Archive for the ‘Home Insurance’ Category

Knob and Tube is now Uninsurable

Knob and Tube, a form of a very old electrical system, is now all but unisurable in the California Howeowners Insurance marketplace, in our opinion. In other words if you are shopping for home insurance with Knob and Tube- Do not call me. Marindependent may only have one pretty bad solution for you. All of […]

Yes Marin County, Keep that Chubb Insurance Policy

It happens all the time. I get that call almost every week/month. My Chubb Insurance policy is so expensive, I want to shop it around. Really? Many consumers are unaware of the horrible state of the property insurance market these days. Although that is indeed changing as more learn. General Property Insurance Advisement for 2024: […]

Zesty AI and the California FAIR Plan

This just in – the California FAIR plan is to partner with Zesty AI. This announcements has come through multiple methods including an email sent out to California FAIR Brokers. The Zesty AI program will be used for the purposes of underwriting and premium determination. In this short article we will discuss the little we […]

Did the Economist Magazine Just Call Out the California DOI?

A fascinating, challenging article in the most recent Economist Magazine, dated July 13th 2023 – titled Why people struggle to understand climate risk – may have challenged the thinking of the California Department of Insurance and its Commissioner – Ricardo Lara. The article, which is in part based on Climate Change, Risk Management, and Risk […]

State Farm Stops Writing Home Insurance in the Bay Area [and the rest of California]

State Farm and its various mutual entities have long held out as the sole admitted insurer writing new policies in much of California. As of today – May 27th, 2023 – this is no longer true. According to numerous publications including the Wall Street Journal, Sac Bee, Fox Business, and many more – State Farm […]

The Insuranceflation Story

California is undergoing a tremendous increase in insurance costs. We call this rising cost of insurance – insuranceflation. The causes of insuranceflation. Some obvious, some not. What is Insuranceflation? Simply put insuranceflation is the increasing cost of insurance. Buy a house and watch the cost to insure it go up each and every year – […]

Recent Landslides in Marin 2023

Recent headlines concerning various landslides and mudslides in Marin County and East Bay during the torrential storms of January 2023 has reminded us of an important risk mitigation challenge. Landslides are seldom Covered. However the differences between Landslides, Mudslides, Mudflows, and Flooding are important. According to ABC News “Nearly 20 residents have been displaced after […]

Insurance Auto Pay Vs E Bill

The Most Important Mistake a Consumer can Make with their Own Insurance is to Miss a Payment and risk non coverage for a claim. Home and Auto Insurance Electronic Billing and Auto Pay, although similar – are not the exact same thing. The Main Benefit of Auto Pay and Electronic Billing: The main benefit from […]

The FAIR Clearinghouse Progam

What is the FAIR Clearinghouse Program? When did Clearinghouse Start? Who participates in the Clearninghouse program for FAIR? How Does FAIR Clearninghouse Work? What is the FAIR Clearinghouse Program? The California FAIR Insurance program is required by Insurance Code 10095(i) “to develop…a clearninghouse program.” This program is for admitted insurers to “offer homeowners insurance policies […]

Rutgers Law and United Policy Holders Team Up to Help you the Consumers

United Policy Holders and Rutgers Law School have announced a partnership to work on the “Essentials Protections.” The “The Essential Protections for Policyholders Project is a two-year project that focuses much of its research on consumers that file ordinary claims, examining what they are surprised or disappointed by and how some of the best states are […]

the Turbulent Local Insurance Market

Got a Headache? So do We. Welcome to California’s Turbulent Local Insurance Marketplace. A new client that I was speaking with just the other day, asked me what I meant in regards to the turbulent local insurance market in California. I was a bit surprised by the question. Doesn’t everyone know how hard it is […]

LLoyd’s

Lloyds of London is technically not an insurance company, rather it is an Insurance Marketplace. It is a place of business and a set of methods that allow 80 or so syndicates to bid and provide insurance contracts typically on risks that many domestic, foreign,and admitted insurers refuse to offer. Lloyds is NOT your standard […]



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