A big advantage of the structured settlement is the high level of security and financial independence it offers. A structured settlement ensures that the court settlement award will provide for you and/or your family for many years, often for a lifetime. Other benefits include:
- Tax-free Income: 100 percent of the structured settlement annuity is tax-free, including the settlement award, principal, ongoing payments and interest earned.
- Customized Payments: Payment amounts can be designed to meet your specific cash flow needs, including healthcare and educational expenses, large purchases and simple, everyday living expenses.
- Guaranteed Income for Life: The structured settlement can be designed to continue payments for the rest of your lifetime.
- Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA): A COLA may be built into a structured settlement design to provide for annual cost of living increases, typically from 2 to 4 percent.
- Substandard Age Rating: A substandard age rating may be available upon review of your health history. The health injury or illness does not have to relate to the lawsuit or settlement claim. This “rated age” may reduce the cost of the structured settlement or increase the rate of return, enhancing your payments.
- Direct Deposit: As a safe and reassuring alternative to postage mailed structured settlement payments, you may choose the convenience and security of automated annuity payments that are deposited directly into your checking or savings account.
- Guaranteed Payments: Structured settlement payments are guaranteed by the financially strongest life insurance companies in the U.S., so you can be confident in their security.
- No Management Fees: Unlike many other investment vehicles and products, structured settlements do not charge management fees, commissions or expenses.
- Risk Protection: Structured settlements are designed to help you and your family avoid unexpected or costly financial risks, including:
- Financial pressure, bad advice, or requests from friends, family members, colleagues and outside sources
- Excessive spending
- Mismanagement of funds
- Bad or risky investments
- Volatile market changes
- Running out of money too soon – the structure is a strong retirement planning tool, providing guaranteed income that does not run out before death.