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STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS

By Jason D. Lazarus

Introduction

Catastrophically injured individuals have unique needs when it comes time to settle their cases.  A one-size-fits-all approach does not work given the complexities that are faced today upon resolution of a personal injury lawsuit. Consideration of how healthcare will be obtained have become much more complicated with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). An analysis is needed, in many cases, of whether to keep public benefits, such as Medicaid, in place for healthcare or go into the exchanges. In some cases, future Medicare eligibility may be jeopardized if proper planning is not done. Moreover, the question of how best to manage the net proceeds presents an important question that cannot be overlooked. Should the settlement be structured?  Should a trust be utilized?  Are there public benefit preservation issues that will determine what type of trust needs to be created?

Frequently these questions are overlooked because the defendant comes to mediation with a “structured settlement broker” who offers the solution to all of these issues, a structured settlement annuity.  Structured settlement annuities are a great planning device and certainly have their place in the resolution of a personal injury settlement. The problem becomes when it is touted as the solution to every issue and it is mandated by an insurer through their own captive life insurance company. The purpose of this article is to educate attorneys about the many issues that should be considered before accepting a settlement plan and an argument about why it is imperative to have an experienced “settlement planner” work directly with the personal injury victim.

Why You Need a Plaintiff “Settlement Planner”

Before talking about the planning-related issues that have become so important in today’s settlement landscape, I wanted to engage in a discussion and argument related to the importance to having a plaintiff-based “settlement planner” working with your client.  First and foremost, it is vitally important to have a credentialed expert assisting with what will be the most important financial transaction of the injury victim’s life.  A settlement is meant to last the remainder of that person’s life.  Making sure all options are explored is critical.  Secondly, making sure that client is properly protected in any transaction involving the insurance company and a structured settlement is imperative.  Protecting yourself from liability in these transactions is exceedingly important as they are complex and highly specialized.  Having an experienced team to guide you through the issues and make sure you don’t have malpractice exposure is critical.

I say that not to bash the other side, but to illustrate that their allegiance and concerns lie with their clients, the defendant insurance companies.  Typically, there is an emphasis on structured settlements being the only possible solution to managing the client’s settlement proceeds.  This is not limited to “brokers” that work for defendants.  There are also plaintiff “brokers” who only offer annuities as a funding solution.  However, a plaintiff-based settlement planner will rarely take this viewpoint.  Instead, the settlement planner will offer options and solutions based upon the needs of the client.  It is a needs-based planning approach that takes into consideration all of the factors that come into play for that particular client’s future plans.  It looks at financial issues, future wants/needs, available healthcare options and management of the client’s future care well into the future.  It typically will involve trusts, structured settlement annuities, life insurance, Affordable Care Act health insurance programs and other financial products.  An analysis of preservation of needs-based government benefits programs is typically undertaken to help clients decide whether it is right for them to stay eligible for benefits such as Medicaid and SSI.  It is a totally different perspective from those that are “structure brokers” for the defense that exclusively offer annuity-based solutions.  A settlement planner’s goal is to guard against the personal injury plaintiff from being victimized a second time by poorly crafted solutions or, worse yet, a one-product-fits-all approach.

This is not to say that structured settlements do not have their virtues.  They are an excellent choice for funding future quantifiable needs.  A properly crafted structured settlement provides guaranteed income tax-free payment streams for the injury victim.  A structure is also income tax-free to the death beneficiaries should something happen to the original annuitant (the injury victim).  They also enjoy certain protections from creditors and judgments.  There are no ongoing fees and costs associated with managing a structured settlement.  The injury victim can transfer the risk of outliving the settlement dollars to a well-capitalized, highly-rated life insurance company.  The tax-free returns, while conservative, are competitive with other fixed income products available in the marketplace.  For the foregoing reasons, a tax-free structured settlement is frequently going to be part of the ultimate settlement plan for the injury victim.  Frequently they are the cornerstone of the plan.

What Separates a “Settlement Planner” from the Rest? 

Having the depth of knowledge to address all of the planning related issues at settlement is what separates a “settlement planner” from a “broker”.  Things like understanding how the ACA works and its intersection with Medicaid/Medicare; being able to navigate thru Medicare Secondary Payer compliance issues and preservation of needs based public benefits; addressing the use of Qualified Settlement Funds (QSFs) and having a firm command of the types of settlement trusts that can be deployed (from SNTs to pooled trusts to Settlement Asset Management Trusts to ACA-optimized trusts).  These are the cornerstone of the planner’s arsenal and are vital to proper planning in a catastrophic injury case.  Below, I will address these issues in greater detail.

When you represent a catastrophically injured client who receives a large monetary settlement or award, many questions arise. Should the client seek Social Security Disability benefits and become Medicare-eligible? Should he or she create a Medicare set-aside? What if the client receives needs-based benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income? Is coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act a better or even an available option? How should the recovery be managed from a financial perspective? Is a trust appropriate, or a structured settlement? There are no easy answers to these questions, but here are some guidelines for navigating the terrain and advising your client.

Public Benefits

You need to understand the basics of public benefit programs and their differences to protect your client’s eligibility for them and plan for their recovery. Two primary public benefit programs are available to the injured and disabled: Medicaid with the intertwined Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Medicare with the related Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). Receipt of a personal injury recovery can jeopardize a client’s eligibility for both programs.

Medicaid and SSI.  SSI is a need-based cash assistance program administered by the Social Security Administration. To receive SSI, the person must be either 65 or older, or blind or disabled, plus he or she must be a U.S. citizen and meet the financial eligibility requirements. In many states, one dollar of SSI benefits automatically provides Medicaid coverage. It is imperative in most situations to preserve some level of SSI benefits if Medicaid will be needed in the future. Medicaid provides basic health care coverage for those who cannot afford it. The state and federally funded program is run differently in each state, so eligibility requirements and available services vary. Because Medicaid and SSI depend on income and assets, a special needs trust may be necessary to preserve eligibility.

Medicare and SSDI.  These are entitlement benefits and are not income or asset sensitive. Clients who meet Social Security’s definition of disability and have paid enough into the system can receive disability benefits regardless of their financial situation. SSDI is funded by payroll contributions to Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and self-employment taxes. Workers earn credits based on their work history. Medicare is a federal health insurance program, and benefits begin at age 65 or two years after becoming disabled. Medicaid can supplement Medicare coverage if the client is eligible for both programs. For example, Medicaid can pay for prescription drugs as well as Medicare copayments or deductibles. A special needs trust is not necessary to protect eligibility for Medicare benefits; however, the Medicare Secondary Payer Act may necessitate use of a Medicare set-aside.

Planning Techniques for Government Benefit Preservation

Protect Medicaid and SSI eligibility. The primary vehicle for protecting needs-based benefits is a special needs trust (SNT). Assets held in a special needs trust are not countable for purposes of Medicaid or SSI eligibility.  Federal law governs the creation of and requirements for such trusts.  First and foremost, a client must be disabled to create an SNT. There are two primary types of SNTs, each with its own requirements and restrictions. The (d)(4)(A) special needs trust is only for those who are under 65. This trust holds the personal injury victim’s recovery and is for the victim’s own benefit. Alternatively, a (d)(4)(C) trust, typically called a pooled trust,  may be established with the disabled victim’s funds without regard to age.  Both types of SNTs can be established by the injury victim, a parent, grandparent, guardian, or court order.

Protect future Medicare coverage.   For any client who is a current Medicare beneficiary or reasonably expects to become one within 30 months, the Medicare Secondary Payer Act is implicated. According to CMS’s interpretation of this law, Medicare is not supposed to pay for future injury-related medical expenses covered by a liability or workers’ compensation settlement or award. In certain cases, a Medicare set-aside may be advisable to preserve future eligibility for Medicare coverage. A portion of the settlement is put into a segregated account and can be used only for the client’s injury-related care that would otherwise be covered by Medicare. Once the set-aside funds are exhausted, the client gets full Medicare coverage without Medicare seeking further contribution, reimbursement or subrogation.  In certain circumstances, Medicare signs off on the amount to be set aside and agrees to be responsible for all future expenses once those funds are depleted.

Dual eligibility.  If a client is a Medicaid and Medicare recipient, extra planning is in order. A Medicare set-aside can affect eligibility for needs-based benefits such as Medicaid and SSI, if it is not set up inside a special needs trust. Therefore, to maintain the client’s full benefits, the set-aside must be put inside an appropriate trust. A hybrid trust that addresses both Medicaid and Medicare is a complicated planning tool but one that is essential when you have a client with dual eligibility.

Financial Planning

After protecting public benefits, you should also consider how to best manage a client’s financial recovery. Should part of it be a structured settlement? Does the client need ongoing management of financial affairs or help from a fiduciary such as a corporate trustee? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. Here are some options to consider to help your client make an informed decision.

One is to take the whole personal injury recovery in a lump sum. This lump sum is not taxable, but any investment gains are.  This option does not provide any spendthrift protection and leaves the funds at risk for creditor claims, judgments, and waste.  Also, the injured client has the sole burden of managing the money to cover future needs such as lost wages or medical expenses. As discussed above, the client would lose any needs-based public benefits.

The second option is a structured settlement to provide fixed periodic payments. A structured settlement’s investment gains are never taxed, it offers spendthrift protection, and the money has enhanced protection against creditor claims and judgments. A structured settlement recipient can avoid disqualification from public assistance if he or she also implements an appropriate trust, as discussed above.

A third option, which should always be considered, is a settlement trust. These are typically managed by a professional trustee and can also contain provisions to help preserve needs-based benefits. Settlement trusts provide liquidity and flexibility that a structured settlement cannot offer, and at the same time protect the recovery. The investment options become limitless and the trust can always be paired with a traditional structured settlement. It also protects the structured settlement from being sold to a factoring company (i.e., J.G. Wentworth).  Having a professional trustee in place that has a fiduciary duty to the client provides security and a trusted resource for life and financial management issues. In certain cases, this solution makes a lot of sense because of its ability to adapt to changing circumstances. When a disabled injury victim has needs that are not easily quantifiable or predictable, the settlement trust can adjust to the client’s needs. When a settlement trust is paired with a structured settlement, the client can have guaranteed income for life and sufficient liquidity.

Conclusion – Identify Clients Who Need Planning

You must establish a method of screening your files to identify clients who are sufficiently disabled to warrant further planning and determine whether you should consult outside experts. The easiest way to remember the process is the acronym CAD:

  • C—consult with competent experts who can help deal with these complicated issues.
  • A—advise the client about the available planning vehicles or have an outside expert do so.
  • D—document your efforts to protect your client.

If the client declines any type of planning, document the advice and education provided and have the client sign an acknowledgement. If he or she elects a settlement plan, hire skilled experts to put the plan together so they can help you document your file properly to close it compliantly.

Disabled clients especially need counseling given the likelihood they will be receiving some type of public benefits. To prevent being exposed to a malpractice suit, you should understand the types of public benefits for a disabled client and techniques for preserving them.

 

B Josh Pettingill

Appropriate settlement language can make a significant impact on the total amount of the workers’ compensation settlement, as well as dollars that the injured worker receives. This brief article will provide plaintiff/applicant attorneys with the requisite settlement language to maximize the workers’ compensation recovery, as well as protect their respective firms and clients.

Since the insurance carrier is cutting the check to resolve the workers’ compensation case, they may potentially have leverage to dictate the terms of the settlement. Some plaintiff/applicants’ attorneys may – agree to or overlook certain critical provisions of the settlement to expedite the resolution. Below are the key areas to focus on when drawing up a mediation, or settlement agreement to ensure a timely resolution, as well as maximize the recovery.

Medicare Set-Aside

Make sure to include an all-inclusive figure that encompasses Medicare-covered items, non-Medicare-covered items, and indemnity. Oftentimes, there are ways to get the MSA amount lowered due to the errors by the carrier’s MSA expert or through funding with a structured settlement. Any savings on the MSA can go directly in the injured workers’ pockets. Do not ever agree to terms that suggest some fixed amount PLUS the MSA. If that were to happen, then any savings on the MSA would go the carrier and not the claimant/applicant.

Structured Settlement

There must be language that allows the injured worker the option to place a portion of the settlement proceeds into a structured settlement. If not, some carriers may refuse to fund a structured settlement at a later time. This also allows for time for a qualified settlement consultant to meet with the injured worker to develop a proper settlement plan. Furthermore, you should include verbiage that states any structured settlement shall be brokered or co-brokered by Synergy Settlement Services, or XYZ Plaintiff Structured Settlement Company.

Funding the Agreement

Language should also be included about paying the settlement monies in a timely manner and funding any structured settlements expeditiously. These could be provisions for extra attorney fees, as well as penalties and interest for failure to do so. For example, this could be based either on a certain number of days after CMS approval or approval by the judge of compensation claims.

Continuation of Benefits

Attorneys for the injured worker should include language that medical and indemnity benefits will stay intact for a set time period or until the settlement checks have been issued. That way, the injured worker does not lose out on any benefits and there is no gap in coverage. This can be life-threatening to catastrophically injured workers if they are not able to receive ongoing medical care.

Conclusion

These are just a few of many issues that should be addressed in the settlement/mediation agreement. Other topics include reversionary clauses, CMS approval of the Medicare Set-Aside and what happens if CMS comes back with a larger suggested MSA amount than what was submitted. Settlement language can either make or break a settlement.  You need to have a qualified settlement consultant to assist with these complex issues. Synergy attends mediations at no cost to you or your client and offer a number of services to attorneys for workers’ compensation claims, liability claims, medical malpractice and more. Ask us today how we can help protect your law firm firm/your client, maximize the recovery of a workers’ compensation case and make your firm more efficient.

To learn more about Synergy’s Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Asides, visit our website.

Securing the best future for the client is always a priority for an attorney in a personal injury case. Depending on the amount, it may be in the client’s best interest to have a structured settlement annuity instead of a lump sum payment. A structured annuity often works in your client’s favor because it is difficult for clients to budget their own expenses over time when other expenses come up. Working with a structured settlement broker (structured broker) or settlement planner can help you provide the best service and settlement for your client and their future needs.

Both structured brokers and settlement planners are experienced professionals with skills that can help you give your client a smoother experience during a potentially difficult time in their life.

Structured Broker

A structured broker has experience arranging structured settlements for clients. Before your client’s settlement agreement is finalized, the decision to structure must be made. The structured settlement broker will secure the settlement through a third party, often an insurance company that purchases the structured settlement annuity. The broker can also walk you through the tax implications and best options for your client.

Something to be aware of is that the claimants may hire their own structured broker who will not have your client’s best interests in mind. It’s best to work with someone you choose so your client isn’t stuck with the defense’s choice.

Settlement Planner

Settlement planners can help early on in the case so attorneys can focus on building a case and supporting their clients. They will take into account the treatment plan, outstanding liens, bankruptcy concerns, and potential assistance from government programs, before making a recommendation for a settlement strategy that will best fit the client. As an additional advocate for your client, a settlement planner can maximize the settlement.

It may be that a structured settlement is not the best option for the client, in that case, the settlement planner can make a recommendation like a special needs trust or a pooled trust. The settlement planner will clearly detail their options, saving you time and allowing you to focus on other important tasks for the settlement.

Experience Counts

Choosing the right structured broker or settlement planner can save you time and give your client the best experience possible. Most trial attorneys aren’t experienced in arranging structured settlement annuities, having an experienced settlement professional involved in the case can reduce liability.

A structured settlement broker or settlement planner can arrange structured settlement annuities for large sums or smaller settlements. Synergy Settlement Services has worked on a number of cases of greatly varying values, some of which have been around $15,000.

For more information about setting up a structured annuity or to schedule a consultation, please submit our contact request form.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

When your client is awarded a settlement, an annuity can be utilized to parse out payments and ensure that funds are being distributed sensibly. After working tirelessly to build your client’s case so that they receive a fair settlement, you want to guarantee that their settlement retains its value for years to come. An annuity, which is typically a contract between a plaintiff and an insurer, disseminates payments in regular intervals to provide a stream of income for years to come.

There are many types of annuities including fixed, fixed index, variable and indexed, but fixed and fixed index are the most commonly used types of annuities for structured settlements. Understanding the differences between these types of annuities is integral to maximizing your client’s settlement. A settlement planner can partner with an attorney to help their client benefit from a tax-free annuity.

The Two Phases Annuitization

An annuity is a product of financial institutions that have the resources to manage payouts and improve the value of a settlement. A structured settlement through an annuity can offer a much greater value than a lump-sum payment. Plaintiffs who work with a settlement planner will invest funds into an annuity with the intention of receiving payments later on.

There are two phases of an annuity, the accumulation phase and the annuitization phase. During the accumulation phase, the annuity is funded and prepared for future payouts. Once your client begins to receive payments, the contract has officially entered the annuitization phase.

Common Types of Annuity Payments for Structured Settlements

As we mentioned above, the purpose of an annuity is to exchange a lump sum payment (or settlement) for a series of disbursements that help the plaintiff maximize the value of their settlement. Annuities can be used to help cover specific financial needs including principal protection, lifetime income, legacy planning, or the cost of long-term health care.

For personal injury plaintiffs, a tax-free annuity can be acquired under 104(a) of the IRS codes, which establishes that all personal injuries cases are exempt from federal and state income taxes.  

Annuity payments can begin immediately following the receival of the settlement or at a specified date in the future. Some types of annuity payments include:

 

  • Fixed Annuity: provides the settlement recipient with regular, secure payments every month. A settlement planner can help determine the level of funding needed on a monthly basis to cover the recipient’s bills and living expenses.
  • Fixed Index Annuity: unlike a fixed annuity, a fixed index annuity readjusts according to market conditions. Typically, this type of annuity is utilized by recipients hoping to turn their annuity into an investment. Recipients can take advantage of a healthy market, and since this type of annuity is still “fixed” there’s no downside if the market takes a dive.

 

When you work with a settlement planner from Synergy Settlement Services, your personal injury client can take advantage of a tax-free settlement by receiving payments through a tax-free annuity.

For more information about how you can benefit from a tax-free settlement or to schedule a consultation, please submit our contact request form.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

In this two-part article, we are discussing the benefits of hiring a settlement planner. When a personal injury plaintiff is awarded a large settlement, they likely are not qualified to manage the funds they received in the settlement. There are many complex nuances in managing a settlement trust and its best to leave the financial planning to a financial expert with experience devising structured settlements. A settlement planner can help maximize a settlement and help your client reach their fiscal goals.

Settlement Planning Offers Long-Term Protection

With a settlement planner overseeing your client’s assets, the plaintiff will be ensured that they have long-term financial protection. One of the greatest benefits of a structured settlement is that the settlement planner can implement a plan for the recipient that suits their financial needs in the present and in the future. The financial expert is able to accomplish this through structured annuities.

Structured Annuities

When the defendant owes the plaintiff compensation after a settlement, the defendant purchases an annuity from an assignment company. This company is then obligated to provide funds to the plaintiff. This process of payment is called an annuity. There are many ways a structured annuity can be paid. The following payment methods are the most common in settlement cases.   

Lump Sum Payment: As we discussed in the first section, there are many negative examples of plaintiffs that elected to take a lump sum payment and ended up spending that money unwisely; however, there are some benefits. Typically, a lump sum payment is a good option for a cash-strapped person that is delinquent on bills that are accruing interest. Whether it’s a mortgage, credit card debt, or car payments, a lump sum payment can help the plaintiff immediately pay off these overdue bills.    

Deferred Lump Sum Payment: Settlement planning can incorporate significant future expenses into the plan. This way the capital will be saved away for when that important date arrives. For example, a plaintiff can allocate that a large portion of their settlement is made available when their children turn 18 for college tuition or when they are entering the retirement years.

Steadily Increased and Decreased Payments: One of the most common payment strategies is to slowly increase the payment over time. These structured annuities are very beneficial to help adjust for inflation by increasing over time. Adversely, a settlement recipient can also allocate their payments to decrease over the years as well. This may be ideal for a younger person that wants to pay off student loans and expects to earn more money in the future.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact us today.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

By: Jason D. Lazarus, J.D., LL.M., MSCC, CSSC

In a February 11, 2015 article from the Business Insider, Michael Kelly and Pamela Engel detail twenty one lottery winners who blew it all (see http://www.businessinsider.com/lottery-winners-who-lost-everything-2015-2?op=1). In the article, there are details regarding the myriad of ways fortunes were lost. For example, “Lara and Roger Griffiths bought their dream home… and then life fell apart.” Or worse yet, “Bud Post lost $16.2 million within a nightmarish year — his own brother put out a hit on him.” Or the all too common situation of “Sharon Tirabasssi” who “is back in the working class after winning $10 million 11 years ago.”

These stories are eerily similar to many anecdotal statistics frequently disseminated regarding personal injury victims who receive settlements. The statistic normally thrown around is that 90% of injury victims have nothing left within five years. While there are no scientific studies to back up that statistic according to some scholarly pieces written by several authors, it is undeniable that sudden wealth can have catastrophic results. Public benefits that are critical to future needs can be lost. Money can be mismanaged in a way that the injury victim winds up victimized a second time.

When a personal injury case settles there are options available to protect the settlement proceeds. The first option is to take the money in a single lump sum. Of course that presents the trap mentioned at the beginning of this article – rapid dissipation. Trying to figure out how to properly manage a large personal injury recovery can be a daunting task for not only the injury victim but also for their loved ones. There are so many ways to mismanage a fortune. In addition, needs based benefits will be lost in most instances since as little as $2,000 can cause ineligibility. This can leave the injury victim with huge medical expenses and no way to pay for them without spending the recovery for their care.

Because of the many down sides to taking a lump sum when settling a personal injury case, many injury victims are offered a structured settlement annuity. This is the second option. A structured settlement annuity is an income tax-free investment vehicle available exclusively to injury victims. There are many reasons to set up a structured settlement. First, the interest earned is income tax-free. There are no ongoing money management fees as it is self-executing. In most instances it enjoys enhanced creditor-judgment protection. It is spendthrift, meaning it can’t be dissipated quickly. The money is safe from predators and family members as well. In short, it is a protected asset with tax favored treatment. It is similar to having a job you can’t be fired from since you have a guaranteed income stream. Sound too good to be true? It isn’t without its faults. Once it is set up, it can’t be changed, accelerated or deferred. It can’t be sold (without taking a huge loss). The rates of return are conservative (think bond returns).

The third option is a settlement trust. Settlement trusts are a good alternative to taking the money in a lump sum or structuring the entire settlement. This is so because it provides spendthrift protection with liquidity and flexibility. Typically a settlement trust is created with some ongoing periodic distributions for living needs paired with a cash reserve that can be accessed for larger purchases. This allows the injury victim the best of both worlds while still offering protection of the monies from abrupt dissipation. As with structured settlements, it isn’t without faults. These trusts are typically permanent and can’t be undone. There are ongoing trust administration costs as well as tax on the interest earned.

There is a fourth option which is a combination of all of the foregoing three. Frequently, a lump sum is taken for immediate needs such as the acquisition of a house or car (perhaps both). Plus cash for other immediate needs such as paying off high interest debts or loans. The remaining funds can be split between a structured settlement annuity and a settlement trust. By pairing a tax-free structure with a trust, it provides a sound tax-advantaged financial plan for the recovery. It lowers the annual cost of trust administration as well since most trustees will only charge fees on assets held in the trust. In the end, the best plan is one that meets the needs and has enough flexibility to deal with changes in circumstances. Because taking a lump sum or just a structured settlement alone limits the options, it isn’t recommended for most personal injury settlements.

The key is finding an experienced professional settlement planner to work with. It is important to make sure that the planner has all of the different tools in his/her arsenal to properly create an all-encompassing plan. If a planner doesn’t have access to all of the financial products in the marketplace, doesn’t have the necessary professional qualifications and doesn’t ask the tough questions about needs/wants/desires, then find someone that will do so. Choose a firm that has experts on staff that can also analyze the public benefit preservation issues along with the options under the Affordable Care Act. Medicaid/Medicare eligibility, ACA coverage and liens can make for some tough issues at settlement, make sure the team includes experts that can help navigate those issues along with the financial planning issues.

Finally, plaintiff counsel should also explore options to protect their contingent legal fees. There are some great ways to invest fees on a pre-tax and tax deferred basis (see www.structuredfees.com). Attorneys can have sudden money problems too.

Contact Synergy today for more information at 877-242-0022 or by clicking here.

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