Meet our team!

A Professional
Protecting
Your Structured
Settlement

We help you protect your structured settlement to ensure that your financial interests are safeguarded in the long term.

Learn More
Our
Mission

At Settlement Protection Resources, our mission is to protect structured settlement recipients from financial pressures by acting as a trusted gatekeeper in the settlement transfer process. We ensure that any proposed sale of future payments is based on genuine financial need, fair valuation, and informed decision-making, before a proposed transaction ever reaches the courtroom.

Our team of attorneys, fiduciaries, financial advisors, and executives provides objective, fiduciary-level reviews to reduce excessive fees, protect vulnerable individuals, and uphold the intent of structured settlements. Through our involvement prior to the court’s petition, we help ensure that only responsible, well-vetted sales move forward, preserving long-term financial stability and legal integrity.

Why Settlement
Protection Resources?

An individual might seek the services of a fiduciary to protect their structured settlement to ensure that their financial interests are safeguarded in the long term. A fiduciary, by definition, is legally bound to act in the best interest of the individual, offering impartial advice and financial management. Given the complexity of structured settlements, which involve periodic payments over time rather than a lump sum, it is crucial for the individual to have expert guidance to manage the funds effectively, ensure they are not misused, and maintain the value of the settlement. Additionally, a fiduciary can help navigate legal requirements and ensure the settlement is used in alignment with the individual’s needs, such as healthcare, education, or retirement. This service provides peace of mind, as the individual can trust that their financial future is being managed with the highest standard of care.

Five Compelling Reasons...

01

Financial expertise

Fiduciaries possess specialized knowledge in managing complex financial arrangements like structured settlements, ensuring optimal decision-making for the individual's long-term financial security.

02

Protection from exploitation

A fiduciary can safeguard the individual from potential exploitation by companies seeking to purchase their structured settlement for a lump sum, often at a significant discount.

03

Customized financial planning

Fiduciaries can help tailor the structured settlement payments to meet the individual's evolving needs over time, considering factors such as inflation and changing life circumstances.

04

Tax implications

With their expertise, fiduciaries can help individuals navigate the tax implications of structured settlements, ensuring they maintain the tax-free status of their payments in physical injury cases.

05

Longevity management

As people are living longer, a fiduciary can assist in managing the structured settlement to provide lifelong income security, addressing concerns about outliving savings.

for more information call

317-841-8795

Settlement Protection Resources
Indianapolis, IN 46256

info@settlementprotect.com

Peter J. Vodola, Esq.

The founding partner of Vodola Law, LLC, Peter is a seasoned business and litigation attorney with extensive experience in legal matters involving structured settlements.  For more than 25 years, he has represented clients in matters involving the enforcement of structured settlement protection acts and has secured landmark rulings interpreting such laws in appellate courts in California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas, and at the trial court level in more than a dozen states.  His practice has helped create a body of law concerning the enforcement of many of the consumer protection provisions of structured settlement protection acts.

Peter’s structured settlement work has frequently addressed contractual interpretation of structured settlement agreements, including contract terms addressing transfers of structured settlement payment rights.  Such work is reflected in, among other things, an amicus curiae brief where he argued in support of the party that ultimately prevailed in the notable decision issued by New York’s highest court in Cordero v. Transamerica Annuity Serv. Corp., 39 N.Y.3d 399 (2023) – a decision that adopted some key points from the brief.

Peter has been recognized for his contributions by other structured settlement professionals, such as when he was named as one of the 2020 recipients of the National Structured Settlement Trade Association’s Leadership Award.  He has also authored articles on best-interest standards and the legal framework for structured settlement transfers under state structured settlement protection acts. 

With a background that includes community service and civic board leadership, and a passion for integrity, he brings both legal rigor and a client-first ethos to every matter — making him a strong advocate for attorneys and brokers seeking secure, practical solutions that provide protections to all the parties to structured settlement agreements. 

Don Engels, CSSC®, CLU®, AIC®

Don is a seasoned structured settlement consultant with 30 years of experience guiding attorneys, insurance carriers, TPAs, and brokers on tax-efficient settlement design and compliance. As an Associate with Ringler Associates, he has become a trusted national authority on helping craft settlements that optimize client outcomes.  His credentials include Certified Structured Settlement Consultant (CSSC®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), and Associate in Claims (AIC®).  Don is also a Registered Investment Advisor, underscoring his discipline in both insurance and settlement planning. Don is a recognized speaker and published author, offering all parties practical, fiduciary-level insight for structuring compliant, client-centered solutions.

Jake Duvall, CTFA®, ChSNC®

Jake is a distinguished financial and settlement planning expert at Mirena & Company and MC2 Wealth Management (a dba of Bison Wealth, LLC) specializing in guiding individuals and families who receive personal injury settlements and awards (mirenaandco.com / mc2wealthmgmt.com) . With a strong focus on structured settlements, estate planning, trusts, and special needs planning, he brings more than a decade of experience helping clients secure thoughtful, long-term financial outcomes. Licensed across multiple states, Jake complements his investment advisory role with deep fiduciary insight.

A vocal advocate for transparency and ethical planning, Jake frequently publishes on LinkedIn, warning against predatory settlement brokers and encouraging best practices—such as ensuring structured settlements factor in long-term care, estate readiness, and optimal payout performance. His collaborative approach and specialized certifications make him a trusted partner for attorneys, brokers, and fiduciaries seeking to protect client interests at every stage of structured settlement planning.