What is exactly is a cash structured settlement? Basically a cash structured settlement occurs when there is an insurance company that provides scheduled payments to a person as a result of a claim settlement. In other words, a structured settlement is a monetary package that allows for payment of a settlement to occur through scheduled installment payments for a period of time.

Structured settlements were first introduced in early in the seventies in Canada, then spreading rapidly into the United States. Several years later, this method found its way to Australia as well as Europe.

One benefit of structured settlements is that provides a tax free recurring payment over a period of time. These payments can very well be spread out through the live of the recipient. If death happens to occur to the recipient, a guaranteed portion of the settlement can be paid to a beneficiary.

An alternative to structured settlements is a lump sum payment. This basically means that a one time amount will be paid to the recipient instead of breaking the amount down into multiple payments over a designated period of time. This often occurs when a person wins the lottery. Some reasons that lump sum payments are of interest to individuals is that they may have a large expense they wish to pay off. For example, a home loan or mortgage, medical expenses, credit card debt, etc. With a lump sum payment, many debt issues can be resolved as a result of the large payment.

Although lump sum payments may seem appealing to some, structured settlements provide a continuous recurring income over a designated period of time.

If you have an income producing property, the amount of money you are left with at the end of your property expenses is considered cash flow.

Here is how it works . . .

Lets suppose you own a duplex and your monthly mortgage payment including taxes and insurance is approximately 1200.00.

Now lets suppose you have a tenant on each floor with a one year lease, and you charge each tenant 850.00 a month to live there. This is a total of 1700.00 paid to you on a monthly basis.

Once you have paid your mortgage of 1200.00, you are left with a balance of 500.00, this would be your monthly cash flow from the income producing property.

If you are looking to increase your monthly cash flow, one of the easiest ways to do it would be to raise the rent. This is by far one of the most effective and common ways of increasing cash flow.

Another way to increase cash flow depending on the amount of equity you have established in a property would be to use some of that investment propertys equity to purchase another income producing property.

Using the same principal of charging more than the amount of your total expenses on the property, you will once again be increasing your cash flow.

Keep in mind, when doing any kind of repairs to the home, including landscaping, make sure you save the receipts to be used as a write off. This to will help to reduce earnings, resulting in cash flow in the way of an annual tax return.