​The California Earthquake Authority has made a lot of changes to the coverage the offer effective January 1, 2016.  From expanded deductible options or increased coverage availability, much has changed when it comes to the availability of earthquake insurance coverage in California.  Learn more here:

Since the recent discovery of a methane gas leak in Porter Ranch, California at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility has received a lot of attention in the news over the last few months little has been discussed of how insurance companies are looking at the situation. Thousands of families have either fled the Porter Ranch community or been relocated due to health concerns as a result of the gas leak. Their relocation has left homes vacant until the leak has been properly fixed.  Schools, such as Castlebay Lane Elementary and the newly built Porter Ranch Community School, have been closed indefinitely and relocated to nearby facilities as well.

Purchasing auto insurance in Los Angeles can bring up many concerns for the average driver and vehicle owner. While every driver in California is required to have auto insurance and the state requires certain minimum liability limits, not everyone obeys these laws. As we have to consider our own needs to protect against liability claims and uninsured motorists it is important to better understand auto insurance and the options available.
Not every auto insurance policy is equal.  One company might have a low rate and another might seem high, but it takes a trained professional to help the public understand the difference.

So, you saved up for years to buy a car, and now you are looking for a cheap auto insurance policy.  Whether you live in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, Northridge, Calabasas, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Encino or Thousand Oaks you’ve worked hard to get where you are. Why take a chance by shopping for a cheap auto insurance policy that is meant to protect you and your family?

It always amazes me that so many renters don’t feel the need to have an insurance policy protecting their personal property.  While most homeowners are insured, it is astonishing that a majority of renters do not have renters insurance!

Here are some frequently asked questions that should help explain why renters insurance is an important policy to have for anyone that does not own their residence:

Many people are unaware that car insurance does not cover personal belongings in your automobile.  Even a full coverage auto insurance policy will not compensate you for damaged or stolen possessions.  While your car might be covered for damage or theft, only your auto itself is covered. Therefore, the personal property inside the vehicle are not considered part of the vehicle and are not included in its valuation when it comes to an auto insurance policy. Drivers and passengers carry many valuable items with them when on the road, from cell phones and laptop computers, to leather jackets and other valuable items. 

By now, the American public has become accustomed to stories of Hollywood actors’ deaths and their various financial missteps.

There was James Gandolfini, who left his wife with only 20 percent of his estate, meaning the other 80 percent didn’t qualify for the unlimited tax-free transfer of money to a spouse. The cost of that was nearly $30 million to taxes.

​The answer is based on a few variables:

1. Were you one of the 6 million Americans who lost their coverage December 31, 2013?
2. Were you able to navigate Covered California?
3. Were you eligible for a subsidy?
4. Did your new premium double or triple from what it was last year?
5. Did your deductible double or triple?
6. Were you enrolled in a timely manner?
7. Is your new insurance company easy to work with?
8. Is your doctor still contracted with any insurance company?

You just never know when you are going to make a difference in someone’s life.  In October of 2011, I was building my insurance agency and was meeting a lot of clients based on requests they made for insurance quotes on the Internet.  One of the clients I met via this method of obtaining new clients came to me for auto and homeowners insurance on their 1914 Craftsman home, which was on the local historic registry.  After a review of their homeowners insurance, I informed them that I believed they were under-insured and needed to consider a sizable increase in coverage to meet today’s reconstruction costs, especially given the fact that the house was a specialty home.  While the client had originally hoped to reduce their expenses, they agreed with my assessment and decided to purchase an upgraded policy with my agency.