Structured settlements

Posted on July 20, 2008 by Barry Goldberg

A structured settlement is a payment stream resulting from compensation from a lawsuit, winning the lottery, or selling a mortgage note. The party receiving the payment stream has the guaranteed income over the life of the investment or award. There are good points and bad points to this.

One good thing is that you will have steady income for a long time to come. Some structured settlements last for 20 or 30 years. This will provide income for you and your family on a regular basis. It is also a way to keep the recipient of the award from spending all of his or her money right away.

On the other hand, a payment stream may not be a strong enough instrument to be able to get a loan for something you need right now, such as a home. Sometimes a large down payment is needed to get financing. In addition, the payment stays the same as inflation increases over the years. That makes the payments received 10, 20 or even 30 years down the road less valuable than the payments received today.

If you need a lump sum instead of a payment stream, there are a number of options. Sell all of the payments, or just enough to get the cash you need now. You decide what’s best for your financial future. We are happy to discuss this at any time. Please call.

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Structured Settlements in Canada

Posted on June 5, 2008 by David Austin

I recently read an article about structured settlements in Canada.  These are not limited to the United States.


An injured plaintiff who has proved his or her case may choose to settle out of court and be paid in a lump sum or through a structured settlement.

With a lump sum, you get all your money up front. A structured settlement, on the other hand, is an agreement to make periodic payments over a number of years.

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Structured settlements, which have been around in Canada since the late 1970s, are worth considering if the amount of the settlement is more than $100,000.

They are recommended in most infant and serious personal injury cases, and may be appropriate if you have future care needs, or if you're unable to work and earn a living or as much as you did before the accident.

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