Introduction What happens when a six-figure lump sum disappears within months, and a client returns, destitute, asking for help? Structured settlements were developed in part to prevent precisely these outcomes, but only if they are meaningfully considered at the time of resolution. For plaintiff attorneys, structured settlements are not a niche financial product or a...
I. Introduction As the IRS’s attorney fee deferral enforcement campaign gathers national attention, legal and tax professionals are revisiting the foundations of fee deferral jurisprudence. At the heart of this discussion stands Childs v. Commissioner, 103 T.C. 634 (1994), aff’d, 89 F.3d 856 (11th Cir. 1996), the seminal Tax Court case that validated the deferral...
Introduction In December 2024, the IRS announced a new national enforcement campaign targeting attorney fee deferral arrangements. The resulting uncertainty raised serious questions within the legal and settlement planning communities: Does the campaign challenge all fee deferrals, or only those that deviate from long-standing precedent? Originally published in Tax Notes on June 9, 2025, this article...
Every once in a while, a new product redefines what’s possible – not by following trends, but by setting them. That’s the spirit behind iStructure Select, Independent Life’s next-generation structured settlement solution. We’re not releasing all the details just yet. But here’s what we can tell you: this is not just a new product. It’s...
Judges and mediators play important, but distinctive, roles in settlement planning. So it may have surprised some attendees that a recent Society of Settlement Planners (SSP) 2021 Annual Conference virtual presentation advertised as the “Judiciary Panel: Planning from the Court’s Perspective” featured two mediators (one a retired judge) and focused on mediation not judicial issues. Skillfully moderated...
One of the more intriguing panel discussions scheduled later this week during the Society of Settlement Planners’ (SSP) 2021 Annual Conference will feature Paul Isaac, Jeremy Babener, Jack Meligan and Jason Lazarus in a Breakout Session titled: “Adding Value: Protecting the Attorney’s Practice.” Anticipating this panel of settlement planning experts, we thought the perspective of a structured...
Plaintiff attorneys are continuing to gain an understanding of the benefits of structuring their attorney fees, a unique tool, solely available to their profession, that offers an exclusive and excellent way to enhance financial security, both now and in the future. Structured attorney fees, which can defer taxes on contingency fees, allow plaintiff attorneys to...
P.O. Box 679053
Any discussion of taxes herein is for general informational purposes only and does not purport to be complete or cover every situation. Independent Life, its affiliates, its distributors, and its and their respective representatives do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should confer with your qualified legal, tax and accounting advisors based on your particular circumstances. All guarantees are obligations of Independent Life Insurance Company.
Turbocharge your firm with our free resources
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Deep expertise combined with unparalleled access. Market-leading underwriting and pricing, plus turnaround times that redefine industry benchmarks. Innovative solutions that challenge convention. Impressive credentials plus best-in-class partners to back it all up.
Company
Solutions
Connect
Dallas, Texas 75267-9053
Fax: 904-869-0976