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: Strategic Capital

  • “Squidward” on Securitizations of Structured Settlements

    Investment Dealers’ Digest, a publication of Sourcemedia, is the weekly magazine more investment bankers turn to for essential news that helps them identify market opportunities and new deal structures. Securitization is the practice of reselling regular payments made by consumers on mortgages, credit cards student loans and, among other things. factored structured settlement payments In…

  • A Holiday Treat From The Strategic Capital “Gin Mill”?

    A Holiday Treat From The Strategic Capital “Gin Mill”?

    Received this email from one of our readers in the structured settlement industry “John: Just got a letter from Strat Cap (“Dear XXXX”) from its Director of Sales Tom Collins (How ironic!!!) wishing me a happy new year and telling me that if I have bills from the holidays, Strat-Cap will be happy to give…

  • The Great Tort Victim Snow Job of 2007 Part 2-AAJ Are You Paying Attention?

    Any money paid in commissions to structured settlement firms, settlement planners, personal injury lawyers, bankruptcy lawyers and financial planners comes right out of the tort victim’s bottom line.

  • The Great Tort Victim Snow Job of 2007

    These firms are known to pay commissions and/or fees on referrals for structured settlement factoring transactions. This post is about those who take these fees and don’t make an upfront disclosure of such fees and how it impacts the bottom line of tort victims on these transactions

  • “Don’t Lump Us in with JG (Wentworth)” Frets Competitor

    On August 16, 2007 I received the following email from Sian Owen of Strategic Capital "dismayed" that I had "lumped them in with JG" Wentworth in my post "Orwellian Discourse Fails to Tip Scales" (which was incorrectly quoted in her email as "Overall Discussion Fails to Tip Scales". Download sian_owen_email_to_jdd_8162007_re_orwellian_discourse_lump_w_jg.pdf To which I responded: "Suggest…

  • The Society of Settlement Planners and The Shadowy Factoring Company Connection

    The Society of Settlement Planners recent Annual meeting at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Washington DC was apparently attended by no fewer than 7 representatives from factoring companies, surprisingly including two from JG Wentworth and a swarm of 3 representatives from Strategic Capital (a company who I recently reported offered a free trip to Hawaii…

  • NATLE’s Affinity Partner Offered Trips to Hawaii as Inducement To Sell Structured Settlements for Pennies on the Dollar

    National Association of Trial Lawyer Executives (NATLE ) has an exclusive affinity program with a company that offered free trips to Hawaii to induce structured settlement annuitants to sell their payment rights for pennies on the dollar, while continuing to falsely advertise on the Internet that it can deliver structured settlement quotes (despite having no…

  • Structured Settlement Advertising Wall of Shame 7-30-06

    The law stipulates that a structured settlement may be financed through an annuity, which is an insurance product requiring a license for sale, or through obligations of the United States government. Strategic Capital does not hold a license as an insurance agent or broker in the state of CT..

  • Strategic Craplach from Strategic Capital

    The lack of regulation or enforcement of regulation in factoring company advertising and business practices (related to the sale of payment rights) lets companies like Strategic Capital run loose using insurance terms without an insurance license and contributing to consumer confusion. It has to stop.

  • Peachtree Settlement Funding | Why Is There A Fruit Stand on Bankers’ Porch?

    Persons and entities (or any other factoring companies whose choice of words “slight of hand”, suggests that they are licensed to sell insurance or annuities) do not belong in any directory or advertisement that portrays them as a person or entity who (which) supplies or sells insurance products or annuities.