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: Financial Ratings Agencies

  • Weiss Downgrades US Debt to C-

    In downgrading United States government debt to C-,  Weiss Ratings says it is NOT predicting a default, but the downgrade adds urgency to Weiss ratings' earlier recommendations to avoid all medium- or long-term government securities. Weiss says you can still hold short-term T-bills. But be sure to hedge against the growing dollar risks . Here is the press release Weiss…

  • Weiss May Downgrade US Debt to C-

    Weiss Ratings is “very close” to downgrading U.S. government debt another notch, to “C-minus” on its own scale, just a step above junk, Martin Weiss, president of the ratings group, told CNBC. 

  • Weiss Ratings: For Whom “The Belth” Tolled

    My tabulation of Weiss ratings of various structured settlement annuity issuers was not surprisingly not well received by all of the insurers because Weiss does not give the highest ratings to some companies that have high ratings from S&P or A.M Best or others.  With some obligations stretching decades into the future,  I personally believe…

  • Fitch Upgrades AIG Life Subsidiaries Citing “Improved Financial Profile”

    Good news for AIG structured settlement annuitants. Fitch Ratings has upgraded the Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings of AmericanInternational Group, Inc.'s domestic life insurance subsidiaries known as SunAmerica Financial Group to 'A' from 'A-'. The Outlook for all ratings is Stable. Fitch states "The rating action of April 25, 2011 follows a review of SunAmerica…

  • The Morning (star) Chill Blows in on Bond Funds

    If your financial adviser is recommending a bond fund over the “ultimate* in predictable income” of a structured settlement you better read this:

  • Weiss Ratings: Strongest Structured Settlement Annuity Issuers

    Weiss Ratings is the only one of the major rating agencies that is not paid by the company it rates to give a rating. Some say this removes a conflict of interest.

  • Weiss Group, LLC buys back Financial Institutions Ratings Business

    Unlike A.M. Best, Moodys, S&P and Fitch, Weiss Ratings accepts no compensation of any kind from the companies it rates, deriving its revenues exclusively from the sale of ratings and data to consumers and others via public libraries and the Internet.

  • Rating Agencies Under Fire Again. This Time Over Sovereign Debt

    “Too many people are relying on the rating agencies to determine the quality of their municipal bond holdings. What you’ll find, for those who don’t want to do the work, is that the rating agencies tend to downgrade a bond AFTER most people making the effort already know the bond is in trouble.”

  • Mass Mutual Fitch Ratings Action

    Fitch Ratings service has assigned an AA+ (Very Strong) financial strength rating to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company from AAA (Exceptionally Strong) in its most recent review. MassMutual formerly issued structured settlement annuities.

  • Financial Rating Agencies Under Review on State and Federal Level

    One year after the 2008 Fall “Vlasic”, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced a public hearing on Sept. 24 to discuss the past and future roles of Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organizations (NRSRO), namely A.M. Best & Co., Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings.