Why does the injured party need their own structured settlement specialist?

There are some practical reasons for considering putting a Structured Settlement Specialist in your corner during a legal battle. Some of these reasons are:

1 Because you can! You need to have your own expert, an expert who is accountable and legally liable to you. The misconception that you have to use the defense structured settlement broker is completely false.  A broker selected by the plaintiff, whether co-brokering or handling the entire case, does not cause the plaintiff to be in constructive receipt of the amount that will be used to fund the periodic payments.

2 Negotiation leverage: Many times as settlement consultants we are able to provide unique intelligence and insight into the negotiation process due to our experience in settling cases against many defendants/insurers.  In addition, when rated ages are involved, knowing the rated age (i.e., life expectancy) that the life companies are willing to attach to your client’s injuries can provide a market based value for your life care plan as well as the case as a whole.  In addition, whether the defendant has engaged their own settlement broker to “shop the market” can provide significant intelligence regarding their willingness to settle the case.

3 Fiduciary responsibility: The Defendant and their Insurer have their own expert in this critical area. That expert has fiduciary responsibility to the Defendant/Insurer. Who is looking out for your best interests?  By retaining your own Structured Settlement Specialist, you get an expert with a legal duty to you, an expert charged with obtaining for you the highest yielding annuity package with the strongest possible carriers, and preventing the Defendant from possibly profiting from the placement of the annuity(ies) to fund your settlement.

4 Obtaining the most competitive and secure financial settlement for your client: There are numerous pricing breaks on the annuities used to fund the structured settlement. Daily rates, jumbo case discounts, age up-rates and other discounts are all available. Without your own expert, chances are that the Defendant/Insurer will capture these savings, instead of you.

5 Professional liability: At the time you sign the Settlement Agreement for your case, you are releasing everyone from the other side of the table. This includes their Structured Settlement Specialist, whom they called into your case. If their expert makes an error or omission, you probably will have a difficult time with recourse. Their expert is released from all future liability just as everyone else is that comes into the case through the Defendant/Insurer.  Your expert has his own Errors and Omissions insurance policy; in case he makes a mistake (White House Settlement Consulting, LLC. carries a $5,000,000 policy). All the more reason to retain your own expert!

6 It doesn’t cost you anything! If a structured settlement annuity is used the life insurance company which provides the annuity pays our commission.  If a structured settlement annuity is not used to settle the case then all we ask is if you felt that we provided value in your case then we are used on future cases and you refer us to others who we may help.

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Financial Planning

White House Financial assists clients in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Jackson and the surrounding areas with the planning necessary to achieve their financial goals. Our highly-trained certified financial planners understand and practice the discipline necessary to counsel clients from a wide range of financial and professional circumstances. We provide advice that fits our clients’ needs and wishes, not “one size fits all” solutions, so our financial advisors are highly prized by those who secure our services. Many clients regard us as more than planners and come to see us as their complete financial consultants – trusted advisors who assist with existing challenges as well as planning for the future. Whether you’re in need of financial planning, retirement planning, asset management, settlement consulting, investment consulting or wealth management, Whitehouse Financial can provide the appropriate advice.

Financial Management

White House Financial assists clients with the implementation of their financial plans as well as the achievement of their financial goals. We take into account the entire financial circumstances of our clients, including budgeting, debt reduction, cash flow management and investment management. Investment management, an important component of financial management, is a specialty that requires particular knowledge. Make sure that your most trusted financial advisors are capable investment consultants or that they have access to respected partners in the investment community in Southeast Michigan and Ohio.

Wealth Management

For “high net worth” individuals in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Jackson and the surrounding areas, White House Financial applies its expertise in a manner designed to best suit the portfolio of each client. We carefully consider the history of our clients’ businesses and investments, their present needs and circumstances, and their financial and legacy goals, to manage their investments in a manner that accords with their wishes. At the same time, we are fully confident in the training and expertise of our staff of certified financial planners, consultants, securities traders, and advisors, and we don’t hesitate to present critical information and analysis to our wealthy clients.

Settlement Consulting

Deciding how to approach a structured settlement can be one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make. The settlement of a legal dispute uses special financial vehicles specifically designed for each case. Our settlement consultants can advise the parties to a legal dispute regarding these vehicles and provide expertise as to the best strategies to use to settle the dispute and achieve the financial goals of the litigants. Don’t enter into a structured settlement without getting fully informed as to the financial consequences of the settlement. Let our highly-trained settlement consultants analyze the financial pros and cons of the offers on the table, and, together with your attorney, inform you of the best approach to maximize your financial outcome. If you’re considering a structured settlement in the Ann Arbor, Chelsea or Jackson area, contact us for expert advice!