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 Planning

Structured Settlement Planning combines structured settlements with broader settlement planning practices, using periodic payments as part of a comprehensive approach to long‑term financial design

Canonical Guide: Structured Settlement Funding Instruments

September 27, 2026

Structured settlements today can be funded through several different financial instruments. Each one has its own mechanics, tax treatment, and crediting method. This guide explains the four funding families and the two crediting philosophies that define the modern structured settlement ecosystem. 1. What a Structured Settlement Is A structured settlement is the payment agreement that…
Private Credit Contagion: Why It Matters for Structured Settlement Annuitants and Receivables Investors

March 9, 2026

Private credit has surged into a multi-trillion-dollar market, with insurers heavily involved, raising concerns about their investment stability. Key risks include liquidity issues and valuation challenges linked to opaque assets. The implications for structured-settlement payments necessitate vigilance from annuitants and investors regarding their insurer’s financial health and asset exposure.
Can You Inherit a Structured Settlement Annuity?

March 25, 2021

Thinking about what happens to structured settlement payments after the death of the Measuring Life, which of these four statements is correct?
Structured Settlement Planning | Settlement Planners’ Love/Hate Relationship With Structured Settlement “Hot Potato”

March 26, 2018

The fact that “settlement planners” are using the term “structured settlement planning”, separate and distinct from “settlement planning” is recognition of the specialized knowledge and skill in planning with structured settlements. A structured settlement is a core settlement planning tool. FACT.
Is Comprehensive Settlement Planning “Casino Buffet” Needed When You Want a Slice of Pizza?

September 2, 2017

While a believer in comprehensive settlement planning, I think that my settlement industry colleagues must be mindful of pushing a figurative “casino buffet” when all someone wants or needs is a 2lb New York slice. Be mindful that when someone is in transition the overwhelm wire can be tripped easily.