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

  • Deal Flow Media Implies “They Should’ve Illegally Rebated”

    DealFlow Media’s attempt to portray as irony that The Hartford Financial Services Group is included on the Ethisphere Institute’s second annual "World’s Most Ethical Companies" list, despite allegations of unethical practices that the company has faced in its structured settlements business, ends shambolically with the implication that the right thing to do for Hartford would…

  • Moodys Affirms Hartford Life Aa3 Financial Strength Rating

    Some good news for Hartford Financial Services Group today after the rough 3rd quarter news that came out last week and caused its stock to plummet 52% and moodys downgraded the company's senior debt one notch to A3. Moodys Investors Service has affirmed its Aa3 financial strength rating of the company's core property and casualty…

  • The Hartford To Be Sold? Analyst Speculates in Connecticut Newspaper Report

    Michael Paisan Managing Director of Stifel Nicholas said "it seems as if The Hartford would be better served to be part of a much larger entity with a stronger capital base." in an article by Dianne Levick which appeared in Friday's Hartford Courant The Hartford got a $2.5 billion capital infusion in October from German insurer…

  • Structured Settlement Contingent Commissions | My Take

    The commission is based on the premium amount of the annuity placed. Ad hoc reduction to annuitants, by the structured settlement broker or settlement planner, is not possible due to the anti-rebating statutes on the books in most states. Thus there is no possibility that the mere fact that contingent commissions exist will stimulate steering…

  • Hartford Has Worst Quarterly loss in 198 Years…But Don’t Panic-CEO

    Hartford Financial Services Group took a $2.6B hit in the 3rd quarter which was comprised of $2.2B in capital losses and $932 MM in deferred acquisition costs related to new and renewed policies Today Hartford released the following statement from Ayer which said: "I want to reassure you that the current stock price is not…

  • Spencer v Hartford Class Action Settlement: Only Clean Mirrors Reveal True Reality

    Those in the structured settlement/ settlement planning industry fixing to use Spencer v. Hartford for marketing should take a moment to reflect on their own practices. It’s ironic to think that, in the end, a connection will be drawn between these over-the-top marketers and their own lack of transparency.

  • Standard & Poors Affirms Hartford Life ratings

    Hemming the backwash of the bitter elements in the structured settlement industry, Standard & Poors DID NOT assign any value whatsoever to the individual or collective contributions of Tulsa attorney Richard B. Risk, Jr., or or the Spencer v Hartford “groupies” to the rating action.

  • Structured Settlements Industry 2009 | A Review of the Year’s Impactful Stories

    Credit to Mark Wahlstrom, Jan Schlictmann, Roger Bernstein, Peter Arnold. Bruce DeBacher, Matt Bracy and this author John Darer for their collective efforts to diffuse and undo any damage done when former Elian Gonzalez’ and U.S. attorney Kendall Coffey mislabeled structured settlements in a complaint against Rothstein which sparked a media mislabeling frenzy.

  • Hartford Life downgraded to “A” (Excellent) by AM Best & Company

    Attorneys settling cases with Hartford Fire are aware, often to their chagrin, that Hartford requires that any structured settlements involving Hartford insureds be placed with Hartford Life Insurance Company. It will be interesting to see what if anything changes as the result of the Hartford Life downgrade

  • Hartford Financial Services Group Stable Says Moodys

    Good news about The Hartford Moody's Investors Service changed its ratings outlook on The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG) to stable from developing, saying the struggling life insurer's capitalization and financial flexibility has improved.