Settlement Planner Definition

A Settlement Planner is a professional educated and trained to advise plaintiffs and their attorneys, as well as judges, mediators and guardians, regarding settlement planning issues and solutions.  A Settlement Planner is one member of the Settlement Planning Team that advises the plaintiff and his/her attorney and may serve on the plaintiff’s post-settlement Advisory Committee.

The subject matter expertise of a Settlement Planner should include the ability to:

1.      Identify information and analyses, as well as other subject matter experts (SMEs), needed to develop an accurate and reliable Settlement Plan;
2.      Diagnose a claimant’s settlement planning needs based upon such information, analyses and SME reports – or based upon whatever information is available.
3.      Design and recommend a settlement plan that:
i.        Considers the recommendations of other SMEs;
ii.      Evaluates those recommendations in the context of the plaintiff’s:
(a)   Personal and Family needs, objectives and resources;
(b)   Responsibilities and obligations to others;
(c)   Rights to private and/or governmental benefits;
(d)   Net settlement proceeds;
(e)   Identifies and cost-justifies the need for additional settlement planning  information, analyses or SMEs;
(f)     Recommends products, services and strategies to accomplish objectives identified in the settlement plan.
4.      Implement recommendations included in the settlement plan;
5.      Monitor and report on developments relating to the Settlement Plan including recommendations for changes in the Settlement Plan.

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