Structured Settlements 4Real®Blog 2026

Structured settlements expert John Darer reviews the latest structured settlements and settlement planning information and news, and provides expert opinion and highly regarded commentary. that is spicy, Informative, irreverent and effective for over 20 years.

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The STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS 4REAL® Blog is a highly regarded source for structured settlement news, information, and commentary, led by structured settlement and settlement planning subect mater expert John Darer CLU ChFC MSSC CeFT RSP CLTC. With two decades of operation, the blog and 4structures.com are recognized as comprehensive resources, offering detailed guides and specialized insights. Established in 2005, the blog caters to a broad audience, including legal professionals, injured individuals, families, and various stakeholders, providing reviews and opinions on settlement planning. John Darer, President of 4structures.com LLC, is a seasoned structured settlement expert with over 40 years of financial services experience and 31 years specializing in structured settlements. Based in Stamford, CT, he is a Certified Financial Transitionist and Registered Settlement Planner, holding insurance licenses in 45 states and the District of Columbia. John Darer is dedicated to transparency and advocacy, he emphasizes the importance of engaging trained and licensed professionals for settlement planning, offering valuable insights through his investigative journalism and professional commentary.

Category: Coral Springs Receivables

Coral Springs Receivables is a collection of blogs and articles on the subject of structured settlement receivables that may be of interest to Coral Springs Florida residents, finacial advisors and others. Structured Settlement Receivables ARE NOT annuities. Receivables is the proper terminology, however such instruments may be referred to inaccurately as Secondary Market Annuties (SMA)

Incorrigible MJ Settlements Continues Its Daredevil Pattern of Misrepresentation in Facts and Financial Ratings to Investors🪓

March 1, 2026

MJ Settlements misrepresents its structured settlement receivables as safe, A-rated products, using misleading terms like “SSA” and “Guaranteed to Outperform.” The company fails to disclose significant risks, including long deferral periods for payments and lack of state protections, ultimately masking the true nature and credit quality of its offerings.
Todd Lesk Permanently Barred from FINRA but Lists FINRA on LinkedIn as “Licenses and Certifications”

January 17, 2026

Todd Michael Lesk, CEO of MJ Settlements, was permanently barred from FINRA on October 6, 2023, prohibiting any affiliation with broker-dealer firms. Despite this, he continued to display invalid licenses on LinkedIn. The situation raises concerns about misrepresentation in marketing structured settlements. The blog highlights these discrepancies.
Coral Springs Head Scratcher of the Month

October 15, 2025

MJ Settlements advertising is like playing a childhood game of “Spot The Difference”. So Let’s Play and Critique at the Same Time. Note: Both of these images were captured from public facing images on the MJ Settlements X account on October 15, 2025 for reference purposes only. No copyright claimed. Name of Insurer Not an…
Structured Settlement Receivables Marketed to Investors via MJ Settlements’ Reckless Use of Trademarked Insurer Brands

June 8, 2025

MJ Settlements appears to be heading toward a potential conflict with several life insurers over the use of their trademarked logos on its website to promote structured settlement receivables to investors, while misleadingly labeling these receivables as annuities in a deceptive manner.
MJ Structured Settlement Annuities’ Wholly Misleading Advertising

May 15, 2012

The name MJ Structured Settlement Annuities is wholly misleading The company buys and sells structured settlement payment rights, not structured settlement annuities, which are owned (and after the structured settlement factoring transaction remain owned) by the qualified assignment company.