Structured Settlements 4Real®Blog 2026

by John Darer CLU ChFC MSSC RSP CLTC

When you consider that publication after publication speaks of the leading financial concern of Americans over age 40 being outliving their savings, depending on their preference for chicken or fish, perhaps it's time to for certain claims adjusters at certain auto insurers to get their head out of the birdcage  (or the fish bowl)!  This picture below just about sums up certain claims people at certain auto insurers when it comes to structured settlements. Instead of a creative approach that addresses the plaintiff's needs, some limit their thinking about structured settlements to the obvious, minor's cases. 

On another case I recently reported on, the plaintiff, a man in his 20s, wanted a structured settlement and the insurer said no "because it was a policy limits case".  But that auto insurer never even thought

Structured settlements only for kids? Get your head out of your birdcage (or fish bowl)

to offer a structure. Had they done so, perhaps the case might have settled for a bit less.  Instead of the typical nod and a wink about saving something off the policy, how about negotiating a compromise with some real value, using some ingenuity?  I can't help wondering how much policyholder money is wasted by the lack of creativity in some of these cases. 

When comparing notes with one of my industry colleagues this morning who used to do work for for a national account,  they said at one time had a national coordinator and provided education to their line claims adjusters.  They further opined that the adjusters are not receiving formal training about how to use structured settlements. What a pity!

Structured settlement consultants work on contingency.  There is no cost to the claim file. So why not call in a Master Structured Settlement Consultant for creative input?  Find a structured settlement expert who is creative and put them on your team. You will be glad you did.

Words of a claimant who needs a structure but arrives at the "Moat of the Uncreative":

"So I threw you the obvious to see what occurs behind the eyes of a fallen angel, eyes of a tragedy. Huh well. apparently nothing. You don't see me. you don't see me at all". 

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