Making Sense Of Debt Consolidation

By Calvin Patel

Cases settled out of court usually involve an agreement for a predetermined amount of cash to be paid out to one party for a fixed length of time. These recurring payments are called structured settlement annuity. This is usually the alternative to lump sum settlements.

It is important to make sure that the annuity provider is capable of making the payments. This is because it is not uncommon for the annuity to be made for the duration of the life of the claimant. The payments are usually made in installments of equal or varying amounts.

The claimant's monthly expenses, present age, extent of hazard in occupation and retirement plans are considered in determining the start date, duration and frequency of the payment. In some cases, the insurance company making the payment is allowed to transfer its obligation to a third party. All these should be specified in the settlement agreement.

Periodic payments from a structured settlement are tax-free, but only if the structure of payments is not altered once both parties have agreed upon it. While this may give recipients a sense of security, some are concerned that the payments will lose their value over the term of the payout because of inflation. It is also possible that their financial situation has changed, so that they need money sooner rather than later to meet expenses or they find that the payments no longer fit their budget.

These are some of the reasons why people sell structure settlement payments. They have the option to sell in part or in whole, but either way, the lump sum they will receive makes them more financially flexible. They can use it as capital for a business venture or make real estate purchases.

There are many institutions that buy structured settlements, with transactions running in the tens of thousands up to millions of dollars. In choosing a settlement purchaser, it is important to look into the past payment records and working relationships with insurance companies. A consistently good payment record and working relationship with various insurance companies means a good chance of the transaction being approved quickly.

It is also important to do business only with purchasers that are licensed, insured and bonded. With this, clients get their cash even if the company goes out of business. The free consultations offered by settlement purchasers are also good opportunities, not only for evaluating their suitability, but also for getting financial advice.

The decision to keep a structured settlement intact or to sell the payments is a major one. A structured settlement annuity can be a source of great comfort for retired individuals or people with impaired earning ability, since it offers the advantage of a regular income without having to worry about managing it. On the other hand, people who sell structured settlement payments gain control of their own finances, and can use the money from the sale for an alternative investment plan that could earn them more than what they were getting from the settlement. Ideally, however, the latter should be resorted to only if the individual is confident of managing his own finances in a competent manner. - 31884

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