounts on legal texts from Aspen Publishers. Discounts are available through 12/31/2009. Simply scroll down and follow the appropriate link at the bottom of the left column of this blog. Read Full Story

Speaking of structured settlements, The National Law Journal's Amanda Bronstad reports "in a sign of the economic times, value of structured settlements jumps 25%". Citing Structured Financial Associates stats, Bronstad refers to the total value of structured settlements and a "total dollar value" of nearly $1.8 billion.The use of the words "value" and "total dollar value" in this context is highly misleading. Is "value" meant to refer to ... Read Full Story

Who didn't sneak a peek at the poorly hidden tome at the top of their parents' bookshelf at pubescence to learn "Everything That You Need To Know About Sex... But Were Afraid to Ask"?On the topic of masturbation, author Doug Taylor (the registrant of understandingstructuredsettlement.com)  in "Everything You Need To Know About Structured Settlement" gives us the literary "rub and tug" that he "has expertly covered the “Structured Settlement” topic wi... Read Full Story

Douglas Petrie of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey has outdone himself with this howler website from Via Trust Inc aboutFinding The Right (Structured Settlement) Broker "Selling the settlement may seem very tempting and you may think about finding a good purchaser structured settlement. If you need expert guidance and wish to sell in a hassle free manner you may do so by hiring an experienced structured settlement broker. He has to be registered with the Department of Justice and has to be ... Read Full Story

On January 3, 2009 I posted Truth In Structured Settlement Advertising, SSP is Not a Professional Designation, after discovering that a veteran member of the profession was holding a trade association that he/she was not on record as being a member of as a professional designation on a company website. Two and one half months later Michelle Pardue of Settlement Professionals, Inc. Houston, Texas office, is still listed on the Settlement Professionals website as Michelle Pardue, CSSC SSP. She ... Read Full Story

I am going to go out on a limb with this one because I, for one, want to know how many structured annuity issuers really give a crap about plaintiffs? One can read the brochures, look at the web sites and the marketing hype, but... Are you angry at me for posing this seemingly outrageous question yet friends? GOOD.The Halpern Group,  an undisputed friend of plaintiffs, has strong anti-assignment language in the qualified assignment agreements for its United States Treasury Bond Structured Set... Read Full Story

While the Recent Appellate decisions in the Tomahawk and Ramos cases in Fresno County California represent a victory of sorts for J.G. Wentworth, in that California is not sinking into the sea as feared, Patrick Hindert ruins his own commentary with his presentation of "The Bigger Picture"Hindert's "Bigger Picture" Final results for the Fresno County factoring cases are still to be determined. TRUE The primary and secondary structured settlement markets both face un... Read Full Story

According to Beacon Research Fixed Annuity Premium study of 53 insurance companies representing 86% of the market, U.S. sales of fixed annuities were up 60% in 2008. Surprisingly in the 4th quarter of 2008, at the height the financial crisis and bad press, in which a number of large insurers were downgraded by rating agencies, Q4 results were estimated at 90% above Q42007 and 23% higher than Q3 2008. Beacon reports that fixed annuity sales were the strongest since they began the study in 2003... Read Full Story

Patrick Hindert's "One Step Beyond" blog reference to the protagonists of the 3rd Circuit bitch slap of Rapid Settlements as "All State" appears to be no clerical error. "Hedwig" has even created a separate category on the blog for All State. "Hedwig" underestimates the intelligence of his readers including the morbidly curious who know damn well it's Allstate Life Insurance Company and its legal team  who earned the right to get in Stewie Feldm... Read Full Story

Apparently two wrongs don't make a right unless it comes out of the factoring industry. On the Legal Broadcast Network Matt Bracy, the general counsel for Settlement Capital of Dallas, TX  is interviewed by Mark Wahlstrom on the topic of misleading and obnoxious cash now pusher advertising. In the video broadcast Bracy "turns the guns back on the structured settlement industry" by contending that because the structured settlement industry fails to inform plaintiffs and annuitan... Read Full Story