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: Secondary Market Structured Settlement Annuity

A “secondary market structured settlement annuity” is a scam label invented by unregulated intermediaries to make the resale of structured‑settlement payment rights sound like a legitimate insurance product. Despite the name, nothing about the transaction involves an annuity: no insurer issues a new contract, no policy is transferred, and no insurance product exists. What is actually being sold is a receivable — a court‑assigned right to someone else’s future payments — repackaged with the word “annuity” to borrow the credibility, regulatory framework, and consumer trust associated with real insurance products.

  • 🧭 SmartAsset, Clarity, and the Cost of Terminology Drift

    🧭 SmartAsset, Clarity, and the Cost of Terminology Drift

    SmartAsset does a lot of good work. Their calculators, guides, and tools help millions of people understand financial decisions that would otherwise feel opaque. This post isn’t about criticizing their mission. It’s about strengthening the ecosystem they influence. Because when a platform with SmartAsset’s reach uses terminology that insurance departments do not support, the consequences…

  • When a Brochure Uses the Word “Annuity” for Something That Is Not an Annuity

    When a Brochure Uses the Word “Annuity” for Something That Is Not an Annuity

    The MJ Settlements brochure misleadingly promotes factored structured-settlement payment rights as “Secondary Market Structured Settlement Annuities,” creating a false impression of insurer backing and protection. This misrepresentation exposes retirees to significant risks, as they believe they are purchasing regulated annuity products when they are not. Clarity and accurate terminology are essential.