Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Class action suit settled
Old 04-30-2008, 07:25 PM   #1
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
73ss454's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: LaLa Land
Posts: 4,698
Class action suit settled

20 years ago I was sold/flimflamed into a whole life policy for 500K. When I was sold the policy I was told that I'd only have to pay for 10 years $6875.00 and then it would pay for itself and build cash value. At the time I had no idea as to what was going on and I thought it was just great. So I paid for the 10 years and guess what happend on the 11th year? Well at that time I found out that the policy premium had to be paid till the age of 99 and that a portion of the premium could be paid with dividends. None of this was mentioned by the salesperson/flimflamman. So I continued to pay and pay and pay.

About 6 years ago a class action suit was started and I submitted my paper work and forms and waited. I tried to find out form Mass Mutual what was going on but could never get any info.

I called for my cash value the other day and found out that the suit was settled and I was awarded $31500.00 toward my cash value.

Once in a while the little guy wins, well, sorta of.
73ss454 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 04-30-2008, 07:28 PM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
haha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
Quote:
Originally Posted by 73ss454 View Post
About 6 years ago a class action suit was started and I submitted my paper work and forms and waited. I tried to find out form Mass Mutual what was going on but could never get any info.

I called for my cash value the other day and found out that the suit was settled and I was awarded $31500.00 toward my cash value.

Once in a while the little guy wins, well, sorta of.
Congrats, great outcome.

ha
__________________
"As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate a conversation, the more interesting it is."-Scott Adams
haha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008, 10:11 PM   #3
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,819
Wow, that's a big amount for a class action. The best I've gotten is a discount coupon to buy more stuff from the company that was sued. -ERD50
ERD50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008, 10:58 PM   #4
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,203
Man that blows.... and I do not see it as a victory... but a reduced loss...

You paid 10 years at $6k plus... and then you said you kept paying... so you were in over $60K... add earnings to that and I would say over $120K easy...

Got $30K back... a pretty big loss IMO... and they got to keep the ill gotten gains...
Texas Proud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2008, 03:19 AM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,072
I would so a little analysis first.

But if the insurance is no longer needed, I would dump the policy. not sure of the tax implications.

If you need insurance, I would shop a .5M term policy and dump it.

Then tell Mass Mutual to KMA.
chinaco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2008, 07:40 AM   #6
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
73ss454's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: LaLa Land
Posts: 4,698
Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Proud View Post
Man that blows.... and I do not see it as a victory... but a reduced loss...

You paid 10 years at $6k plus... and then you said you kept paying... so you were in over $60K... add earnings to that and I would say over $120K easy...

Got $30K back... a pretty big loss IMO... and they got to keep the ill gotten gains...

No, the cash value is now 181K with the 31500 added. Most of the 6875 for the last few years has been covered by the dividends but I still have to go into my pocket every year for some of it.

I really don't need the policy any longer but the tax thing is a lot. I'd have to pay taxes on about 80K.

Now I could save the tax if I put it into an annuity but that's not going to happen. I'd rather pay the tax than pay another commission. I know you guys that think annuities are OK would think I'm nuts. But I got burnt buying this policy and paying a commission and it's not going to happen again.
73ss454 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2008, 09:30 AM   #7
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
FinanceDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
Quote:
Originally Posted by 73ss454 View Post
Now I could save the tax if I put it into an annuity but that's not going to happen. I'd rather pay the tax than pay another commission. I know you guys that think annuities are OK would think I'm nuts. But I got burnt buying this policy and paying a commission and it's not going to happen again.
My DW had a similar thing, with a "vanishing premium" WL account her dad took out on her when she was young. They sent her dad a letter saying he needed to continue to pay in AFTER the last premium was paid, due to "cincumstances beyond their control".

I told him no way, and hee ended up cashing out the policy. The company was Jackson National Life............
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)


This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
FinanceDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2008, 09:33 AM   #8
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
FinanceDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
Quote:
Originally Posted by 73ss454 View Post
No, the cash value is now 181K with the 31500 added. Most of the 6875 for the last few years has been covered by the dividends but I still have to go into my pocket every year for some of it.

I really don't need the policy any longer but the tax thing is a lot. I'd have to pay taxes on about 80K.

Now I could save the tax if I put it into an annuity but that's not going to happen. I'd rather pay the tax than pay another commission. I know you guys that think annuities are OK would think I'm nuts. But I got burnt buying this policy and paying a commission and it's not going to happen again.
BTW, it will never be a more tax-friendly account than it is now. Of course, you could borrow the cash value on a policy loan, and get the cash that way, if the interest rate is low...... Sounds like you don't need the money right now. I guess I would let it sit and let the dividends make the payments for now. With the infusion of $31,500, maybe the dividend will now pay ALL the premium...........
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)


This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
FinanceDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2008, 10:00 AM   #9
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
73ss454's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: LaLa Land
Posts: 4,698
Quote:
Originally Posted by FinanceDude View Post
BTW, it will never be a more tax-friendly account than it is now. Of course, you could borrow the cash value on a policy loan, and get the cash that way, if the interest rate is low...... Sounds like you don't need the money right now. I guess I would let it sit and let the dividends make the payments for now. With the infusion of $31,500, maybe the dividend will now pay ALL the premium...........
Yeah, I was thinking of pulling out the 31500 and paying off remaining debt's and being debt free. I don't think there will be a tax issue with this part of the money.

I'm waiting for the conformation letter from Mass Mutual to see what all the facts are.

Really up in the air about cashing it in, I think I'll wait to see how much of the premium I'll have to pay in Oct when it's due.
73ss454 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2008, 11:32 AM   #10
Moderator Emeritus
Martha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
Man, I have one of those stinking policies from years ago. Maybe I should start a class action.
__________________
.


No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA

Martha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2008, 12:24 PM   #11
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
73ss454's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: LaLa Land
Posts: 4,698
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha View Post
Man, I have one of those stinking policies from years ago. Maybe I should start a class action.
Martha, I had 3 of these policies and all 3 ended the same way. The other 2 were with John Hancock and I ended up with shares of MFC and got rid of the policies because of the lies of the agents.

You should look to see if there are any class actions going on but I guess being a lawyer you already know that.

Seems this is a wide spread thing with the agents telling little fibs.

I knew I should have gotten annuities instead.
73ss454 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2008, 01:45 PM   #12
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
FinanceDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
Quote:
Originally Posted by 73ss454 View Post
Yeah, I was thinking of pulling out the 31500 and paying off remaining debt's and being debt free. I don't think there will be a tax issue with this part of the money.

I'm waiting for the conformation letter from Mass Mutual to see what all the facts are.

Really up in the air about cashing it in, I think I'll wait to see how much of the premium I'll have to pay in Oct when it's due.
I don't know,when I got my class action reward from the Ameriquest blow-up, they sent me a 1099-Misc, and I had to report it as income........
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)


This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
FinanceDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2008, 01:47 PM   #13
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
FinanceDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
Quote:
Originally Posted by 73ss454 View Post
I knew I should have gotten annuities instead.
NOW, you're talking..........
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)


This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
FinanceDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
DeBeers Class Action Diamond Suit travelover Other topics 11 06-10-2013 05:37 PM
Credit card FX class action settlement nfs FIRE and Money 2 04-30-2010 10:15 PM
Supreme Court turns down investor class-action lawsuits Nords Other topics 11 03-22-2006 07:46 PM
Now that the dust has settled... cute fuzzy bunny Other topics 12 01-20-2006 04:22 PM
Martha, I'm in my first lawsuit!! Class Action no less!!! laurence Other topics 3 05-20-2005 09:06 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:48 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.