Title: Settlement Planner

Company: Kelly Ramsdale & Associates, Inc.

Location: Denver, CO

According to Kelly Ramsdale, landing in the specialized field of settlement planning was just a fluke. She had originally set out to become a lawyer, until her mentor in Chicago was approached by a friend seeking someone with her skill set. Ms. Ramsdale took the opportunity, and found her passion. Now a nationally renowned leader in the field, she parlays years of professional experience into her position as a settlement planner for her company, Kelly Ramsdale & Associates. In that role, Ms. Ramsdale advises plaintiff attorneys and their clients on various types of personal injury and wrongful death cases. She is also skilled at stretching settlement dollars and keeping her clients’ future income secure. Some of Ms. Ramsdale’s most notable cases include the Columbine High School cases, the 9-11 Victims’ Compensation Fund and the Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie) cases.

Ms. Ramsdale considers her greatest achievement to be graduating from college while working to master her profession and caring for her young child, because not everyone believed in her. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and writing, and has completed coursework for an MBA in management. Additionally, Ms. Ramsdale is a certified structured settlement consultant in 2001 from Notre Dame. Her inspiration is powered by her internal drive to help people and be there for them — another attribute for which she would like to be remembered.

As a supplement to her career, Ms. Ramsdale travels the country speaking to various law organizations, offices and classes, and has published several articles related to her field. She has also appeared in TV interviews outlining settlement and income planning. Looking forward, Ms. Ramsdale intends to keep fighting the fight to realize her vision. She is cautiously optimistic that more growth is ahead, but she plans to stay grounded while keeping an eye on the whole picture.