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: Things That Make You Go Hmm

  • Sins of Omission and Comission in the Settlement Industry

    I’m aware of a structured settlement firm whose members routinely use a small excerpt of a published document to compete with another firm. The complete published document puts the small excerpt into context but the offensive structured settlement firm in question chooses to omit those material facts

  • The Ethics of Structuring Attorney Fees and Insurance Agency Contributions to TLAs

    What goes on in smoke filled rooms? This email entitled “[Plaintiffs only ]structuring attorney fees” was circulated on September 25, 2009 using a NYSTLA forum/ list serve (copied to a dedicated email address at the New York State Trial Lawyers Association  “NYSTLA”) to many others: (Download NYSTLA List Serve-Forge) entitled “[Plaintiffs only ]structuring attorney fees” was circulated…

  • The Pitfalls of Using of Absolute Superlatives In Structured Settlement Marketing

    I'm not a big fan of using absolute superlatives in marketing. Too easy to get burned. The classic example is In early 2007 where we showed showed how the principals of one firm in the structured settlement industry made preposterous claims "in seriata" of being the only plaintiff exclusive broker in the country, as well…

  • “Yabba Dabba Doo” Insurance Company Needs To Get With The Times

    Other commentators have waxed toxic of their disdain for casualty company approved lists. So, having been given the appropriate "stimulus" I've decided to weigh in. One wonders what "dinosaur" of the structured settlement industry  is advising a P&C company to remain nameless which today proffered, through its legal representative, to one of our readers, an…