Structured Settlement or a One-Time Lump Sum Payment?Written by Greg Smith
Continued from page 1
The benefits of a structured settlement over a lump-sum payment include security of a guaranteed long-term income with deferred payments that are exempt from income taxes. The federal government encourages use of structured settlements in personal injury cases. Structured settlements also attract support from plaintiff attorneys, state attorneys general, legislators, consumer and disability advocates. Structured settlements can be ideally suited for cases with: • Persons with temporary or permanent disabilities • Guardianship cases that may involve minors • Workers compensation cases • Wrongful death cases • Severe injury Want to Sell Your Structured Settlement? Not everyone benefits from a long-term payment situation and some may want or need a lump sum instead. The owner of a structured settlement, such as lottery winners, medical, insurance, accident and lawsuit settlement owners, can often sell their rights to deferred payment stream, in exchange for a one time lump sum payment from a variety of financial institutions. All situations are different, and as with any legal issue, you should always consult your attorney.
Greg Smith is the publisher of the informational web site on Structured Settlements at http://www.settlements-i.com/. Visit his web site for the latest on settlements of all types.
| | Credit Report – Check Yours Regularly…and for FreeWritten by Charles Essmeier
Continued from page 1
individual’s credit worthiness, and that score is obtained through a complex formula that takes into consideration a person’s borrowing and spending habits and payment history. A high score makes someone more eligible for loans and credit, while a lower score may indicate that a person is a risk to repay. While information contained on a credit report is generally accurate, incorrect information sometimes shows up on credit reports, and incorrect information could result in someone who being denied a loan for which they might otherwise be qualified. Furthermore, a credit report check is best way to determine if you have been victim of identity theft, an increasingly popular crime that often goes unnoticed for a year or more. If your identity is stolen, your credit rating can be ruined and you can be burdened with thousands of dollars in debt. The new bankruptcy law, which goes into effect in October 2005, draws no distinctions between debt incurred by an individual and debt incurred through identity theft. This alone should be reason enough to check your credit report regularly.
Since law now allows individuals to obtain one free report per agency per year, anyone who wants to keep a close eye on their credit report can obtain a free report as often as every four months. Since credit report affects your life in so many important ways, checking it regularly should become a habit.
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding structured settlements.
|
