We Don’t Structure Settlements. We Architect Them.
A lot of people in settlement planning use reassuring language. They talk about guidance. They talk about options. They talk about taking care of the client. But those words can hide a very important distinction. Who is actually legally obligated to act in the client’s best interest? That is the real question behind fiduciary settlement…
A lot of attorneys assume those two phrases are basically the same thing. They are not. That confusion does make sense. Both show up at the end of a case. Both involve what happens after a settlement is reached. Both sound like part of the same conversation. But the difference is bigger than just wording.…
A Qualified Settlement Fund, or QSF, is a legal vehicle that can temporarily hold settlement proceeds before those funds are distributed to the plaintiff or plaintiffs. In practical terms, a QSF can give plaintiff counsel time and flexibility to work through important post-settlement issues before the money moves to its final destination. That matters because…
Settlement funds can affect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits if they are received or held in a way that counts toward the recipient’s income or resource limits. That is the short answer. The more important point is that this issue is often avoidable when it is addressed before the money is distributed. For attorneys handling…
Yes. A personal injury settlement can affect Medicaid eligibility if the recovery is paid or handled in a way that makes the funds count against the client’s financial limits. That does not mean every settlement automatically causes a problem. It does mean attorneys should treat Medicaid exposure as part of the settlement strategy, not as…
If you’re an attorney guiding clients through settlements, broker conflicts in settlement planning can quietly jeopardize everything—your client’s future and your own malpractice exposure. Conflicts of interest aren’t always obvious. In fact, they’re often embedded in the very structure of how traditional commission-based brokers operate. Commission Conflicts Still Go Unchecked Many attorneys assume the financial…
Fiduciary vs. Fee-Based in Settlements: Why This Difference Still Costs Families Millions The line between a fiduciary and a fee-based broker might seem like legal jargon—but in settlement planning, it can be the difference between lifelong security and financial ruin. Fiduciary vs. fee-based in settlements is not just a technicality—it’s the heart of ethical financial…
Where Things Go Wrong Settlement release language is often drafted by defense counsel—and it’s not neutral. Common traps include: Overbroad indemnity clauses that make your client responsible for unforeseen costs Medicare compliance waivers that don’t follow CMS guidance Reversionary terms that return unused settlement funds to the defense Language affecting future claims or eligibility for…
Fiduciary or Vendor? The Settlement Planner’s Role Could Make—or Break—Your Case Some planners guide. Others sell. And in fiduciary settlement planning, that distinction matters more than you think. At The Architected Settlement Law Group™, we’ve worked with attorneys across the country to clean up post-settlement disasters—many of which began with a well-meaning planner who wasn’t…
Real-World Scenario: “Handled” Isn’t Always Safe A plaintiff’s attorney in a mild-to-moderate TBI case allowed the defense’s preferred broker to propose a structure. The broker recommended a product from a single insurer, failed to coordinate with the client’s public benefits counsel, and didn’t disclose their compensation model. Two years later, the client lost access to…
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