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: Los Angeles Settlement Planning

Co‑Signing Without Signing: The Hidden Credit Traps That Can Derail Settlement Payees

February 28, 2026

The article discusses the dangers of hidden credit entanglements that can harm individuals, particularly injury victims and settlement payees. Co-signing occurs informally through arrangements like shared phone plans and utility accounts, leading to significant credit damage. This vulnerability is exploited by predatory actors, creating a cycle of financial distress and manipulation.
What to Do if a Settlement Planner approaches you to Sell the Structured Settlement they sold you

April 5, 2020

If you are solicited by a trusted settlement planner to sell the structured settlement that they placed for you, you should immediately become suspect. There are legitimate reasons to question the settlement planner’s motivation no matter how trustworthy the settlement planner may be to you.
Qualified Settlement Fund | “A Tax Free Way Station” for Attorney Fees?

October 31, 2018

If a qualified settlement fund is a trust under state law,as required by tax regulations, wouldn’t any income and gains generated by the investment of the assets in the trust be subject to tax on a state or federal level?
Workers Compensation Medicare Set Aside Arrangements

July 27, 2017

Medicare Set Aside arrangements are intended to not only protect Medicare’s interest, a requirement of the Medicare Secondary Payer Act (MSP), but to also protect the settling injured worker (or plaintiff if Liability MSA) from the loss of Medicare benefits.
Chartered Financial Consultant® Program Aims “To Put More Distance Between It and Other Credentials in The Field”

February 3, 2009

The American College has enhanced the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation, now requiring nine college-level courses starting October 1, 2009. This includes elements of the CFP certification and specialized electives. Established in 1982, the ChFC® signifies a high standard of knowledge in financial planning, distinct from the CFP credential.