American General and structured legal fees

As I've taken the last few months to interview many of the different life markets about their structured legal fee programs, the last segment will feature American General Life Insurance and the features of their specific program. Mike Wostoupal, CSSC

I was joined well over a month ago by Mike Wostoupal, a name just about everyone who has spent time in the structured settlement profession knows, and who is currently a Vice President with American General and a frequent guest at various industry meetings and agency conventions. I think you'll agree that despite the rather public trials and tribulations of American General over the last year, given their affiliation with AIG, that they have emerged not only intact but poised to start growing this area of their business again. I have been holding this interview, along with one I did with Randy Dyer, until I got the other life markets lined up to profile, but you'd be amazed at how media shy or compliance phobic some of them are.

Structured legal fees are one of the few bright spots currently in the structured settlement profession, which is suffering through one of the longest and most painful sales slumps in 30 years, thanks to a combination of historically low interest rates and casualty companies strategically slowing down claims activity to conserve cash during this period of market uncertainty. Lawyers have never been more receptive to structuring their legal fees, but as this video series points out, each life market has their own unique approach, underwriting, areas of expertise and requirements. Agents can't assume that they know what a particular life market might or might not underwrite, but instead you have to take the time to know what they are looking for, what forms and releases are required and to educate your attorney early so that the paperwork is done properly.

I appreciate Mike and American General stepping up to do this interview, particularly in light of the various life markets that use their compliance departments as an excuse or just exhibit a general lack of initiative to do these interviews with us. Each of the markets that did agree to interview so far has had well over 10,000 views or listens to the show, but I remain amazed at the ones that simply never respond or who make it so difficult to feature their product that it isn't worth my time to get it done. Thanks again to all who participated in this series and I'll have a wrap up interview on the topic with Randy Dyer next week to cap it off.