The Federal Reserve has raised short-term interest rates at a quickening pace since the financial crisis and has signaled that more increases are in the works. Plaintiffs considering a structured settlement may be concerned they will miss future higher investment returns on their settlement funds as the result of increasingly higher interest rates if they lock in a structured annuity today.
Structured settlements are often created for injured individuals to be sure they will not outlive their money. But what happens when claimants are injured in their 60s, 70s or beyond? Do structured settlements still make sense? In many cases, yes.
When a case resolves, attorneys have a decision to make:what to do with the fees owed to them.Successfully negotiating a settlement or winning a case on behalf of an injured client is one of the most satisfying aspects of the legal profession. While savoring the victory, attorneys have a decision to make: what to do
Nobel Prize-winning economists and sudden cash payouts - you would think they would know how to invest their award windfall. According to this MarketWatch article, some of these economists have "fizzled away" much of their winnings.
Are you concerned that you may not completely understand Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) and how they can be used with government benefits? Have you ever tried to explain SNTs to clients only to wonder if they fully comprehend all the details and procedures? SNTs can be very complicated. CPT Special Needs Trusts, a non-profit trustee
You’ve just won a big case for your client and you are anticipating a sizable fee for your good work. The question becomes: how do you best manage this income? If you are like most attorneys, the temptation is to add it to the firm’s bank account and think about what to do with it
Despite tepid inflation, the Federal Reserve raised the short-term lending rate by a quarter-percentage point on June 14, the third increase in just six months. The Fed indicated that one more rate increase is on its way this year. Here’s a good analysis from Bloomberg Markets of what lies ahead.
With structured settlements, timing is everything. Wait until a settlement agreement is signed, and the opportunity is off the table. Here’s a simple structured settlement timeline. Settlement Negotiations: During settlement negotiations, plaintiff and defendant attorneys estimate such costs as the injured party’s ongoing medical care and living and family needs (i.e., possible future medical treatment,
By far, the most complicated aspect of a structured settlement involves Medicare-Set-Asides (MSAs). Atlas Settlement Group has compiled answers to a list of MSA questions frequently asked by clients. These 12 questions and answers provide a clear understanding of MSAs. They start with the basic "Why are MSAs necessary?" "The purpose of the Medicare Set-Aside
Last year, MetLife introduced its new Periodic Payment Agreement (PPA). The PPA is a non-qualified product that enables the transfer of future periodic payments from physical injury cases that currently do not qualify under IRC Section 130, such as pre-1997 workers compensation settlements and the settlements of disability coverage disputes. The transfer is made to
