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: Structured Settlement IRR

  • Is Attorney Fee Deferral / Structured Attorney Fee Malpractice Looming?

    Systematic structuring of attorney fees through laddering annuities and other attorney fee deferral solutions can smooth out highs and lows of interest rates, and payouts.

  • Settlement Planning With The Tax Tsunami on The Horizon

    MORE TAXES+ GREATER INTRINSIC VALUE FOR NEW AND EXISTING STRUCTURES, even in a low interest rate environment. Check out the taxable equivalent yield chart at 4structures.com and see how that “puny 3% rate of return”,  “ain’t too shabby” if you’re in the 40% tax bracket.

  • Tax Increase is Gilded Lily For Structured Settlement Value

    by John Darer CLU ChFC CSSC RSP Wall Street Journal reports that "at least 10 states are considering some kind of major increase in sales or income taxes, including Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. California and New York lawmakers already have agreed on multibillion-dollar tax increases that went…

  • John Darer Reviews Structured Settlement Internal Rate of Return

    After determining the internal rate of return of the structured settlement proposal, you can compare it to the after-tax rates available through alternative structured settlement plans or by taking a lump sum and investing in various taxable or tax-exempt financial instruments.

  • Hedge Fund Smedge Fund?

    Who hasn't heard of stories about the fabulous gains for hedge funds?  Stories of great gains, fabulously wealthy "rock and roll" fund managers (someone even penned a book titled "hedge fund mistress"), and the occasional scandal. However, an amazing statistic which Money magazine recently reported (and was pointed out to me), is that the average…