Litigation

Let There Be No More Structured Settlement "Sage Fright"

By John Darer

According to an article published in this month's Financial Planning, "attorney Robert Thompson, president of Sage Financial Design in Simsbury, Conn., is passionate about forging new paths in financial planning. In conversation, one quickly senses the missionary zeal he brings to a wide variety of overlooked niche markets, including college planning, philanthropic planning, low-cost trust administration and even pro bono cable television show production (stay tuned)".

The article goes on to say that before launching Sage in 1984, Thompson spent 17 years in a more restrictive environment as a general agent for a large insurance company. Emerging from the confines of this product-oriented environment, in his early days with Sage he found plenty of legal work in consulting for structured settlements. Even before going solo, he recalls being disillusioned with structured settlements because "no one was concerned about the injured party." In my opinion that absolute was not the case then and is certainly not the case today.

I remember and respect Robert Thompson from my early days in the structured settlement industry. Years ago it was Robert Thompson who introduced me to the concept of NIMCRUT. No, that's not the name of some remote Alaskan fishing village. It stands for "Net-Income with Make-Up Charitable Remainder Trust". I'm pleased to see that Bob is doing well at what he enjoys. Congratulations Bob on the good press.

I think Bob would also be pleased to know that the field known as "settlement planning" is maturing and now has its own professional designation program, the Registered Settlement Planner, which is being delivered through Texas Tech financial planning program. Click for my February 4, 2008 write up "The Registered Settlement Planner program experience... A View from the Middle".

I don't believe Robert Thompson would be "disillusioned with structured settlements" today.

Full post as published by Structured Settlements 4Real on March 27, 2008 (boomark / email).