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: Hartford Financial Services Group

  • Spencer v Hartford Begats “468B Risk Management” Panacea for Defendants from Plaintiff Advisors?

    Hindert’smiscalculation of the amount of damages (as a scare tactic) in Spencer v Hartford, “made” professor Adam Scales “a household name”, and now emboldened by a proposed settlement to suggest that such case be “prostituted” and used as a threat to scare defendants into 468B trusts.

  • Hartford Repays TARP Money

    Hartford has REPAID its US government bailout of $3.4 billion it took in June 2009. The company repurchased all of Hartford Financial Services Group’s preferred shares issued to the United States Treasury under the Capital Purchase Program (a/k/a Troubled Asset Relief Program, a/k/a TARP).

  • Spencer v Hartford Settlement: 10% of Predicted Damages Explained

    Spencer v Hartford Settlement: 10% of Predicted Damages Explained

    The class action lawsuit Spencer v Hartford resulted in a settlement amounting to only 10% of projections made by Patrick Hindert in 2009. The plaintiffs alleged damages under RICO related to structured settlement premiums, but the settlement reflects a mere fraction of the potential damages, highlighting persistent issues in the industry.

  • Spencer v Hartford Financial Services Group

    Up until a certain point following the commencement of litigation in Spencer v Hartford, those fundings were allegedly at a discount to that offered to claimant and litigants who were not litigating against Hartford insured tortfeasors.

  • Structured Settlement Industry’s “Moping Dorks” Need Hartford Life History Lesson

    Dick Risk and his crew are about as responsible for Hartford Life’s antics as Aviva, AEGON, Mass Mutual, and Genworth are for ghosting the structured settlement game during the great industry reshuffle.

  • Hartford Life Insurance Company Pulls Out of Structured Settlement Annuity Market

    In a further indication of consolidation within the settlement industry, Hartford Life Insurance Company will announce its withdrawal from the structured settlement market. Until the third quarter of 2008, Hartford Life was a leading and most competitive providers in the structured settlement annuity sector.

  • The Hartford Announces New CEO

    The Hartford One hopes for the sake of its policyholders that Liam McGee brings the luck of the Irish to The Hartford.   Ireland born McGee was tapped as the new CEO of 199 year old Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., which has struggled in the last year. McGee has a strong banking background and…

  • The Hartford Q2 2009 Financial Results

    The Hartford reported a second quarter 2009 net loss of $15 million compared with second quarter 2008 net income of $543 million. Second quarter 2009 results benefited from a deferred acquisition cost (DAC) unlock gain of $358 million, after tax, from the impact of rising global equity markets in the second quarter on the company's…

  • The Hartford Gets TARPed…To Issue New Stock

    Chairman and Chief Executive Ramani Ayer said the decision to participate in TARP and sell shares would boost The Hartford’s financial strength and help it implement its long-term capital plan

  • Hartford To Keep Life Insurance Business- Dow Jones

    Just days after it was approved for $3.4 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), The Hartford has announced that it WILL NOT BE SELLING its life insurance business. The last few months had brought rampant speculation that Hartford has been trying to offload its life insurance and property/casualty operations first to Metlife and…