You have many choices when it comes to money and investing. Only one was created with you in mind. A Structured Settlement can provide hope and a

Transcription

1 You have many choices when it comes to money and investing. Only one was created with you in mind. A Structured Settlement can provide hope and a secure future. Tax-Free. Guaranteed Benefits. Custom-Designed. The vast majority of people who take their settlement in cash have nothing left in five years, but regrets. Learn why a Structured Settlement should be your FIRST CHOICE.

2 What Can I Do? Safekeeping Too many people who choose to take their settlement in a single cash payment have nothing left after just five years. But you don t have to become another statistic. Thanks to laws enacted by Congress, you have a unique opportunity to receive your payments through what s known as a structured settlement. Not only is it a wise way to manage your money, but your settlement dollars and the interest earned on them, come to you income tax-free, freeing up the maximum amount of money to provide for you and those close to you. Whether you re an experienced investor or new to managing money, you want a powerful financial tool to help you achieve the goals you ve worked so hard to earn in life. And let s face it you ve already suffered a personal injury or the loss of a loved one. So why would you want to gamble now with a settlement that, if managed prudently, can help you face so many uncertain tomorrows? The answer, then, is to choose a structured settlement. For you. For them. For your future together. When Congress created the favorable laws that govern structured settlements, they wanted to ensure that your money would be there when you need it. As they have for nearly two centuries, America s life insurance companies do just that. Unlike other institutions, life insurance companies don t rely on smoke and mirrors to back up their promises. In fact, they are required by law to retain assets to guarantee the contracts that secure structured settlements. The life industry is one of the most highly regulated in our country. In short, your money is safe, and that s an important element to consider after what you have been through. While banks and investment companies and unregulated financial holding companies have struggled and failed, the nation s leading insurers continue to hold up their end of financial promises, and that includes structured settlements. Life already poses enough risks. You have the chance now to do something that puts your future on a solid foundation. Guaranteed.

3 REFERENCE: CAT/MAY.04 The accident was bad enough. But now the settlement money is all gone. It s really tough. We didn t think something like this would ever happen to us. But it did. Everything changed. We ll never be the same physically, but thanks to you, we re guaranteed a comfortable lifestyle as long as we live. The structured settlement payments give us peace of mind that each month we ll have a check coming in. And at a time like this with all the worries and bills and uncertainties, it s so important, knowing we ll always have our bills covered. Yours, Susan & Mike SITUATION: What was supposed to be a simple surgical procedure, left Susan without the use of her legs. It left her family without her income and with many new expenses that were never a part of their family s budget. Income replacement, money for ongoing medical expenses, modified vehicle replacement, college funding for children

4 Me & Bill in New York REFERENCE: TBI/JUNE.08 The financial advisor we talked to boasted that he could do a lot better than a structured pay out if we worked with him. Maybe we could have. But when we asked about guarantees, he got very quiet. And when we looked at the taxes and fees we would have to pay, we realized we were taking on more risk than made sense. Ringler understood, because you work with accident victims like us every day. Thanks for helping us see the whole picture and putting the pieces together in a way that made good sense. With all that s happened, it s good not to have to worry about whether our plan will work out. Sincerely, Bill & Janet SITUATION: Bill usually had the answer to everyone s questions on the jobsite. He doesn t remember his fall. Now his short-term memory loss makes him the one asking questions. He can work, but not in the same job or with the same pay. Supplemental income, retirement enhancement Nothing in life is for sure. My great investment plan didn t pan out. It just ran out.

5 REFERENCE: MINOR/december.07 Mom, I wanted to thank you for helping me make the right decision with all that money. If I had taken that big check when I could at 18, I d have surely spent it all and have nothing left now. Because of you, I had money for college. I got a degree and now I ll be able to buy a house. Your advice made the settlement count. Thanks Mom. I LOVE YOU! Love Brenda I never thought so much money could go away so fast. SITUATION: The dog had never bitten anyone before, until Brenda. At eight years old she didn t need the cash. At 18 she might not be ready for it all. Brenda s mom wanted the settlement to make a real difference for her future. Money for college, down payment for first home, and time to become financially mature

6 Me & John in Arizona REFERENCE: MVA/february.09 We were looking for an investment for our settlement that was guaranteed and paid a good return. The folks at Ringler helped us do just that. And our accountant likes the fact that the payments are tax-free. We knew we were going to be a little short on retirement funds. You helped us fill a big hole in our financial plans. We can t say Thank You enough. (But will send some postcards!) Sincerely, Marcia & John St. Augustine Florida SITUATION: John had a green light, and didn t see the truck until it was too late. But a strong work ethic and Marcia s support made for a good recovery. Their biggest challenge? What to do with the settlement money. Safe and reliable retirement income, extra funds each year for travel and gifts for the grandkids Should have. Would have. Could have. Things would be different if I d taken a structured settlement.

7 You Have Unique Needs. We Create Unique Solutions. Income replacement, money for ongoing medical expenses, modified vehicle replacement, college funding for children Money for college, down payment for first home, time to become financially mature SOLUTION: Susan and Mike set aside some of the settlement in cash for immediate expenses and an emergency fund. Then they chose a plan that will provide monthly payments for Susan s life with annual cost of living increases. On top of that they will receive larger lump-sum payments every five years to help with replacing vehicles. Additional annual payments during their children s college years complete the picture, and should allow them to sleep well at night as their family moves forward. SOLUTION: Brenda s plan is simple and sweet: four annual payments to help with college, and two lump sum payments - one at age 25 and one at age 30. She has a degree, a house, and is working on plans for what to do with the last payment when it comes. Whatever she uses it for, she has a good head on her shoulders. It might even start an investment fund for her children s education. Thanks Mom! Supplemental income, retirement enhancement Safe and reliable retirement income, extra funds each year for travel and gifts for the grandkids SOLUTION: Bill and Janet took some of their settlement in cash to get rid of some debt they accumulated after the accident. They also decided to create a guaranteed lifetime income plan for Bill, taking advantage of the tax benefits available in a structured settlement. With that in place, they felt better about placing the remaining funds in a combination of non-guaranteed investments. This plan will get them back to where they were financially, and allow for an earlier retirement than they had planned. Bill likes the early retirement. Janet likes knowing that even if she isn t around, Bill will be OK. SOLUTION: John and Marcia needed to turn capital into income. They opted for a structured settlement because it was safe and income tax-free. They will receive monthly income for the next twenty years, and an extra payment each November. That was Marcia s idea to make sure the money is there to travel and for a little holiday shopping for the grandchildren.

8 What Should I Do? Frequently Asked Questions Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done. Q: What exactly is a structured settlement? It s a settlement that includes future payments designed to match your future needs and goals. Q: Are the payments really income tax-free? (Federal, State, and Local) Yes - If the settlement is made on account of a physical injury, physical sickness or wrongful death. Q: Why are they income tax-free? Congress decided that too many people spend through their money too quickly, and end up relying upon public assistance programs. They passed legislation to give accident victims and their families an incentive to take their settlements in a series of future payments. It s no secret: Too many people make financial decisions out of fear or greed. You know better. By embracing a structured settlement, you re providing for critical needs that may arise for you and your loved ones. In the process, you get to keep all your gains, without having to pay income taxes. ~ C.E. Stowe Start by guaranteeing the really important things. And if there are extra funds available, those are dollars to consider placing into non-guaranteed investments. Structured settlements are designed to protect you, to perform for you, and to give you peace of mind. And when your future is on the line, you ll be glad you exercised one key ingredient in making your choice: Common sense. Q: Where does my money go? The parties settling your claim or lawsuit fund the agreed-upon payments with specialized annuity contracts. These contracts are not available to the general public and are issued by some of the leading life insurance companies in America. Q: Could I do better in outside investments? Maybe. Maybe not. What is clear is that because of the tax-free status of the payments, structured settlements offer returns higher than those normally available in low to moderate risk investments. To get a higher return you will have to take on higher risk and greater uncertainty - not always the best idea after going through what you ve gone through. Guaranteed is good. Q: What type of payments are available? Just about anything you can imagine: Future lump sums. Income. For a set period. Over a lifetime. Over two lifetimes. Paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually. Level. Increasing. Now. Next year. In fifty years. Everything in between. One of the above. All of the above. Q: Are there any other benefits I should know about? Yes - a structured settlement is an effective way to protect yourself or a loved one from spending through settlement funds too quickly. It can safely distribute funds for many years, or over a period of time designed to ease one into the responsibilities of managing a larger sum of money. Unlike non-guaranteed investments, a structured settlement has no ongoing investment expenses. Q: How safe are they? Structured settlements are funded by some of America s strongest life insurance companies. Many of these companies have been in existence for over 100 years - through recessions, depressions, and World Wars. Some have been keeping promises since before the Civil War. They re safe. The information contained here is general in nature and is not intended as specific legal, tax or investment advice. Individual benefits are guaranteed by the annuity issuing life insurance company(ies), not by Ringler Associates Incorporated. Furthermore, the information contained herein may not be applicable to or suitable for the individuals specific circumstances or needs and may require consideration of other matters. You should assess whether the information is appropriate for you and talk with your financial or other professional adviser before making financial decisions. Brochure and insert material copyright is owned by Ringler Associates Incorporated. Reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission, re-publication, or display of the content is strictly prohibited. While the names and locations have been changed, the stories told here are real. Q: Why should I consider this option? Peace of mind. Guarantees. Tax-free interest. One less thing to worry about. Protecting the money from the constant temptation to spend it too quickly. Protecting it from bad investment results. If it s important, its worth guaranteeing. If you only get one shot, don t miss.

9 You ve been through enough. {Don t worsen the pain.} Ringler Associates has been helping injured parties create secure futures since As the nation s oldest and largest structured settlement company, we have the experience and knowledge to guide you to your own First Choice. Choose to guarantee the important things in your life. Do it all with the tax benefits created just for you. Simple. Smart. It s to your advantage. RinglerAssociates.com Offices Nationwide