Structured sales of farm land surge in Iowa and other Midwestern states

Stan Harlan, one of the nations most experienced experts in structured settlements, was recently interviewed on Speaking of Settlements. The purpose of the interview was to look at the recent surge in interest regarding the use of structured sales to fund the installment sale of farm land in the mid-west, particularly in Iowa where Stan Harlan is located and many farmers are being offered substantial premiums to purchase their property. 

Structured sales of farm land allows for the tax deferral of capital gains on the sale, transfer of the obligation to make future payments to a AA rated life insurance company and most importantly design a guaranteed cash flow for the seller that spreads the tax hit over years and decades, as opposed to simply paying a huge tax hit and attempting to invest what is left. 

If you are looking for a means of structuring farm land sales in Iowa, please watch this excellent video featuring Stan Harlan of Summit Settlements.

EEOC transgender decision protects against job discrimination

In a historic ruling, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has determined that job bias against transgender employees on the basis of gender identity amounts to sex discrimination under existing law. The determination came about as part of the resolution of a case filed by the Transgender Law Center on behalf of Mia Macy, a transgender woman who allegedly was denied a job as a ballistics technician at the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives laboratory in Walnut Creek, Calif., after she announced she was transitioning from male to female. Outten Goldens Carmelyn Malalis says "Though this appears to be an important decision...there is still a long way to go."

Police survey says DV cases increase when economy is sluggish

Police survey says DV cases increase when economy is sluggish from Sequence Media on Vimeo.

Police are encountering more domestic violence related to the sluggish economy, a national survey of law enforcement agencies finds. Judge Eugene Hyman says "the economy is a contributing factor but not the cause." Hyman also says "budget cuts have made it difficult to maintain Domestic Violence preventative programs."

Forget travel if you owe the IRS!

Forget travel if you owe the IRS Tax Lawyer Robert Wood from Sequence Media on Vimeo.

A tax law quietly proposed a few months ago—Owe IRS Taxes, Lose Your Passport—is quietly gaining momentum. Now more people have noticed. If you owe the IRS? You’renot going anywhere if this law passes. In America, we love to tinker with our tax laws. Congress is always introducing one bill or another to tweak an already bloated and increasingly dysfunctional tax system. A tax law quietly proposed a few months ago—Owe IRS Taxes, Lose Your Passport—is quietly gaining momentum. Now more people have noticed. If you owe the IRS? You’renot going anywhere if this law passes. In America, we love to tinker with our tax laws. Congress is always introducing one bill or another to tweak an already bloated and increasingly dysfunctional tax system.

Britney names fiancee as co-conservator: Judge Eugene Hyman

Britney names fiancee as co-conservator: Judge Eugene Hyman from Sequence Media on Vimeo.

A judge has approved Jason Trawick's application to become his fiancée Britney Spears' co-conservators, a move that could possibly bring Spears closer to regaining control of her own affairs. But does Trawick have the same say that Britney's dad has over her money? Family Law Channel host Judge Eugene Hyman says a conservator is usually named when a person becomes incapacitated in some way. Britney's father has been handling her financial affairs for quite awhile and may be relinquishing some of his control since she has shown signs of regaining control of her personal life."