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: MJ Settlements Commentary

Running commentary about MJ Settlements, its predecessor MJ Structured Settlements & Annuities, Inc., and CEO Todd Michael Lesk, focusing on their marketing practices, use of annuity terminology, SMA labeling, and the language used to describe structured‑settlement receivables—documenting patterns across multiple posts.

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.
How MJ Settlements Misleads Investors with Inaccurate Terminology

January 3, 2025

MJ Settlements, Inc. falsely claims “When an original structured settlement annuity is sold, either partially or in full, it then becomes known as a Secondary Market Structured Settlement Annuity”. The annuity does not change hands in a structured settlement.
Coral Springs Co. Wholly Misleading Statement Re “Purchase of Structured Settlement Annuities”

September 15, 2023

It is well settled that factored structured settlement payment rights are not annuities. Factored Structured Settlement Receivables are an unregulated non-insurance product sold by legitimate companies as “”Structured Settlement Annuities” and “Secondary Market Annuities”. It’s just reckless at this point.
Understanding Structured Settlement Annuities: MJ Structured Settlement Annuities Big Blooper

January 2, 2017

Todd Lesk was as enthiastic apromoter of structured settlement receivables (that Lesk misbranded as annuities} as “Grandpa” is about his plump, sausage-like fingers in the MJ Structured Settlement Annuities’ YouTube ad. Fast forward, and the toll-free number for MJ now says it’s out of service.
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.