Disability Law

NASP 2009 Annual Meeting - 3

Posted on November 20, 2009
This blog post continues S2KM's summary and analysis of the NASP 2009 Annual Meeting. Prior S2KM blog posts, including NASP 2009 educational program summaries, are accessible on S2KM's structured settlement wiki. NASP's 2009 strategic analysis occurred primarily during a panel...

NASP 2009 Annual Meeting - 2

Posted on November 16, 2009
The purpose of this S2KM blog post is to summarize educational discussions which occurred at the NASP 2009 Annual Meeting. In a prior post (NASP 2009 Annual Meeting-1), S2KM listed the discussion topics, moderators, speakers and panelists and also identified...

NASP 2009 Annual Meeting - 1

Posted on November 15, 2009
The National Association of Settlement Purchasers (NASP) hosted its 2009 Annual Meeting at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas November 12-13 almost one month following NSSTA and SSP 2009 Fall meetings at the same location. In comparison with traditional...

Re-thinking Structured Settlements

Posted on October 25, 2009
S2KM continues its strategic analysis of the transitioning structured settlement market with an update and re-publication of S2KM's public structured settlement wiki.

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NSSTA 2009 Fall Educational Conference

Posted on October 17, 2009
Meeting at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas on October 15 and 16, the NSSTA 2009 Fall Educational Conference provided a potpourri of perspectives on the central topic of structured settlements. Although lacking a unifying theme and failing to...

Forge Purchases The Settlement Services Group

Posted on October 07, 2009
Attorney Matthew Garretson has announced the sale of his structured settlement agency, The Settlement Services Group, (?TSSG?) to Forge Consulting (?Forge?) a leading plaintiff-exclusive, national settlement consulting company. Garretson said the timing was right for him to focus exclusively on...

Jeremy Babener Interview - 2

Posted on September 27, 2009
S2KM introduced, summarized and reviewed a legal research paper written by Jeremy Babener titled "Structured Settlements and Single-Claimant Qualified Settlement Funds: Regulating in Accordance with Structured Settlement History" (QSF paper), in four prior blog posts: Single Claimant 468B QSF Update;...

S2KM Reviews Jeremy Babener's QSF Paper - 2

Posted on September 23, 2009
While researching his paper titled "Structured Settlements and Single-Claimant Qualified Settlement Funds: Regulating in Accordance with Structured Settlement History" (QSF paper), Jeremy Babener interviewed many structured settlement industry leaders including Patrick Hindert, Managing Director of S2KM Limited...

S2KM Reviews Jeremy Babener's QSF Paper - 1

Posted on September 22, 2009
In prior blog posts, S2KM has: Re-prioritized the strategic issue of single-claimant qualified settlement funds (QSF); Summarized Jeremy Babener's QSF paper. This blog post begins S2KM's review and analysis of Babener's QSF paper. Why is Babener's QSF paper important? Strategic...

Jeremy Babener's QSF Paper

Posted on September 21, 2009
Background and Summary This S2KM blog post summarizes a legal research paper by Jeremy Babener titled "Structured Settlements and Single-Claimant Qualified Settlement Funds: Regulating in Accordance with Structured Settlement History" (QSF paper). Babener's QSF paper will be published in the...

Single Claimant 468B QSF Update

Posted on September 17, 2009
S2KM supports and promotes the application of IRC section 468B qualified settlement funds (QSFs) for single claimants in appropriate cases as a superior settlement planning model benefiting all structured settlement stakeholders. S2KM has previously reported and reviewed professional commentary addressing...

S2P2J Release 46

Posted on September 09, 2009
Incisive Media has announced the publication of Release 46 for "Structured Settlements and Periodic Payment Judgments" (S2P2J). Co-authored by Daniel Hindert, Joseph Dehner and Patrick Hindert, S2P2J was first published in 1986 and has since been featured as a recommended...

Jeremy Babener Responds

Posted on July 27, 2009
Because of the interest generated by law student Jeremy Babener?s research concerning lump sum dissipation, S2KM has invited Babener to continue to participate in the resulting online dialogue. Jeremy Babener: First, thank you to structured settlement industry leaders and commentators...

Jeremy Babener Interview

Posted on June 23, 2009
Jeremy Babener , a third year Juris Doctor candidate at New York University has completed a seminal structured settlement paper a copy of which is available for download online in pdf format. S2KM introduced, summarized and reviewed Jeremy Babener's paper,...

Jeremy Babener's Dissipation Paper

Posted on June 23, 2009
Jeremy Babener, a third year Juris Doctor candidate at New York University School of Law, has completed a seminal research paper titled "Justifying the Structured Settlement Tax Subsidy: The Use of Lump Sum Settlements" which identifies and analyzes 12 historical...

Dissipation Studies

Posted on June 23, 2009
The United States structured settlement industry has drifted into an era of unprecedented transition and change with stagnant annuity growth and without any articulated industry strategic plan or strategic planning process. Forces causing structured settlement transition and change: Financial service...

Structured Settlement 2009 Strategic Analysis

Posted on May 16, 2009
S2KM has begun a mid-year 2009 strategic analysis of the structured settlement industry. This analysis includes attending and reporting about 2009 structured settlement professional stakeholder meetings plus continuing conversations with structured settlement industry leaders...

Structured Settlement 2009 Mid-Year Update - 1

Posted on May 13, 2009
S2KM's blog has reported developments within and interactions between "structured settlement" and "knowledge management" since 2004. This blog post begins a new S2KM series titled "Structured Settlement 2009 Mid-Year Update" the purpose of which is to analyze the transitional status...

Secondary Market Law Blog

Posted on May 06, 2009
Katherine Scanlon and Peter Vodola, partners at Pullman & Comley, have announced an exciting new blog titled "Secondary Market Law". Their blog already addresses several sub-topics including structured settlements. This state-of-the-art blog represents a major step forward for the structured...

NSSTA 2009 Annual Meeting - 1

Posted on May 06, 2009
To borrow a baseball analogy from Len Blonder, the National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) "hit a home run" (or rather a series of home runs) during its 2009 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. April 28-May 1. Blonder's comments to...

Fresno County Factoring Cases - 3

Posted on May 06, 2009
Continuing a series of Fresno County factoring cases, a California court of appeals has ruled favorably for 321 Henderson Receivables, a J.G. Wentworth affiliate, reversing an earlier opinion of California superior court Judge Alan M. Simpson in 11 factoring cases...

SSP 2009 Annual Meeting - 1

Posted on May 03, 2009
The Society of Settlement Planners (SSP) and the National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) hosted sequential annual meetings the week of April 26 in Washington, D.C. This blog post begins S2KM's reporting about those meetings. SSP's meeting (titled "Securing the...

SSP and NSSTA 2009 Annual Meetings

Posted on April 27, 2009
The Society of Settlement Planners (SSP) and the National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) are hosting sequential 2009 Annual Meetings this week in Washington, D.C. S2KM will attend both meetings and publish reports and commentary next week...

Spencer v. Hartford - 3

Posted on April 18, 2009
Spencer v. Hartford is a class action civil lawsuit potentially involving more than 9000 plaintiffs who received structured settlement annuities from Hartford insurance subsidiaries. The plaintiffs allege: Hartford has conducted a structured settlement program named "Secured Benefit Services" (SBS) since...

Spencer v. Hartford - 2

Posted on April 07, 2009
Spencer v. Hartford is a class action lawsuit currently on appeal to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals following a decision by the U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut granting plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification and Appointment of Class...

Spencer v. Hartford - 1

Posted on April 06, 2009
This S2KM blog post summarizes the Spencer v. Hartford case to date. A subsequent post will offer S2KM commentary. Status Spencer v. Hartford is a class action lawsuit currently on appeal to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals following...

S&P Withdraws J.G. Wentworth Credit Ratings

Posted on April 02, 2009
Standard & Poor's Rating Services has announced it will no longer rate J.G. Wentworth's counterparty credit and senior secured debt at Wentworth's request. S&P's announcement occurred on March 31, 2009 after Wentworth announced Deutsche Bank had extended a "standstill" agreement...

S2P2J Release 45

Posted on March 24, 2009
Release 45 of "Structured Settlements and Periodic Payment Judgments" (S2P2J) is now available from publisher Incisive Media. Incisive Media purchased ALM (American Lawyer Media) in 2008 including publishing rights to S2P2J. Co-authored by Daniel W. Hindert, Joseph J...

Tim Nay Interview

Posted on March 21, 2009
Tim Nay, a partner in the law offices of Nay & Friedenberg, is one of the leading special needs and elder law attorneys in the United States. As an adjunct to his legal career, Nay was also educated as a...

Fresno County Factoring Cases - 2

Posted on March 19, 2009
An earlier S2KM blog post (Fresno County Factoring Cases-1) summarized two recent decisions (Tomahawk and Ramos) by a California Appellate Court. In those decisions, the Appellate Court reversed earlier decisions against 321 Henderson Receivables, a J...

Fresno County Factoring Cases - 1

Posted on March 18, 2009
The California Fifth Appellate District Court of Appeal has reversed highly publicized decisions by two Superior Court judges in Fresno County, California involving 321 Henderson Receivables, an affiliate of J.G. Wentworth, and the California Structured Settlement Transfer Act (SSTA)...

Structured Settlements and Government Benefits - 1

Posted on March 16, 2009
One of the challenges for growing the structured settlement market is to successfully integrate existing structured settlement laws and documentation with government benefits including Medicare and Medicaid. Unlike more divisive (but equally important) issues impacting industry growth, such as IRC...

All State v. Rapid Settlements

Posted on March 10, 2009
Less than one month after the Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Rapid Settlements' claim that the Federal Arbitration Act supersedes the New York Structured Settlement Protection Act in Pacific Life v. Rapid Settlements, the Third Circuit has reached a...

ASNP 2009 Annual Meeting

Posted on March 08, 2009
The Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP) hosted its Third Annual Meeting March 6-7, 2009 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California. Titled "Special Needs Planning in an Era of Change", the program devoted one day of educational...

Settlement Consulting - 4

Posted on February 26, 2009
This post continues S2KM analysis and commentary about "settlement consulting" as an alternative business model for structured settlements introduced by Joseph DiGangi at the NSSTA 2009 Winter Meeting. DiGangi characterized structured settlements as a fundamental settlement consulting product and featured...

Settlement Consulting - 3

Posted on February 24, 2009
In prior posts about settlement consulting, S2KM: Reviewed Joseph DiGangi's discussion at the NSSTA 2009 Winter Meeting titled: "Comprehensive Settlement Consulting in the 21st Century". See: "Settlement Consulting". Continued DiGangi's discussion by asking questions and offering comments about "settlement consulting"...

Settlement Consulting - 2

Posted on February 23, 2009
In a prior post ("Settlement Consulting"), S2KM reviewed Joseph DiGangi's NSSTA 2009 Winter Meeting discussion titled: "Comprehensive Settlement Consulting in the 21st Century" which S2KM characterized as "provocative" and "important" for the structured settlement industry...

Settlement Consulting

Posted on February 22, 2009
Among other valuable discussions at the NSSTA 2009 Winter Meeting, Joseph DiGangi's presentation titled "Comprehensive Settlement Consulting in the 21st Century" was the most provocative and important. DiGangi's presentation was enhanced by his excellent visual illustrations and diagrams...

Robert Wood QSF Interview

Posted on February 18, 2009
Robert W. Wood has written a new legal treatise "Qualified Settlement Funds and Section 468B" published by the Tax Institute and available for purchase on the Tax Institute website. Following S2KM's earlier review of Wood's book, the noted author and...

IRC 468B and 5891

Posted on February 12, 2009
Both IRC 468B and 5891 challenge and change the traditional structured settlement claim management model. To improve and grow structured settlements as part of the emerging settlement planning model, industry leaders must refocus their strategic analysis beyond defense of IRC...

Pacific Life v. Rapid Settlements

Posted on February 11, 2009
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday rejected Rapid Settlement's claim that the Federal Arbitration Act supersedes the New York Structured Settlement Protection Act. In the case titled "Pacific Life Insurance Company v. Rapid Settlements, Ltd...

Robert Wood and 468B Funds

Posted on February 08, 2009
Robert W. Wood has written an important new legal treatise titled "Qualified Settlement Fund and Section 468B" published by the Tax Institute and available for purchase on the Tax Institute website. Professionals who work with QSFs will immediately recognize the...

Settlement Trust Due Diligence

Posted on February 04, 2009
One of the strategic developments that distinguishes the settlement planning structured settlement business model from the claim management model is the interaction of annuities (insurance products) with trusts and custodial accounts (banking products)...

NSSTA 2009 Winter Meeting

Posted on January 31, 2009
"Protect the business model and prepare for the future" was the unstated theme as the National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) hosted its 2009 Winter Meeting in Orlando, Florida January 28-30. From NSSTA's perspective, the structured settlement model depends upon:...

Structured Settlement Credo - 5

Posted on January 22, 2009
S2KM's continuing commentary about traditional structured settlement credo. In prior blog posts, S2KM identified traditional structured settlement credo and highlighted its importance. S2KM disagrees with fundamental aspects of traditional (claim management) structured settlement dogma and predicts its demise and/or evolution...

Structured Settlement Credo - 4

Posted on January 21, 2009
Continuing S2KM commentary about structured settlement credo. What impact, if any, will President Obama's national call for change and his repudiation of ideological certainties have upon the traditional (claim management) structured settlement industry? As new structured settlement leaders emerge and...

Structured Settlement Credo - 3

Posted on January 18, 2009
S2KM's continuing summary and commentary about the credo of the traditional structured settlement industry. Good People and Bad People - We (the traditional structured settlement industry) believe the structured settlement world consists of Good People and Bad People...

Structured Settlement Credo - 2

Posted on January 15, 2009
If the structured settlement industry is "transitioning", what exactly is changing and why? Causes of industry transition: Internet technologies - their impact on business models, strategies and skill set requirements. Legislation and regulations - the secondary market; Medicare; Medicaid; and...

Structured Settlement Credo - 1

Posted on January 14, 2009
What is the structured settlement credo? Who defines the structured settlement credo? What forums, communities and networks discuss the structured settlement credo?

Structured Settlements in 2009 - 1

Posted on January 12, 2009
S2KM's first reporting and analysis for the structured settlement industry in 2009. Prior S2KM analysis The Future of Structured Settlements Structured Settlement Transaction Diagram Knowledge Management and Structured Settlements Structured Settlements in 2008 Part 1 - Historic Context Part 2...

Structured Settlements in 2008 - 3

Posted on December 28, 2008
This S2KM blog post, the third of three analyzing structured settlements in 2008, highlights the challenges facing the structured settlement industry as it enters 2009. Two prior S2KM blog posts evaluated 2008 from an historical perspective (Structured Settlements in 2008...

J.G. Wentworth - 2

Posted on December 23, 2008
This S2KM blog post continues S2KM's reporting (see: J.G. Wentworth - 1) about J.G. Wentworth's financial status. J.G. Wentworth Securitization - J.G. Wentworth issued the following news release on December 23, 2008: "Specialty finance company J.G. Wentworth today announced the...

Structured Settlements in 2008 - 2

Posted on December 22, 2008
This S2KM blog post, the second of three analyzing structured settlements in 2008, summarizes conferences S2KM attended throughout the year. A prior post evaluated 2008 from an historical structured settlement perspective. A subsequent post will discuss challenges facing the structured...

Structured Settlements in 2008 - 1

Posted on December 22, 2008
This S2KM blog post, the first of three summarizing structured settlements in 2008, evaluates the year from an historical perspective. Two subsequent posts will: Summarize 2008 conferences attended by S2KM; Highlight challenges facing the industry in 2009...

J.G. Wentworth - 1

Posted on December 06, 2008
J.G. Wentworth, the leading structured settlement factoring company, has been featured in news reports and announcements this past week. Article posted November 28, 2008 by Joseph N. Distefano on the philly.com website: "Standard & Poor's cut counterparty and senior-secured bank...

J.G. Wentworth Survey - 5

Posted on December 01, 2008
Four prior S2KM blog posts: Introduced the J.G. Wentworth (JGW) 2008 structured settlement survey; Summarized other related and recent structured settlement reports and surveys; and Identified the nine (9) JGW survey questions JGW has given S2KM permission to publish...

J.G. Wentworth Survey - 4

Posted on November 30, 2008
Three prior S2KM blog posts: Introduced the J.G. Wentworth (JGW) 2008 structured settlement survey; Summarized other related and recent structured settlement reports and surveys; and Identified the nine (9) JGW survey questions JGW has given S2KM permission to publish...

J.G. Wentworth Survey - 3

Posted on November 28, 2008
Two prior S2KM blog posts: Introduced the J.G. Wentworth (JGW) 2008 structured settlement survey; and Summarized other related and recent structured settlement reports and surveys. This S2KM blog post publishes the nine (9) JGW survey questions JGW has given S2KM...

Structured Settlement Surveys

Posted on November 23, 2008
A prior S2KM blog post (J.G. Wentworth Structured Settlement Survey) introduces the J.G. Wentworth structured settlement survey and highlights other market reports and surveys important for "Growing the Structured Settlement Market". These prior reports and surveys include: Market analysis by...

J.G. Wentworth Structured Settlement Survey

Posted on November 18, 2008
"Listen to the customer - a novel idea wouldn?t you say?" That was advice from Randy Snow for the structured settlement industry in Randy's August 2008 Interview with S2KM about industry transition and growth. Only recently has the structured settlement...

S2P2J Release 44

Posted on November 06, 2008
Release 44 of "Structured Settlements and Periodic Payment Judgments" (S2P2J) will be available in December 2008. Since S2P2J was first published in 1986, the authors have attempted to provide balanced and comprehensive coverage of structured settlement industry developments from a...

NSSTA 2008 Fall Meeting - 3

Posted on November 01, 2008
S2KM's two previous blog posts about the NSSTA 2008 Fall Meeting recommended: Current structured settlement industry leaders should focus on "transitional leadership" . Transitional industry leaders should promote settlement planning as a successor business model for the traditional claim management...

NSSTA 2008 Fall Meeting - 2

Posted on October 30, 2008
S2KM's prior blog post about the NSSTA 2008 Fall Meeting (NSSTA 2008 Fall Meeting-1) highlights the advancing age of NSSTA's leaders and conference attendees; and also recommends that NSSTA's current leaders focus on transitional industry leadership. This S2KM blog post...

NSSTA 2008 Fall Meeting - 1

Posted on October 29, 2008
The National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) hosted its 2008 Fall Regional Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Francisco from October 22-24. Other structured settlement bloggers, including Mark Wahlstrom of the Legal Broadcast Network, have already published online...

NASP 2008 Annual Meeting - 3

Posted on October 26, 2008
Prior S2KM blog posts about the NASP 2008 Annual Meeting: NASP 2008 Annual Meeting - 1 Summarizes the NASP presentations which S2KM attended; Highlights the questions S2KM addressed to NASP's structured settlement panel. NASP 2008 Annual Meeting - 2 Re-introduces...

NASP 2008 Annual Meeting - 2

Posted on October 25, 2008
S2KM's prior NASP 2008 blog post (NASP 2008 Annual Meeting - 1): Summarizes the NASP presentations which S2KM attended; Highlights the questions S2KM addressed to NASP's structured settlement panel. This S2KM blog post: Re-introduces the NASP structured settlement panelists; Re-confirms...

NASP 2008 Annual Meeting - 1

Posted on October 25, 2008
S2KM attended portions of two professional association meetings this week: National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) in San Francisco; and National Association of Settlement Purchasers (NASP) in Las Vegas. The NASP meeting was attended by 110 attorneys and factoring company...

Historical Structured Settlement Annuity Premium

Posted on October 20, 2008
S2KM has added an historical summary of structured settlement annuity premium to its public structured settlement wiki using "Structured Settlements and Periodic Payment Judgments" footnote 1 Section 1.03 as its source document.

AIG Structured Settlement Wiki

Posted on October 19, 2008
AIG developments of interest and importance to structured settlement stakeholders are continuing on a daily basis. For structured settlement stakeholders who are attempting to monitor AIG developments, S2KM has created and continues to update this AIG Structured Settlement Wiki including...

Special Needs Trusts X

Posted on October 17, 2008
Stetson Law School hosted the 10th Annual Special Needs Trust (SNT) Conference October 16-17, 2008 at the Don CeSar Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida. More than 300 attorneys, trustees, care planners and structured settlement consultants attended one or...

AIG Knew About Valuation Problems

Posted on October 12, 2008
Despite denials by former AIG CEO Martin Sullivan last week before a Congressional subcommittee, a Wall Street Journal article (subscription required) published this weekend offers evidence that top AIG officials knew about problems in valuing derivative contracts as early as...

AIG Weekend Update

Posted on October 10, 2008
It has been a rough week for American International Group (AIG). Former AIG CEO's Martin J. Sullivan and Robert B. Willumstad faced harsh criticism when they testified on Tuesday before Congress. Legislators focused most of their questions on AIG's investments...

NAMSAP 2008 Annual Meeting

Posted on October 06, 2008
The National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals (NAMSAP) hosted its 2008 Annual Meeting October 2 in Washington, D.C. One hundred and thirty-six members attended including attorneys, insurers, life care planners, MSA administrators and structured settlement professionals...

AIG Announces Possible Sales

Posted on October 05, 2008
AIG announced on Friday it may sell its North American life subsidiaries, including American General, as part of its plan to repay an $85 billion bailout loan from the U.S. government. American General is AIG's primary issuer of structured settlement...

AIG Structured Settlement Agents

Posted on October 01, 2008
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced on September 17, 2008 that Eric R. Dinallo, New York's Insurance Superintendent, will oversee an NAIC task force created to expedite the approval of sales of American International Group (AIG) assets...

AIG Structured Settlement Annuity Market

Posted on September 29, 2008
What is happening with AIG annuities in the structured settlement market? Two weeks have passed since AIG's Board of Directors approved the largest government bailout of a private company in United States history just "hours before bankruptcy". In recent years,...

AIG Structured Settlement Timeline

Posted on September 29, 2008
The events of the past two weeks have been unprecedented in American financial history as well as structured settlement history. This blog post continues S2KM's coverage of AIG in the context of the current financial crisis and how to grow...

AIG - 2

Posted on September 22, 2008
This blog post continues an S2KM series about the new (post 9/16/2008) structured settlement strategic landscape - and how to grow the structured settlement market. The structured settlement industry dodged another bullet (more like a bomb) when AIG announced on...

AIG - 1

Posted on September 21, 2008
As the Wall Street Journal headlined this weekend, September 14-20, 2008 represents "The Week That Changed American Capitalism". How did the events of the past seven days impact structured settlements? This S2KM blog post, which begins S2KM's analysis of the...

MSA Update - 3C: Structured Settlement Annuities

Posted on September 09, 2008
This S2KM blog post is the sixth in a series of S2KM blog posts in 2008 updating Medicare set-aside (MSA) developments that impact the growth of structured settlements. S2KM's previous posts about MSAs include: Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act...

MSA Update - 3B: Structured Settlement Annuities

Posted on September 08, 2008
A prior S2KM blog post (MSA Update - 3A: Structured Settlement Annuities) introduced Thomas Spratt as a Medicare set-aside (MSA) expert. This post continues that conversation and looks more closely at MSA cases involving structured settlement annuities...

MSA Update - 3A: Structured Settlement Annuities

Posted on September 02, 2008
This S2KM blog post begins an Interview with Thomas Spratt about structured settlement annuities and Medicare set-aside arrangements (MSA). This S2KM interview continues two related S2KM series: Growing the Structured Settlement Market; and Medicare Set-Aside Update...

Medicare Set-Aside Update - 2

Posted on August 27, 2008
S2KM's prior blog post titled "Medicare Set-Aside Update-1" provides historical background and summarizes recent developments impacting Medicare set-aside arrangements (MSA) in the context of growing the structured settlement market. This S2KM blog post summarizes existing CMS rules for structured settlements...

Medicare Set-Aside Update - 1

Posted on August 25, 2008
Expanding the use of structured settlement annuities as funding alternatives for Medicare set-aside arrangements (MSA) and special needs trusts (SNT) represents a strategic industry priority for growing the structured settlement market. This S2KM post provides historical background and summarizes recent...

Interview with Randy Snow - 3

Posted on August 13, 2008
This blog post continues two related S2KM series: Interview with Randy Snow Part 1 Part 2 Growing the Structured Settlement Market. S2KM: Randy, with your busy travel schedule, have you found any time to watch the Beijing Olympics? Randy Snow:...

Interview with Randy Snow - 2

Posted on August 09, 2008
This blog post continues two related S2KM series: Interview with Randy Snow; and Growing the Structured Settlement Market. S2KM: Your injury occurred in 1975 - just prior to United States structured settlements in the late 1970s. Have you had any...

Interview with Randy Snow - 1

Posted on August 08, 2008
S2KM's "Interview with Randy Snow" continues an S2KM series titled "Growing the Structured Settlement Market". This S2KM blog post introduces Randy Snow and begins the interview. Subsequent blog posts will continue the interview and share Randy's thoughts about: Transition, change...

Growing the Structured Settlement Market - 3

Posted on August 07, 2008
This S2KM blog post is the third in a series titled "Growing the Structured Settlement Market". Here are links to the prior posts: Part 1 Part 2 According to industry sources, structured settlement annuity premium for 2007 totaled approximately $6...

Growing the Structured Settlement Market - 2

Posted on July 24, 2008
A prior S2KM blog post introduced the subject of "Growing the Structured Settlement Market". This post continues the discussion and highlights some of the important issues related to structured settlement market growth. Transition, Change and Growth - Joseph Ricci, NSSTA's...

Growing the Structured Settlement Market

Posted on July 23, 2008
For the past several years, the structured settlement industry has experienced significant change without any significant overall growth of annual annuity premium. Several structured settlement annuity providers (Aegon, Genworth, Travelers, and Transamerica among others) have left the structured settlement market...

S2P2J Releases 43 and 44

Posted on July 20, 2008
ALM has published and distributed Release 43 of "Structured Settlements and Periodic Payment Judgments" (S2P2J). Co-authored by Daniel Hindert, Joseph Dehner and Patrick Hindert, S2P2J is a legal textbook first published in 1986 and updated semi-annually...

Web 2.0 Update

Posted on July 04, 2008
S2KM's blog encourages collaborative thinking and commentary about the impact of the Internet on four overlapping markets: Structured settlements; Personal injury settlement planning; Special needs planning; and The secondary insurance markets. S2KM's coverage includes information and observations about industry leaders...

Pullman & Comley's Structured Settlement Insights-2

Posted on June 26, 2008
Pullman & Comley's Summer 2008 edition of its "Structured Settlement Insights" summarizes three recent and significant developments impacting the structured settlement secondary market: Two Fresno County, California Superior Court decisions finding violations of the California Structured Settlement Protection Act (SSPA)...

Structured Settlement Thought Leadership Conference

Posted on June 18, 2008
Focusing on the needs and best interests of consumers, the first-ever Structured Settlement Thought Leadership Conference took place June 17, 2008 in Philadelphia. Designed to bring together knowledge leaders who are "redefining structured settlement roles and processes", the Leadership Conference...

IRC 468B Funds Revisited - 3

Posted on June 11, 2008
Two earlier S2KM blog posts prioritize a new article published in the NAELA Journal by John J. Campbell titled "The Use of Qualified Settlement Funds, Qualified Assignments and Special Needs Trusts in Physical Injury Settlements" to refocus on single claimant...

IRC 468B Funds Revisited - 2

Posted on June 09, 2008
S2KM's earlier blog post (IRC 468B Funds Revisited) refocuses S2KM and S2KM's readership on 468B Funds as the single most important strategic issue for the settlement planning and structured settlement industries. S2KM's earlier blog post also recommends educational resources and...

NSSTA's New Leadership

Posted on June 08, 2008
The National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) has announced the election of Daniel Durbin as association President-elect. Durbin joins Christopher Diamantis, NSSTA President, and Joseph Ricci, NSSTA's new Executive Director, to form NSSTA's new leadership team...

IRC Section 468B Funds Revisited

Posted on June 07, 2008
S2KM previously has published online learning resources about Internal Revenue Code Section 468B Funds: S2KM Blog Posts Definitions of Designated Settlement Funds (DSF) and Qualified Settlement Funds (QSF); Single Claimant 468B Funds Robert Wood Podcast SSP Annual Meetings featuring 468B...

Settlement Trusts Revisited

Posted on May 24, 2008
S2KM previously published blog posts in 2004 about: Settlement trusts Selecting a settlement trustee The Spring 2008 issue of "The Brief", a publication of the Tort, Trial and Litigation section of the American Bar Association (ABA), features an article written...

2008 NAELA Symposium - 2

Posted on May 19, 2008
This blog post looks at the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and elder law certification (CELA) from the perspective of knowledge management (KM) and web 2.0. S2KM's prior blog post (2008 NAELA Symposium-1) featured S2KM's "Web 2.0 for...

2008 NAELA Symposium - 1

Posted on May 18, 2008
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) celebrated its 20th Anniversary May 15-18 at the Hyatt Regency Resort in Maui. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit organization consisting of 4400 members in the United States, Canada, Australia and...

National Settlement Consultants

Posted on May 04, 2008
National Settlement Consultants (NSC) hosted its second Annual Meeting at the Bedford Springs Resort May 1-3, 2008. The NSC meeting demonstrated why many industry experts view Michael and William Goodman, NSC founders and principals, as structured settlement leaders and visionaries...

2008 NSSTA Annual Meeting - 2

Posted on April 26, 2008
S2KM summarized the 2008 Annual Meeting of the National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) in a prior blog post (2008 NSSTA Annual Meeting - 1). This blog post highlights industry issues and S2KM questions resulting from the NSSTA meeting...

2008 NSSTA Annual Meeting - 1

Posted on April 20, 2008
The National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) hosted its 2008 Annual Meeting at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Resort April 16-19. Approximately 250 persons attended. This S2KM blog post summarizes the 2008 NSSTA Annual Meeting. A subsequent S2KM blog...

2008 ASNP Annual Meeting

Posted on March 31, 2008
The Second Annual Meeting of the Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP), titled "Beyond Nuts & Bolts: When Theory Meets Reality", took place March 27-29, 2008 in New Orleans. Open to non-ASNP members, ASNP's 2008 program attracted more than 100...

Structured Settlement Wiki

Posted on March 24, 2008
S2KM has published a structured settlement wiki. S2KM's objectives and purposes: Publish a wiki for structured settlement professionals and stakeholders. Feature industry issues and knowledge leaders in web 2.0 formats. Encourage industry practice communities and networks to use wikis...

SSP 2008 Annual Meeting - 2

Posted on March 12, 2008
The Society of Settlement Planners (SSP) hosted its 2008 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 5-7. Approximately 75 persons attended the SSP meeting including settlement planners, special needs attorneys and annuity provider representatives. Under direction from 2007 SSP President...

West Virginia Update

Posted on March 11, 2008
The West Virginia legislature has amended and reenacted the state's current structured settlement protection statute. According to Representative Ronald N. Walters, one of the bill's sponsors, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin is expected to sign House Bill 4613 into law...

2008 AAPD Leadership Gala Dinner

Posted on March 02, 2008
On March 5, 2008, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) will host its 2008 Leadership Gala Dinner in Washington, D.C. Structured settlement leaders from both NSSTA and SSP will be attending the AAPD dinner - in addition to...

Who is Michael Upchurch?

Posted on February 29, 2008
Earlier this week, David and Dorothy Snyder announced that Michael A. Upchurch had purchased The Delta Group of Settlement Companies effective March 1, 2008. As the new owner, Chairman and CEO of Delta Settlements, Michael Upchurch becomes a prominent stakeholder...

Michael Upchurch Purchases Delta Settlements

Posted on February 26, 2008
David Snyder, owner, President and CEO of the Delta Group of Settlement Companies, and his wife Dorothy Snyder, have announced the sale of their company to Michael Upchurch of Jacksonville, Florida. Upchurch currently owns Upchurch Financial Services (UFS)...

Structured Settlement Transfers in Rhode Island

Posted on February 20, 2008
During the past three weeks, The Providence Journal has published two articles by Staff Writer Edward Fitzpatrick about structured settlement transfers (aka factoring) in Rhode Island. The articles feature State Superior Court Judges who express strong negative opinions about factoring...

West Virginia House Bill 4380

Posted on February 14, 2008
The 2000 agreement between the National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) and the National Association of Settlement Purchasers (NASP) to support the Model Structured Settlement Protection Act (Model Act) appears to be in jeopardy this week in West Virginia...

SSP 2008 Annual Meeting - 1

Posted on February 04, 2008
The Society of Settlement Planners (SSP) has announced the educational program schedule for its 2008 Annual Meeting to take place March 5-7 in Washington, D.C. at the Marriott Hotel at Metro Center. Registration forms and online registration are available on...

The King of Torts Addresses Structured Settlements

Posted on January 27, 2008
The keynote address by esteemed trial attorney Joseph Jamail (aka "The King of Torts") was one of the highlights of the NSSTA 2008 Winter Meeting. Jamail and Jay Harvey, the immediate past-president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA), who....

NSSTA 2008 Winter Regional Meeting

Posted on January 18, 2008
The National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) hosted its 2008 Winter Regional Meeting January 16-18 at the Barton Creek Resort in the Texas hill country west of Austin. Approximately 150 persons attended. NSSTA's educational program and featured speakers highlighted some...

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007

Posted on January 16, 2008
S2KM's first blog post of 2008 provides an addendum to Structured Settlements in 2007 and highlights the "Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007" (Extension Act) which President George W. Bush signed into law on December 29, 2007. For...

Structured Settlements in 2007

Posted on December 31, 2007
Happy holidays from S2KM Limited. Thank you for reading S2KM's blog during 2007. This final 2007 S2KM blog post highlights some of this year's important structured settlement developments and issues. For additional background information, see: S2KM Mid-2007 Structured Settlement Report...

SSPA Non-Contravention Standards

Posted on December 20, 2007
State courts play an important "gatekeeper" role for structured settlement factoring transactions. IRC section 5891 imposes a 40 percent federal excise tax if a factoring transaction does not receive required state court approval. State structured settlement protection acts (SSPAs) make...

Secondary Life and Annuity Markets - 1

Posted on December 11, 2007
Recent developments related to the secondary life insurance and annuity markets should encourage several professional associations to learn more about these markets - and to provide improved education in 2008 for their members about these markets. Responsible professional associations include:...

Executive Life Of New York - 1

Posted on December 08, 2007
Was it merely coincidental that New York Governor Eliot Spitzer announced an "agreement in principle" for Executive Life of New York (ELNY) the same week "agreements in principle" unraveled for multiple high profile college football coaches? As college football fans...

Deal Flow Media Webinar

Posted on November 24, 2007
Deal Flow Media publishes reports, and also sponsors webinars and conferences, about specialized financial markets. Deal Flow Media's markets include: Life Settlements Private Investments in Public Equity (PIPEs) Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) Reverse Mortgages Distressed Debt On November 29,...

2007 Advanced Elder Law Institute

Posted on November 06, 2007
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) hosted its 2007 Advanced Elder Law Institute November 2-4 at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee under the leadership of NAELA's 2007 President Mark Shalloway and NAELA's 2007 Institute Chair Christine A...

Unauthorized Practice of Law - 1

Posted on October 28, 2007
Mark Wahlstrom has written a blog post titled "Structured settlement brokers drafting settlement documents. Are you guys nuts?" that highlights an important and controversial industry issue. Mark's question: does a routine structured settlement business practice (life insurance agents drafting personal...

NASP 2007 Annual Meeting - 3

Posted on October 24, 2007
This blog post concludes S2KM's coverage of the NASP 2007 Annual Meeting held October 18-19 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. and highlights selected comments from the NASP panel discussion about the Structured Settlement Market addressing: Structured settlement brand;...

NASP 2007 Annual Meeting - 2

Posted on October 23, 2007
This blog post continues S2KM's reporting about NASP's 2007 Annual Meeting. For earlier S2KM reporting: see NASP 2007 Annual Meeting - 1. S2KM continues to update and improve the nasp wiki where S2KM is capturing key components of a conversation...

NASP 2007 Annual Meeting - 1

Posted on October 20, 2007
The National Association of Settlement Purchasers (NASP) hosted its 2007 Annual Meeting October 18-19 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. This author was privileged to participate. S2KM's reporting about NASP's 2007 Annual Meeting begins with this blog post and...