Plain-language guides to help you make smarter decisions about your coverage.
Most Californians can name their governor. Far fewer can name the person who decides whether their homeowners insurance renews next year, and at what price. That person is the Insurance Commissioner, and on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, we elect a new one. Ricardo Lara is termed out after eight years. Under California’s top-two primary system,…
The California FAIR Plan is a specialized insurance program designed to provide fire and basic property coverage to homeowners who can’t get standard coverage through the traditional insurance market. It was created in response to wildfire risk, particularly in high-risk brush and forest areas, where many standard insurers have become reluctant to write new policies.…
A Difference in Conditions (DIC) policy exists to close the coverage gaps left by a limited policy such as the California FAIR Plan. Because FAIR Plan policies generally cover only fire-related perils, homeowners are left exposed to a long list of other risks: theft, vandalism, liability claims, water damage, and more. A DIC policy is…
Business owners often assume that one liability policy covers every type of claim, but general liability and professional liability protect against very different risks. General liability (GL) insurance covers claims related to bodily injury, property damage, and personal or advertising injury that happen as a result of your business operations. A classic example is a…
A Business Owner’s Policy, commonly called a BOP, bundles several essential coverages into a single, more affordable package designed for small and mid-sized businesses. Rather than purchasing separate policies for each type of risk, a BOP typically combines general liability insurance with commercial property insurance, and often adds business interruption coverage as well. This bundling…
When you’re insuring your home or personal property, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is how your policy calculates a payout after a loss. Two common valuation methods determine this: replacement cost and actual cash value. Understanding the difference can save you from a painful surprise at claim time. Replacement cost coverage pays…