Litigation

One of our sources tells us that it has recently offered a New York structured settlement annuitant 50% more cash than Bentzen Funding Solutions  to an annuitant who wanted to sell their structured settlement payment rights. There is reason to be concerned. The face of Bentzen Funding Solutions is of course Rhonda Bentzen who was recently named to the Board of Directors of the Society of Settlement Planners (a point of interest that has been kept on the QT except for a few leaks). Apparently Bentzen Funding offered about $84,000 and the other company offered $126,000 to the same annuitant-same cash flows.

So why the huge disparity? Is (a) Bentzen Funding just not all that competitive;  or (b) is it possible that the price differential is due to some greedy settlement consultant who thought they would take a huge fee on the deal? In December 2007 Rhonda Bentzen stated that 90% of her clientele, which she said were composed  entirely of settlement consultants, took a fee from her. She has since intimated that the figure is lower but refuses to specify the percentage (or deny that the practice exists), instead getting her knickers in twist in haranguing this author.

If in fact there is a structured settlement broker or settlement planner involved in this case (I hope not, but if so, we will attempt to find out who), whether a member of the SSP or NSSTA let this case be a learning experience for the rest of the structured settlement industry. Our source may give us access to the annuitant involved and in this author's opinion that broker or planner deserves made an example of.

  Roasting a "greedy" pig

If there is no broker then it's clear that Bentzen ain't the only game in town.