Trusts & Asset Management

allocating settlement proceeds

Settlement Plan Design

Your clients have a variety of options for the settlement proceeds.

Because every client has different needs, wants, and goals, there simply isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to allocating settlement proceeds.

At Amicus, we pride ourselves at creating and designing comprehensive, unique settlement plans for each client.

blending both flexibility and protection

Settlement Protection Trusts

At Amicus, we find that Settlement Protection Trusts are a great way to provide clients with liquidity and flexibility — while also adding dissipation protection.

The terms of a Settlement Protection Trust can be drafted so that the duration of the trust meets the future needs and goals of the client (lump sum at a future age, retirement needs, college and education planning, and more).

Maximizing liquidity and flexibility

Investment Management

In certain situations, it may be advantageous for your client to have a portion of their settlement managed in an investment account.

Investment management can be in a stand-alone investment portfolio, or an investment account can be created within a settlement protection trust or special needs trust.

Through our affiliate financial planning firm, Amicus Financial Advisors, we offer managed portfolio solutions to clients. We consider a client’s risk profile, cash flows, assets, and goals and then prepare a personalized “investment policy statement” (IPS).

preserving medicaid & ssi benefits

Special Needs Trusts

If your client is disabled or has special needs, it is often helpful to place the settlement funds into a Special Needs Trust. A Special Needs Trusts offers many of the same benefits as a Settlement Protection Trust.

However, funds placed into a Special Needs Trust are not considered an asset when determining ongoing eligibility for needs-based government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).