News and Tips on structured settlement transfers.

Cash

Posts Tagged: structured settlements


17
Feb 14

Finding the Structured Settlement Company that is Right for You

Structured settlement payments, provide a reliable, stable source of income for the long term financial future of people who receive them through winnings or settlements. Structured payments are better than lump sums for many reasons. Structured payments, for example, prevent people from spending all of their money at once, leaving them with a steady income paid over a set period of time. Even so, there could be situations that can occur where having a larger sum of money is necessary. A competent structured settlement company can be your best bet when these occasions arise.

Company Longevity

A good place to start when looking for a settlement company is to check how long they have been around. A company with a stable history behind it is always a solid choice, though there’s nothing wrong with working with a new company. However, newer companies won’t have the solid reputations and history of quality service that established companies will have. A newer company might be a solid, trustworthy business just getting started on the market. Or, they can close and disappear tomorrow.

Quality Service

You also need to take into consideration a company’s reputation for dependable service. Everyone wants to choose the best, most reputable company, but determining a company’s reputation can be a challenging task. Most customer reviews on a company website should be viewed with a critical eye; a better place to find the information you need is at the Better Business Bureau. This is a great tool for researching many aspects of the company in question. From their business practices, satisfaction ratings, and history, this is a great way to determine if you are looking at a legitimate and honest company, or a fly-by-night operation that will cause you more pain than they are worth.

Getting Results Quickly

If there is anything that the leading structure settlement companies will have in common, it will be the ability to get you a variety of quotes from buyers in a short amount of time. This allows you to look at the competing offers and compare them in short order, with no long waiting periods. This will enable you to get compare companies and pick the offer that best meets your needs.

Thoroughly researching and comparing structured settlement companies will enable you to take full advantage of the money that is owed to you, and help you get the deal that is best meets your needs.


6
Jan 14

So You Want to Sell Your Structured Settlement

No matter if you are a lottery winner, or a claimant, your money will probably be in the form of a structured settlement. This can be the best option from many angle; It helps you receive a steady and reliable income and will keep you from blowing all of your money in one whack. It can also be easier on the company paying the settlement. But, this may not be the best option for every situation. Occasionally, the need for more money that a structured payment can provide will arise, which is where selling your payments comes in.

Locating the Right Company for You

Once you have decided to sell your structured settlement, you need to locate a reputable buyer. A lot of companies will make you an offer, but before you sell, you need to carefully compare companies and research them to make the best choice for you. Accepting the first offer from the first company you find is a great way to get less than the amount you deserve for your settlement.

The Best Offer

Keep in mind that if you sell your settlement, you won’t get the full amount won or awarded to you through the payment agreement you originally settled on.  No matter which company you choose, you will only get a percentage of your original total amount. This can be acceptable to many people, however, when the need for a large, lump sum payment arises. If you are going to sell your settlement or award payments, try to find a company that will offer you the highest percentage for your settlement.

Do Some Investigating

You should always research any company you are thinking of entering an agreement with. You’ll find that not every company has your best interests at heart. Spending time now to fully look into a company’s business practices, business ratings, and customer satisfaction can help you find a trustworthy company. That way, you can be sure you won’t be taken advantage of by a predatory company.

All the Info You Need

Trying to do everything on your own may not be the best decision you can make. A settlement broker can help you by supplying a variety of quotes from many different companies, ensuring you of all the information you need in order to make the best decisions regarding your money that you can possibly make. Making well informed, and thought out decisions regarding your settlement can be the best thing you can do for your financial future.


2
Dec 13

Why Should You Cash in Your Annuity

Getting an annual annuity payment makes a lot of sense for some people. An annuity can afford you the security and reliability of a regular income, regardless of whether it is from an insurance policy or from winning the lottery. Or at least, that’s what it is supposed to do. Annuity payments can guarantee you a regular income over a specific time-frame that allows you to live a normal life and plan for your future. Things don’t always work out like we want, however, and sometimes annuity payments aren’t as beneficial as we would have thought.

Growing Expenses

Some people may need to cash out their annuity to pay off unforeseen expenses, like emergency medical bills, that can arise suddenly through no fault of your own. Annuity payments may be great for the average person’s everyday life, but a medical emergency can quickly become too expensive for your payments to cover and leave you owing a lot of money. Annuity payments are nice for what they are, but if you find yourself in an unfortunate situation, then you may find yourself facing mounting bills and calls from collectors when your income simply can’t cover all your expenses.

Where to Look

When looking to cash in your annuity, there are things you can and can’t do. You can’t simply go ask for the rest of your money at the bank, for example, even though technically all the money is yours to begin with. They don’t have to give you anything until time for one of your payments, and then they will give you that, and only that, which you agreed upon when setting up your payments. However, you can sell your annuity to a company that specializes in buying annuities and structured settlements. This will let you get a lump sum of cash to take care of any needs or circumstances you might have found yourself in. Paying for education, repairing your home or car, paying bills, whatever you need to do. Not all buyers are the same, though, and different companies may offer differing amounts for your annuity. That’s why it is always a good idea to shop around and compare offers to make certain you get the right offer for you. That is why working with a broker is a great idea. By using their knowledge and expertise, you can get the offers you need in a timely manner, and be able to choose the option that is right for you and your family.


11
Nov 10

Five Important Steps Before You Sell Your Structured Settlement: Introduction

With so many companies promoting selling all or a portion of your structured settlement, you may find yourself considering this option.  Whether your structured settlement is the result of a worker’s compensation claim, personal injury, or property loss, the option to convert your structured settlement to a lump sum could becoming increasingly more attractive as a means to meet financial demands.  Unfortunately in today’s economic climate, many are resorting to options they might not otherwise have considered.  Before making the decision to sell your structured settlement, it is important to arm yourself with the necessary information to allow you to make the best decision possible for your circumstances.  As with most things, there are both advantages and disadvantages to structured settlements.  One of the advantages is that the settlement guarantees a specific amount to be paid over a period of time.  This not only protects you from rapidly depleting the settlement, but it also provides a dependable revenue stream over the course of the settlement schedule.  Conversely, the disadvantages include the inflexibility of not being able to access the money when you need it and the loss of potential investment returns.

Prior to 2002 the tax benefits of a structured settlement benefited both the company making the payments and the recipient as the payments made were tax free.  In order to protect the injured party, Congress granted these tax benefits to structured settlements as a means to keep the injured from prematurely depleting their recoveries.   In order to prevent the factoring transactions from undermining the policy objectives of the structured settlement, Congress passed HR2884 which resulted in Internal Revenue Service 5891 requiring all structured settlement factoring transactions be approved by a state court.  The Structured Settlement Protection Act imposes a 40% excise tax on the net sale of a structured settlement that does not meet the requirements of the state and federal statutes.  All states with the exception of Vermont, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming have passed legislation regulating the buying and selling of structured settlements.   Over the next five posts, we will be discussing five steps that are essential before you commit to sell a portion or all of your structured settlement.

  1. Do your due diligence
  2. Seek legal advice
  3. Seek financial advice
  4. Decide what you are going to sell
  5. Seek the best offer

If you need help selling your structured settlement, annuity or lottery payments,
contact us today. We are here to answer your questions and help you obtain the
highest possible price for your payments.


10
Oct 10

What to Look For in a Company When Selling a Structured Settlement

You hear the term “structured settlement” practically every day. Most often it will be in the context of selling it to certain companies.

Keep in mind that the purchaser is looking to make a profit. Your goal is to get the most money possible. Go slow in deciding when and to whom to sell. Do your research, take bids and insist that certain terms and rights be met. It is your money. You are in control. If the amount of the offer and the conditions of the deal don’t make for a fair exchange, look elsewhere.

Remember, you don’t have to sell the entire settlement. You can sell just a portion if you prefer.

Here are steps you can take to protect yourself and ensure you are getting the best deal:

1. Have an idea of what your structured settlement is worth, keeping in mind a fair discount rate. This discount is where the company’s profit comes from and why they are willing to purchase. If this doesn’t meet your expectations then maybe selling isn’t right for you at this time.

2. Make sure the company you’re considering is legitimate. As with any other business, the Better Business Bureau is an excellent place to start. You will also want to do a web search for complaints against the company. An easy way to do this is to just “google” the name of the company followed by the words “complaints” or “reviews”.

3. Don’t rely on the integrity of any one company. Get multiple quotes. Don’t share the offered amounts with the other companies who will be giving quotes. You don’t want a previous offer to be a factor in new bids. This is also a good way to weed out the not-so-good companies. If someone offers a ridiculously low offer they probably do not have your best interest in mind. Conversely, if someone offers an unreasonably high offer, this is suspicious as well. It’s fairly common to offer the highest initial bid and then do a series of stalls until the client is desperate to take a much lower offer.

4. When it is time to write the agreement, be sure it is laid out the way it was discussed.

5. Have a definite closing day. This varies by state, but eight to twelve weeks are normally sufficient. Insist that there are penalties in place such as an additional payment per day, due to you on closing, if the settlement company fails to close on time. It is possible for them to stall so they earn some extra interest on the money while they make you wait.

6. Know your rights. There are laws in place to protect your interests. Although it may seem like a nuisance, you will need to go through the court system in your state to have the settlement approved. This is for your protection.

Cashing out a structured settlement is a big financial decision so go slowly and plan carefully.

If you need help selling your structured settlement, annuity or lottery payments,
contact us today. We are here to answer your questions and help you obtain the
highest possible price for your payments.


26
Sep 10

What is the Basic Process Followed to Cash in a Structured Settlement?

Individuals receiving payments from a structured settlement often need to convert the settlement into a lump sum payment for immediate expenses. There are many companies in the business of purchasing structured settlements in exchange for cash.

No matter how desperate a seller may be for cash, it is important to understand the basic process involved in cashing in a structured settlement. Despite the hype seen on television and written in print advertisements, selling a structured settlement is a multi-step legal process that can take 90 days or longer to complete. It is allowable in only two-thirds of all states. Many settlements are structured in a way to prevent any option of a sale at all. Some agreements, while allowing the possibility of a sale, make the sale process so difficult or cumbersome to complete, that the option is prohibitive or woefully inadvisable.

Assuming that sale is an option, the basic process is as follows:

  1. The annuitant, (Owner) of the settlement selects a buyer. After sending details of the settlement to the buyer, the buyer makes a preliminary offer. If the owner is satisfied with the quoted offer;
  2. The owner sends the requested copies of the settlement agreement, underlying annuity contracts and other supporting documentation to the buyer. Then;
  3. The buyer sends a contract and disclosure agreement that states the terms and conditions of the contract and agreement in the offer to the seller. Once signed;
  4. The contract, related agreements, and supporting documents are submitted to a court for approval. The evaluation process and subsequent issue of an order of approval can take up to 90 days or longer. Once approved, money can be available within 5 to 10 business days.

Deciding to cash in a structured settlement is a serious matter. The seller is best served by seeking the advice of legal and financial professionals qualified to assist the seller in making an informed decision. Converting a structured settlement has permanent consequences for the seller and his or her dependents. Selling a structured settlement strips away the benefits of that continuous stream of income. Long-term settlements are built to provide continuous income to individuals with permanent or chronic disabling conditions. Perspective sellers should carefully consider the consequences of removing this long-term financial safety net.

If a sale is truly necessary, the seller should, at a minimum, check the track record, financial stability and integrity of a potential buyer. Not all offers are equal. A prudent seller will shop around and compare several offers to find the right fit.

If you need help selling your structured settlement, annuity or lottery payments,
contact us today. We are here to answer your questions and help you obtain the
highest possible price for your payments.


26
Aug 10

Cashing out Structured Settlement Payments

Structured settlement payments are paid in equal installments for a specific period of time. For example, a lawsuit of $1,000,000 (with 20 years of structured payments) is $50,000 annually or 240 monthly payments of approximately $4,166.67. Sources of structured payments are: from an insurance company, a lawsuit, as a result of death (guaranteed) or living (life contingent), and tax-free income. Worker’s compensation claims do not qualify as structured payments. If an annuitant (the person receiving the structured payments) needs the money in a lump sum, then a structured settlement factoring company may purchase the future payments.

What to Know Upfront

An annuitant will receive considerably less money for receiving a lump sum. When purchasing future payments, funders (used by factoring companies) assume all the risks associated with the structured settlement and must hedge against future inflation. It should be understood that factoring companies are in business to make money. Carefully weigh the options before considering (selling or) cashing out a structured settlement. The government’s Model State Structured Settlement Protection Act requires full disclosure of all terms of a sale.

The structured settlement payments received are generally tax-free. Tax benefits could be lost by cashing out future structured payments and state and federal taxes could further reduce the lump sum amount. That is why an annuitant should fully understand the ramifications of selling future structured payments.

Do Research First

Investigate a company’s BBB track record for any company complaints. A factoring company with more than five complaints, since its inception, should be avoided. Get several quotes before deciding on a company. Do not accept the first quote received because companies will bid low to increase profit. Never disclose a previous quote to a perspective factoring company.

Certified Funders

A factoring company uses funders that it certifies and they must meet minimum conditions. Minimum conditions for certified funders: an accredited BBB business, not merely a broker but have access to its own funding, maintain consistent best price practice, have fast service, have no default on any sale transactions, be in business for three years, be a U.S. registered company, have the ability to purchase future structured settlement payments in all 50 states and its territories, and no anti-competitive practices.

How to Cash out a Structured Settlement

The structured settlement information is put out for bid to certified funders and quotes are given to the annuitant to decide on a company. The annuitant completes forms and receives payment within 8 to 12 weeks. Good factoring companies will guarantee a closing date and if they mention “interest drag”, to delay closing, find another company. Interest drag is a tactic factoring companies use to make more profit by delaying the closing date. The closing guarantee should state that any delays will be paid per diem, to the annuitant, at the time of closing. A factoring company agreeing to this proves that there is no intention of delaying the closing date to gain additional profit.

If you need help selling your structured settlement, annuity or lottery payments,
contact us today. We are here to answer your questions and help you obtain the
highest possible price for your payments.


3
Aug 10

Getting Cash for your Structured Settlement Payments

Structured settlement laws in the United States have made the business of receiving a payment from a court settlement or a lottery win very difficult. It is almost impossible to receive the full amount in cash when it is awarded, and most parties who have to pay a settlement will much rather opt for a monthly or quarterly payment to ease the financial burden. But where does this leave you? You are entitled to your cash, but by law the party responsible for paying it doesn’t have to release it at more than a trickle. But, did you know that you can get Cash For Structured Settlement payment agreements by selling them?

That’s right, you can get Cash For Structured Settlement payment agreements by selling them off to larger investors or institutions who will buy them at a slight discount in return for giving you all of the cash up front. There are a lot of companies who will offer to buy your structured settlement agreement, but the percentage of your lump sum they will charge will differ greatly. A general guideline is that companies can charge between 7-12% to take your payments off your hands and give you the cash instead. With interest on the payments calculated you get almost the entire remaining amount, even after the company takes its discount!

Unfortunately, finding a company who will give you Cash For Structured Settlement payment plans is not as easy as it sounds. Many of the larger companies can offer you more cash, but they also have higher overheads, which stops them from being able to offer you as much as they could. Smaller companies may also offer you a large amount of cash because they do not have these overheads, but they might also be trying to grow and will charge you more for their services.

So what do you do if you want to get Cash For Structured Settlement payment agreements right now? At QuoteMeAPrice.com you can put up your payment agreement on our board, and let hundreds of investing companies make a bid. Then you select the bidder who offers you the best deal! Now you can find the company who will offer you the largest lump sum, without having to call up dozens of different investment firms! This is by far the best way to sell your structured settlement and get the highest amount of money possible for it.

Why go in search of a company who will offer you a decent amount of cash when you can post your structured settlement and let them come to you! You can get all of your cash right now to put into your home, grow your business or take a dream vacation! Don’t settle for tiny monthly payments that make no real impact on your financial situation. Come to QuoteMeAPrice.com and get Cash For Structured Settlement payment agreements today!

If you need help selling your structured settlement, annuity or lottery payments,
contact us today. We are here to answer your questions and help you obtain the
highest possible price for your payments.


3
Aug 10

Buyer of Structured Settlement Payments

An investor is aware that as a buyer of structured settlement payments an opportunity exists for a lucrative deal to be made. The chain of sale that is brought about when a buyer makes a purchase would prove favorable for all concerned. As all parties would have the same objective to increase return on their asset a structured settlement payments could count on the seller’s willingness to make a sale. Many recipients of structured settlement benefits are eager to sell as soon as possible. A swift sale would of course also be beneficial to a Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments.

It is understandable that a seller would have some concerns about selling his or her compensation. A major worry for a seller would be whether or not a Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments had the financial stability that would be required in order to make a cash settlement. Lengthy negotiations to smooth out each concern that a seller may have would normally take up a lot of time. However, a procedure that has been developed takes care of all the relevant questions and answers. This procedure has come about because of the need for a seller and a Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments to simplify the process in order to satisfy all of the parties.

It is for these reasons that the referral network of Quote Me A Price.com exists. This online referral system that is for the benefit of a seller and a Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments operates according to accurate information that is provided by both parties. Quote Me A Price.com retains and expands a comprehensive database on structured settlement investments. This service contains the data of each potential transaction and each Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments. All buyers would be notified of requests to sell so that a Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments may place a quote for a particular sale. Naturally, the buyer would have to be entered into the database of Quote Me A Price.com.

A seller would indicate that he or she would want to sell a structured benefit for a cash settlement. This information would be sent out to all of the various buyers. An interested Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments would place a quote. When the seller is satisfied that as many quotes have been received as is possible a decision regarding a buyer is made. The Quote Me A Price database consists of many a Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments that have been highly rated. The procedure for a Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments to find a willing seller is as easy as that.

The website of Quote Me A Price.com is www.quotemeaprice.com where online facilities are provided for their database. A Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments is welcome to take advantage of this process of buying and selling. As a serious and experienced Buyer Of Structured Settlement payments, you would have a continual source of prepared sellers. This type of system ensures that all the parties have to do is concentrate on getting the best deal. Quote Me A Price.com brings the best deals to your immediate attention.

If you need help selling your structured settlement, annuity or lottery payments,
contact us today. We are here to answer your questions and help you obtain the
highest possible price for your payments.

Let Companies Compete to Buy your Structured Settlement!

*By submitting this form, I am providing QuoteMeAPrice with express written consent to contact me regarding product offerings by SMS/text messages or by using an auto dialer (or automated means) at the phone number(s) provided and such consent is not a condition of a purchase. I also consent and agree to QuoteMeAPrice's Privacy Policy and/or Terms of Use.