The structured settlement process involves a negotiation where the parties come to an agreement on a schedule of benefits to match Claimant's needs and the Life Insurance Carrier(s) that will issue annuity payments or, entity holding an alternative permissible "qualified funding asset" such as Treasury Inflation Protection Securities (TIPS) or Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds).

• Defendant/Insurer or Qualified Settlement Fund trustee - by contractual agreement, promises to pay future periodic payments to the Plaintiff/Claimant with all or a portion of the negotiated personal injury damages in exchange for a release.
• Plaintiff/Claimant - agrees to release the claim in exchange for the promise by the Defendant/Insurer or QSF Trustee to make one or more future benefit payments to claimant in addition to immediate cash items (for attorney fees, liens)
• Defendant/Insurer or Qualified Settlement Fund trustee - makes an assignment of its obligation to pay future periodic payments to a third-party ("assignee"). The assignee assumes this obligation. The plaintiff agrees to the assignment in the release and agrees to look to the assignee as the obligor for the promised future periodic payments. The assignee receives funds from the Defendant/Insurer or QSF Trustee and uses these funds to purchase an annuity contract, or alternative permissible "qualified funding asset", in an amount sufficient to fund the periodic payment obligation it has assumed. The assignee owns the "qualified funding asset" and may either make payments directly to the Plaintiff/Claimant or may direct that the annuity issuer make the payments. If an alternative permissible "qualified funding asset" is used, there may be a segregated trust for each claimant that holds the alternative permissible "qualified funding asset".

In some instances, particularly where the damages do not qualify under IRC Sections 104(a)(1) and 104(a)(2), one can consider solving the problem via the use of a non-qualified assignment program.

All parties involved reach agreement as to the supporting documentation necessary for the completion of the settlement. In most cases, the documents will consist of the Settlement Agreement and Release, any required court orders or probate approvals, the annuity contract and, if applicable, an assignment agreement.

It's important to note that the structured settlement process is one component of a greater settlement planning process and that depending on the facts of a particular case a multiple disciplinary, multiple product solution may be appropriate.