What is a Structured Settlement?

A structured settlement is an alternative method of compensation in personal injury, physical injury, wrongful death or workers compensation cases. Instead of accepting an all-cash settlement, clients who choose a structured settlement can receive a cash portion of the settlement now and periodic payments made through a Structured Settlement Annuity.

Structured Settlements are particularly appropriate in cases involving:

• Temporary or permanent disability
• Claimants who have limited investment or financial management skills
• Guardianship of minors or persons with diminished mental capacity
• Wrongful death particularly when the surviving spouse and/or children need monthly or annual income
• Severe injury, especially those that result in shortened life expectancy; and
• Cases where future needs can be decided today.

Over time, a structured settlement ensures significant tax savings and maximizes the value of your proceeds. You’re free from market risk and fluctuations and from individual investment failure. And, with a lifetime guarantee feature, you’ll never outlive your payments. It is simply not possible to get the same safe return from a taxable investment, and unlike ordinary investments, no administrative fees are attached.

Structured Settlement Plans Tailored to your Immediate
and Long-Term Needs

A structured settlement can be beneficial for claimants needing income for basic living needs, future college funds, medical expenses, retirement assistance and long-term financial security. We’ll carefully design and time your annuity payments to meet your needs now and decades from now.

Structured settlements are virtually risk-free and are funded through highly rated multi-billion dollar life insurance companies. We’ll provide you with illustrations showing the cost to purchase the structure, the estimated payout over the lifetime of the individual, and the guaranteed payout.

Claimants with Special Needs

There’s simply no room for guesswork when so much is at stake.
Structured settlements can also be useful when dealing with claimants who have special needs.

• Significant, ongoing medical expenses
• Rehabilitation or permanent care facility expenses
• College tuition, retirement income, the down payment on a home or a mortgage payment
• Replacement of monthly income, annual income or supplemental income
• Workers compensation
• Personal injury

In cases of catastrophic injury, a Life Care Plan helps us to assess circumstances today and in the coming years ahead. For example, should a client need 40 hours of attendant care per week for 15 years, and then 60 hours per week thereafter for life, the annuity payments can be tailored to this need.

Even cases that involve tax exposure – environmental pollution liability, and property loss claims – can benefit from a tax-deferred structured settlement approach.

Providing the best quality of life requires informed decisions

When we consult with a client whose needs are unpredictable, we may recommend combining a trust with a structure for added liquidity and flexibility.  We work with special needs, disability, and probate and guardian attorneys to help enhance the quality of life for the injured client and their family. Our comprehensive resources include researching government benefits, including Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, for which our clients are eligible.
We can also recommend an estate attorney to help you develop effective estate plans that protect your assets.

Building upon decades of experience with financial management, we know how to match a client’s needs with the products and services that will be the most beneficial over time. With Pressman Settlements on your side, you will have the answers.