With the California Great ShakeOut approaching, earthquake readiness is top of mind. In this episode of Speaking of Insurance, Aaron Bollinger breaks down whether earthquake insurance is actually worth the cost in California and highlights the key questions homeowners must ask before buying a policy.

We cover:

• Current Coverage Check: Why standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, flood, and water damage, and how to identify what you already have.
• Understanding Deductibles: How percentage-based deductibles (typically 5% to 15%) work and why paying $50,000 to $100,000+ out of pocket can impact your financial readiness.
• Key Policy Exclusions & Extras: Why temporary living coverage (Loss of Use) isn't always included by default and why you need it if your home becomes uninhabitable.
• Underwriting & Retrofitting: How older home construction, foundation types (slab vs. raised/crawlspace), and zip code location affect pricing and eligibility.
• Carrier Options: Comparing private insurers (like GeoVera or Palomar) against the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and the benefits of bundling coverage where available.
• Financial Decision-Making: How to perform a practical pros-and-cons analysis based on your household's emergency funds and overall risk tolerance.

The bottom line: Earthquake insurance can be a critical safety net, but only if you clearly understand your policy exclusions, ensure your deductible is manageable, and verify that temporary living costs are covered before a disaster strikes.

Speaking of Insurance is hosted by Aaron Bollinger and Brian Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services.

Learn more or request an insurance review:

Bollinsure Insurance Services

562-268-9355

quotes@bollinsure.com

California Insurance License #6013787

Speaking of Insurance dives into one of California homeowners’ biggest concerns: water damage, flooding, and what El Niño weather could mean for your insurance coverage.

In this episode, Aaron Bollinger explains why not all “flooding” is treated the same by insurers, and why the source of the water can make all the difference in a claim.

We cover:

• The difference between flood damage, plumbing failures, sewer backups, and gradual leaks
• Why sudden and accidental water damage may be covered, while maintenance-related damage often is not
• How flood insurance works and why homeowners outside high-risk flood zones may still face exposure
• Common warning signs of hidden water damage, including ceiling stains, warped baseboards, bubbling paint, and unexpected water-bill increases
• The role of plumbing maintenance and water-leak detectors in preventing expensive losses
• How a water claim can affect future insurance options and coverage limits
• What to do after a water event to help protect your home and support a potential claim

Insurance coverage depends on the details of your policy, the cause of the damage, and the steps taken after a loss. Aaron breaks down the questions homeowners should ask before a storm, or a plumbing problem, turns into a major expense.

Speaking of Insurance is hosted by Aaron Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services.

Learn more or request an insurance review:
Bollinsure Insurance Services
562-268-9355
quotes@bollinsure.com

California Insurance License #6013787

California’s property insurance market is changing fast, especially for homeowners in wildfire-prone areas.

In this episode of Speaking of Insurance, Aaron and Brian Bollinger discuss what they’re seeing in California right now: rising California FAIR Plan premiums, limited carrier availability, underwriting restrictions, older roofs, brush exposure, and why it pays to start shopping well before your renewal date.

We cover:

• Why the California FAIR Plan is becoming more expensive
• When a standard homeowners policy may still be possible
• How roof age, home updates, brush exposure, and documentation affect eligibility
• Why home and auto bundles can create more options
• What homeowners can do mid-policy - and why they shouldn’t cancel coverage before a replacement is secured
• How claims history affects future insurance costs
• Practical risk-reduction steps for mountain, seasonal, and high-fire-risk homes
• What could help stabilize California’s insurance market over time

The bottom line: insurance companies need enough information to assess risk, but homeowners need access to coverage that is practical, coordinated, and reliable when they need it most.

Speaking of Insurance is hosted by Aaron Bollinger and Brian Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services.

Learn more or request an insurance review:
Bollinsure Insurance Services
562-268-9355
quotes@bollinsure.com
California Insurance License #6013787

California is considering several insurance bills that could affect how insurers collect your information, underwrite risk, handle regulatory compliance, and provide certain health and life insurance benefits.

In this episode of Speaking of Insurance, Aaron and Brian Bollinger break down six pending pieces of insurance legislation and discuss what they could mean for consumers, insurance companies, and brokers.

We cover:

• Insurance privacy and how much personal data insurers should be allowed to collect
• AI underwriting, aerial imagery, third-party data, and the growing use of technology in insurance
• SB 1209 and stronger enforcement tools for the California Department of Insurance
• SB 1206 and California’s annual insurance regulatory cleanup
• AB 1798 and the use of genetic testing in life and disability insurance underwriting
• AB 2011 and protections surrounding mental-health and substance-use disorder coverage
• SB 1023 and coverage for long-acting injectable HIV PrEP
• The balance between consumer protection, underwriting accuracy, insurance availability, and rising premiums

Insurance companies need information to properly evaluate risk, but as underwriting becomes increasingly data-driven, the question becomes: where should the line be drawn?

Aaron and Brian discuss both sides of these proposed changes and what they could mean for the future of insurance in California.

Speaking of Insurance is hosted by Aaron Bollinger and Brian Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services.

Learn more or request an insurance review:
Bollinsure Insurance Services
562-268-9355
quotes@bollinsure.com

California Insurance License #6013787

California is considering major changes to how insurance claims are handled after wildfires and other catastrophic events, but new laws don’t automatically mean every problem in the insurance market gets fixed.

In this episode of Speaking of Insurance, Aaron and Brian Bollinger break down several major California property insurance bills, including SB 876, SB 878, AB 1795, and AB 1680. They discuss how the proposed changes could affect claims handling, extended replacement cost coverage, actual cash value payments, wildfire smoke damage, additional living expenses, and the California FAIR Plan.

They also cover why extended replacement cost can be so important after a widespread disaster, how replacement cost differs from actual cash value, and why mortgage companies may still control portions of an insurance payout after a total loss. Brian explains some of the practical challenges insurance companies face after major catastrophes and why homeowners need to stay organized during the claims process.

Later, the conversation focuses on smoke contamination and the difficulty of determining when a home is actually safe to occupy after a wildfire. Aaron and Brian discuss testing, remediation, heavy metals, lingering smoke damage, and efforts to create a more consistent framework for handling smoke-related claims when a home is still standing.

The episode also looks at the California FAIR Plan, why it has grown far beyond its original role as an insurer of last resort, and whether proposed reforms can realistically move policyholders back into the traditional insurance market.

Whether you currently own a home in California, are dealing with a wildfire claim, are considering buying property, or simply want to understand where the California insurance market may be heading, the key takeaway is simple: understand your coverage before a loss happens and pay close attention to how these proposed reforms actually work in practice.

Learn more or contact Bollinsure:
https://www.bollinsure.com/
Phone: 562-268-9355
Email: quotes@bollinsure.com
Bollinsure Insurance Services
California DOI Agency License #6013787

As your business grows, your insurance should grow with it, but growth doesn’t always mean every premium goes up. And when a business slows down, there may be opportunities to adjust payroll, sales projections, limits, and other exposures before waiting for an audit or renewal.

In this episode of Speaking of Insurance, Aaron and Brian Bollinger break down how changes in revenue, payroll, employees, locations, operations, vehicles, and contracts can affect a commercial insurance program. They discuss why accurate forecasting matters, how workers’ compensation and general liability exposures can change during the policy term, and why businesses should communicate with their broker before expanding into new services, states, or projects.

They also cover what growing businesses should consider when adding vehicles and drivers, increasing umbrella or excess limits, expanding into new states, outsourcing employees, or adding higher-risk operations. Brian explains why changing carriers too frequently can sometimes create problems and why long-term carrier relationships, loss history, and accurate recordkeeping can matter when negotiating future coverage.

Later, the conversation looks at workers’ compensation classifications, payroll allocation, commercial auto exposure, key-person insurance, and the importance of having a proactive, holistic insurance plan as a company becomes more complex.

Whether your company is scaling quickly, entering new markets, adding employees, or experiencing a slowdown, the key takeaway is simple: don’t wait until renewal to tell your insurance team what is changing.

Learn more or contact Bollinsure:
https://www.bollinsure.com/
Phone: 562-268-9355
Email: quotes@bollinsure.com
Bollinsure Insurance Services
California DOI Agency License #6013787

California’s property insurance market has changed dramatically, and the California FAIR Plan now reportedly insures approximately $768 billion in property across the state.

In this episode of Speaking of Insurance, Aaron and Brian Bollinger break down what the growth of the FAIR Plan means for California homeowners, why it should generally remain an insurer of last resort, and why the cheapest insurance option is not always the best value.

We discuss:

• Why the California FAIR Plan has grown so significantly
• What the FAIR Plan covers, and what it may leave out
• Why FAIR Plan coverage is not the same as a traditional homeowners policy
• The importance of pairing FAIR Plan coverage with appropriate supplemental coverage
• Why homeowners facing a non-renewal should explore the private market before automatically moving to the FAIR Plan
• How independent brokers can access admitted, specialty, and excess and surplus insurance markets
• Signs that California’s property insurance market may be beginning to soften
• Why newer homes and properties farther from wildfire exposure may have more insurance options
• How property maintenance and wildfire mitigation can affect insurability
• Why replacement cost estimates and underinsurance remain major concerns
• How extended and functional replacement cost provisions can affect a claim
• Why coverage, claims handling, pricing, and long-term stability all matter when evaluating an insurance policy

The California property insurance market is still difficult, but additional carrier appetite and new market options may give some homeowners alternatives that were not available even a year or two ago.

If you are currently insured through the FAIR Plan or recently received a non-renewal, it may be worth having your property reviewed again to see what options are available.

Learn more or contact Bollinsure:
https://www.bollinsure.com/
Phone: 562-268-9355
Email: quotes@bollinsure.com
Bollinsure Insurance Services
California DOI Agency License #6013787

Building wealth is only half the equation. Without the right insurance and asset-protection strategy, one serious accident, lawsuit, or uncovered exposure could put years of work at risk.

Aaron and Brian Bollinger explain why high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and families with growing assets need more than a basic home, auto, and umbrella insurance package. They discuss how umbrella limits, excluded drivers, business entities, rental properties, luxury homes, and other exposures must work together as part of a coordinated protection plan.

You’ll discover:

• Why a $1 million umbrella may no longer be enough for someone with significant assets
• When a $5 million, $10 million, or larger umbrella policy may be worth considering
• Why buying a standalone umbrella can be difficult without coordinating the underlying policies
• How an excluded or improperly listed driver could jeopardize both auto and umbrella coverage
• Why rental properties, business entities, yachts, aircraft, and young drivers create additional liability exposure
• How insurance brokers, financial advisors, and attorneys can work together to identify protection gaps
• Why the cheapest insurance program may leave your largest risks uncovered
• How an independent insurance broker can compare carriers as your assets and coverage needs change

Brian also explains why insurance should be viewed as wealth-preservation protection rather than simply another expense. Aaron discusses the importance of choosing carriers with the financial strength, coverage options, and claims experience needed for more complex households.

If you have accumulated significant assets, or advise clients who have, this episode offers a practical framework for reviewing liability limits, coordinating coverage, and identifying gaps before a serious claim exposes them.

Learn more or contact Bollinsure:

https://www.bollinsure.com/

Phone: 562-268-9355
Email: quotes@bollinsure.com

Bollinsure Insurance Services
California DOI Agency License #6013787