Blog

Let’s Talk About Factoring

About Factoring Continuing a series of articles previewing selected topics at the upcoming Society of Settlement Planners’ (SSP’s) virtual 2021 Annual Conference, which has already addressed “product suitability” and “mass torts”, this article asks: “Is it possible to avoid predatory practices in the Secondary Structured Settlement market? And if so how?” Despite the enactment of IRC Section 5891 and Structured Settlement Protection Acts in 49...

Independent Insurance Group LLC Announces New Signing

New Signing JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Independent Insurance Group LLC (“Independent Group”) announced today the signing of a definitive agreement for an investment by Kilter Finance, an insurance-focused specialty finance company backed by KKR. Launched in 2018, Independent Group is the parent of Independent Life Insurance Company (“Independent Life”), the first insurance carrier to focus exclusively...

Let’s Talk About: Mass Torts and Structured Settlements

Upon reviewing the agenda for the Society of Settlement Planners (SSP) 2021 Annual Conference there is one session that falls outside the normal industry curriculum: Ryan Garrison’s Breakout Session titled “Demystifying the Mass Tort Market: an Attorney’s Perspective of Planner Value.” Although both SSP and the National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) may have previously addressed mass tort tangentially, the mass tort topic...

Independent Insurance Group LLC acquires Sterling National Life

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Independent Insurance Group LLC (“Independent Group”) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sterling National Life Insurance Company (“Sterling National”) from SILAC Insurance Company (“SILAC”). Independent Life Insurance Company (“Independent Life”), Independent Group’s life and annuity subsidiary, is focused on the primary issuance of structured settlement...

Let’s Talk About: Suitability and Settlement Planning

The Society of Settlement Planners (SSP) will host its virtual 2021 Annual Conference for February 23-25 and has already announced the session topics and most of the speakers. One session which should provoke considerable discussion is titled “Suitability and Settlement Planning.” It appears to reference language in SSP’s Practice Standard #9 within the Settlement Planning Practice Standards (Practice Standards)...

IRS Publishes Final ABLE Regulations (Part 2)

Since The ABLE Act created IRC 529A in 2014, 49 states have passed legislation to implement ABLE and ABLE accounts have become popular financial and settlement planning tools for qualifying disabled individuals. Although the statutory foundation for ABLE programs and ABLE accounts exists within the Internal Revenue Code, ABLE account benefits encompass both income tax and social security related advantages.   ABLE Account...

IRS Publishes Final ABLE Regulations

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has published final regulations that provide guidance regarding programs under the Stephen Beck, Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014.The ABLE Act added IRC Section 529A to the Internal Revenue Code which was enacted as part of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. Section 529A provides rules under which states or state...