Offices of Noah S. A. Schwartz at Ringler

06/02/2026

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver recently featured a segment on structured settlements and those “cash now” factoring company commercials that seem to be everywhere.

One thing worth remembering: structured settlements themselves are designed to help provide long-term financial stability. The bigger concern is when future payments are sold away too quickly without fully understanding the long-term impact.

Financial decisions tied to settlements are rarely simple, which is why education and asking questions matter.

Worth a few minutes to watch📽️

John Oliver discusses structured settlements – the incremental payments designed to sustain victims of injury or wrongful death over long periods of time. An...

05/29/2026

Most people only go through settlement planning once. There is usually no reason to know how it works ahead of time.

That is why simple, clear information matters. Understanding the basics early can make the entire process easier to navigate.

If you are looking for a place to start, Ringler’s blog is a helpful resource:
🔗 https://loom.ly/g3ov0Jg

05/27/2026

A few questions come up in almost every settlement conversation:

-- How long do the funds need to last
-- What does monthly life look like
-- What if circumstances change
-- How are taxes handled

Asking these early can make tcan make the entire process smoother and easier to understand.

05/22/2026

Heading into Memorial Day weekend, a moment to remember what the day represents.

Honoring the service members who gave their lives, and the families who carry that loss every day.

05/20/2026

For some injury settlements, Medicare’s interests need to be addressed before the case is finalized.

That is where a Medicare Set-Aside (MSA) comes in. It reserves a portion of the settlement for future injury-related care that Medicare would otherwise cover.

In certain situations, using a structured settlement to fund an MSA can provide more consistency in how those funds are used over time.

🔗 Medicare Set-Asides. https://loom.ly/lu9g3E0

05/13/2026

"Who do I talk to first?"
Settlements often involve a team: an attorney, a tax advisor, a financial planner, and a settlement consultant. Each plays a different role.

The earlier the conversations start, the more options you tend to have.

05/11/2026

“Will I have to pay taxes on my settlement?”

It depends on what the settlement is for. In many qualifying physical injury cases, damages may be excluded from federal income. Other portions can be treated differently.

That is why it is worth having a clear conversation before anything is finalized.

05/07/2026

A settlement can feel like the finish line. In reality, it is where long-term planning begins.

How funds are structured early on often determines how well they hold up over time. That includes income planning, future needs, and managing uncertainty.

Structured settlements can help align funds with real life — steady income, planned milestones, and added stability over time. https://loom.ly/Th0rwS8

05/05/2026

A common question: why does the structure need to be decided before the case fully closes?

In most situations, structured settlement options need to be set up before funds are received. Once a lump sum is issued, those choices are usually no longer available.

That is why having the conversation early matters. It gives you the chance to understand your options before they are gone.