Blog

ABLE Accounts: The Direct Funding Debate

ABLE Accounts: The Direct Funding Debate Without more specific legal authority, many plaintiff attorneys, special needs attorneys and settlement planning professionals may be unwilling to recommend direct funding of ABLE accounts with structured settlements because of the risk their disabled client might lose his or her means-tested government benefits. In this article, we’ll explore the current arguments for and...

Are ABLE Accounts a Growth Opportunity for Structured Settlements

Are ABLE Accounts a Growth Opportunity for Structured Settlements The ABLE Act together with the state ABLE programs now offer settlement and judgment payees an important new solution (ABLE Accounts) for saving and accumulating money while preserving eligibility for needs-based government benefits and allowing direct access by the owner/beneficiary. Structured settlement annuities appear to represent an ideal funding...

What is the ABLE Act?

What is the ABLE Act? Known as the “Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014,” the ABLE Act, which created IRC Section 529A, was signed into law with bipartisan political support. It’s stated intent: “(1) To encourage and assist individuals and families in saving private funds for the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities to maintain...

Independent Life Now Offering Non-Qualified Structured Settlements

Independent Life Now Offering Non-Qualified Structured Settlements DALLAS – (April 15, 2019) – Independent Life Insurance Company (Independent Life), the first annuity provider to focus solely on the structured settlement market, is delivering on its promise to introduce innovative solutions to the marketplace. The Texas-based company announced it will now offer annuities for non-qualified structured settlements to fill a gap...

Say Hello to our New NSSTA Committee Members!

Say Hello to our New NSSTA Committee Members! Since 1985, the National Structured Settlements Trade Association has been the leading voice of the structured settlement industry. Independent Life recognizes the impact NSSTA has on our industry and as new members, we are excited to contribute to and help further the NSSTA mission “to promote the establishment and preservation of structured...

Introducing the Payee Protection Policy

Introducing the Payee Protection Policy Independent Life is proud to introduce the structured settlement industry’s first Payee Protection Policy. This new offering is directly in line with our company’s mission to provide trustworthy, competitive and innovative annuity products that professional structured settlement consultants can easily integrate with other financial products and governmental benefits to produce...

CMS WCMSA Reference Guide Version 2-9

CMS WCMSA Reference Guide Version 2-9 Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangements (WCMSAs) have become an important submarket for structured settlement annuities. Arguably, the primary reason has been a significant cost advantage CMS has provided for structured settlement annuities (perhaps unintentionally) compared with lump sums. The basis for the cost advantage CMS has provided to structured settlement annuities results from the...