Which is Better -- Lump Sum Payments or Structured Settlement Payments?

Once upon a time, the lump sum payment was the only way that accident victims could receive their settlement money. This is a good thing for someone who wants to use the funds to make a big purchase in cash like a car or a house, for example. But lump sum payments have downsides as well. It can be hard to effectively manage a large amount of money. Many people who receive lump sum payments as part of a settlement end up fighting off greedy relatives or friends who want some of the money. Not to mention the stress that comes with finding the right financial advisor to invest and manage the money for you. The wrong choice could lead to the loss of the money you so desperately need. These days, there is an attractive alternative to the lump sum settlement, and it is the structured settlement.

A structured settlement is different from a lump sum payment because it disperses the settlement money in a series of smaller payments spread out over time. This is done with the use of an annuity and offers many benefits over the lump sum payment option. For example, a structured settlement allows the injured person a steady income over a period of time. The time period that payments will be received depends on how much the settlement is and how much each individual payment is.

Structured settlements are tax-free, thanks to a law passed in the 1980's. Not only that, but they're set up to work with inflation. This means that if you add up the total of all the structured settlement payments received, it will add up to more than the total of a single lump sum payment. Another great thing about a structured settlement is that the annuity purchased gains interest over time -- interest that is tax free as mentioned before. If you were to get a lump sum payment, you would be responsible for not only investing but also paying taxes on your investments and interest.

There are, of course, benefits and drawbacks to both lump sum payments and structured settlement payments. If you're due a monetary settlement, it's important to examine these benefits and drawbacks as they relate to you before making a decision. Having trouble deciding what is best for you? First, think about how much money the settlement is. For a settlement that's not that large, a lump sum payment might work best. But for a large amount of money, a structured settlement is probably the wisest way to go. With a structured settlement, you can relax and focus on what really matters, like recovering. You can rest easy knowing that you've got a steady stream of income coming to you on a regular basis. For someone who is already dealing with the stress of a life-changing injury, the peace of mind provided by a structured settlement can be just what the doctor ordered!

Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved





Structured Settlement News:
Ringler Associates(R) Board Elects New Member Ann Marie VonBank - MarketWatch

Ringler Associates(R) Board Elects New Member Ann Marie VonBank
MarketWatch - Nov 3, 2008
VonBank has 17 years of experience in both the insurance and legal fields, focusing on structured settlements exclusively since joining Ringler Associates .
..


Structured Settlement Advance
Ive read over a good portion of your site and Im unsure if your company has the resources to provide a structured settlement buyout for a case in West Virginia. I am currently checks yearly for an accident that had occurred several ...


RAM Holdings Ltd. Announces Third Quarter Net Loss of $40.4 Million - MarketWatch

RAM Holdings Ltd. Announces Third Quarter Net Loss of $40.4 Million
MarketWatch - 23 hours ago
The transaction reduced the par amount of RAM's insured portfolio by $3.5 billion including $711 million of 2005 - 2007 vintage ABS CDOs (all structured as .
..


Insurance Structured Settlement - Are You Entitled?
A lot of people these days are finding relief through insurance structured settlements. Every day, somebody somewhere is injured on the job, in a car accident, or by a faulty product or service. A structured insurance settlement is ...


Purchase Structured Settlement
Purchase Structured Settlement has been stunning things which can provide temporary settlement to your problems that can be impediment for the sellers. All the complication can be solved easily...


Structured Settlement Loan
Structured settlement funding is an agreement between a lawsuit cash advance company and the plaintiff to buyout part or the full sum of future payments. When an individual decides to agree on a structure settlement payment rather than ...


Waterfront buys time for amicable settlement (GMA News)
MACTAN, Cebu, Philippines - Waterfront Philippines, Inc. and its two subsidiaries are working for an amicable settlement with major creditor Philippine National Bank (PNB), as a lower court ordered on Wednesday the postponement of the auction of two Waterfront hotels...


Florida Structured Settlements. Best Practices
In negotiating a structured settlement of claims brought by or on behalf of a claimant who is domiciled in this state, the structured settlement obligor must disclose in writing to the claimant or the claimant's legal representative all ...


DMB Financial Becomes Accredited Member Of TASC (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
BEVERLY, Mass.----DMB Financial, LLC, one of the nation's largest and most trusted providers of debt settlement products and services, today announced that it has become an accredited member of The Association of Settlement Companies ...


Investments paying off (Philstar.com via Yahoo! Philippines News)
With the way their companies are performing, it seems that recent investments made by the Yuchengco family have been reaping their appropriate rewards...


Iowa Structured Settlement Company
I am looking for a company in Iowa or a company that would be willing to purchase my structured settlement that works with clients in Iowa. I see that your service includes plaintiff funding and would like to know if this includes ...


Lump Sum for Structured Settlement
I opted to receive a structured settlement rather than a lump sum of money after I won the case. At the time I had a good job and was able to pay my bills and was living well. Recently, I lost my job and my home is going through a ...


Technorati Tags: , ,



Annuities: The Shocking Secrets Revealed.

Structured Settlement Blog