Blog

Settlement Planning Compensation Models

With few exceptions, the topic of consultant compensation receives limited public discussion within the structured settlement and settlement planning communities. A quick review of the websites of three national associations whose members sell structured settlement annuities, NSSTA, AASC,  and SSP, appears to indicate only SSP even mentions the word “compensation.” The SSP references to “compensation”...

Structured Settlements and Peter Drucker’s Business Principles

In its annual evaluation of America’s best-run publicly traded companies, the Wall Street Journal uses a measurement system based upon five business principles developed by the late management guru Peter F. Drucker, the founder of the Drucker Institute, to select its Top 250: 1) customer satisfaction; 2) employee engagement and development; 3) innovation; 4) social...

2021 The Year In Review

Among his many memorable quotes, Winston Churchill is credited with being the first to say “never let a good crisis go to waste.” Judging solely by reported structured settlement premium production, most structured settlement professionals and companies appear to have ignored Mr. Churchill’s advice for the second consecutive year. As the COVID pandemic continues to...

Future Financial Planning for People with Disabilities – Part 3

The National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities (NLCDD) at the University of Delaware has published a new National Study (Study) titled “Future Financial Planning for People with Disabilities” on its website that should be required reading for all structured settlement and settlement planning professionals. Introduction The purpose of this NLCDD project was to study future financial planning for people with disabilities...

Future Financial Planning for People with Disabilities – Part 2

A prior Independent Life article (Part 1) summarizes key elements of a new National Study (Study) titled “Future Financial Planning for People with Disabilities,” conducted by the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities (NLCDD) at the University of Delaware and is available on its website. Part 1 includes a “Correction at the end of the article which was added...

Future Financial Planning for People with Disabilities – Part 1

One of the highlights of the recent Stetson 2021 National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts was a presentation of the results of a new National Study (Study) titled “Future Financial Planning for People with Disabilities.” Presented by Cory Gilden and Caitlin Bailey, the Study was conducted by the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities (NLCDD) at the University of Delaware and is available...

Factoring Problems and Solutions – Part 2

When the National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) supported enactment of IRC Section 5891 as part of the Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act of 2001 and began a successful state by state process to help secure enactment of state structured settlement protection acts (SSPAs) in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, NSSTA envisioned the...