Speaking of Insurance

Brian Bollinger, Aaron Bollinger

Insurance, explained clearly by a family with three generations of expertise. Speaking of Insurance from Bollinsure Insurance Services features California insurance conversations with Brian Bollinger and Aaron Bollinger, covering home, auto, business and personal umbrella topics. Find episode transcripts and related resources at https://www.bollinsure.com/podcast.

  1. 14m ago

    How California Earthquake Insurance Actually Pays: Deductibles, Contents and Loss of Use

    Most California homeowners know their home insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage. Fewer know what happens when they do buy earthquake insurance. They are surprised by a deductible measured in six figures, and surprised that their furniture claim depends on the damage to the house. Aaron Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services walks through how a California earthquake policy actually pays, with real numbers: percentage deductibles, contents and loss of use, retrofit discounts, fire following an earthquake, the private market, and a full claim example. What we cover: Why earthquake deductibles are a percentage of the dwelling limit, not of the damageCEA deductible choices of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 percent, and who can pick the lower onesCoverage A, B, C and D on a CEA homeowners policy, and why the limits do not automatically match your home policyStandard versus Homeowners Choice: how each one treats contentsLoss of use with no deductible, emergency repairs, and building code upgrade coverageSeismic retrofits, CEA premium discounts, and Earthquake Brace + Bolt grantsWhy fire following an earthquake goes to your homeowners policyPrivate and surplus lines earthquake coverage, and the CIGA trade-offExample: a 1962 Pasadena home with an $800,000 limit and a 15% deductibleThree common mistakes, what to bring to a review, and four questions to askResources: All Speaking of Insurance episodesHome insurance in CaliforniaRead the guide: How California earthquake insurance paysClarifications Around 3:25, "covered B" means Coverage B, the extensions of the dwelling.Around 3:50, the CEA rule is correct: homes with a dwelling limit over $1,000,000 cannot choose the 5% or 10% deductible. The same applies to pre-1980 raised foundation frame homes without a verified retrofit. Those homes choose 15%, 20% or 25%.Around 5:37, on a Homeowners Choice policy the contents deductible is waived once the dwelling deductible is met. Homeowners Choice contents limits run from $5,000 to $25,000.Around 8:40, the California law on fire following an earthquake is Insurance Code section 10088.5. The fire is covered under the fire or homeowners policy, subject to that policy's terms and deductible.Around 9:50, "sometimes worse to the CEA" means sometimes worse than the CEA.The CEA is a publicly managed, not-for-profit earthquake insurer whose policies are sold through participating home insurance companies.Brace + Bolt grants of up to $3,000 are run through the California Residential Mitigation Program. Eligible zip codes change each year.Get quoted: Compare earthquake coverage options with Bollinsure Insurance Services at www.bollinsure.com/quote, or call 562-268-9355. CA License 6013787 This episode is for general education only and is not legal, tax, or coverage advice. Coverage, eligibility, and pricing depend on the carrier, underwriting, and your policy terms. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: the six figure surprise00:23 Welcome and what this episode covers01:05 Disclaimer03:00 Percentage deductibles04:12 Why the deductibles are so high04:36 Contents and loss of use04:58 Standard versus Homeowners Choice06:02 Loss of use, emergency repairs and code upgrades07:02 Retrofits, discounts and Brace + Bolt08:20 Fire following an earthquake09:15 The private market10:18 Example: a Pasadena claim with numbers12:45 Three common mistakes13:28 What to bring to a review, and four questions14:21 Getting help and sign-offTranscript excerpt Most California homeowners know their home insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage. Fewer know what happens when they do buy earthquake insurance. They are surprised by a deductible measured in six figures. They are surprised that their furniture claim depends on the damage to the house.… Full episode on bollinsure.com

  2. 1d ago

    Ordinance or Law Coverage in California: Paying for Code Upgrades After a Fire

    Here is a sentence heard more than once from California homeowners after a fire: I had replacement cost, so why is there a gap? The policy paid to rebuild the house that stood there, but the city would not let them rebuild that house. The code says you must build to today's standards: fire resistant siding, ember resistant vents, new electrical, maybe solar, maybe a sprinkler system. That difference has a name. It is called ordinance or law coverage. Aaron Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services explains how building code upgrades are paid for after a loss, why they matter so much in California wildfire country, what a standard policy gives you, how to buy more, what is excluded, and a claim example with numbers. What we cover: Why building codes change, Title 24, and the wildland urban interface (WUI) rules in Chapter 7A of the California Building CodeGrandfathering, and why it ends once a house is destroyed or badly damagedWhat high fire hazard areas can require: Class A roofs, ember resistant vents, tempered or multi-pane glass, defensible spaceThe ordinance or law exclusion and the 10% additional coverage on the ISO HO 00 03 formWhy extended replacement cost is a different thing from code upgrade coverageThe three pieces on commercial forms (CP 04 05 Coverage A, B and C)Why wildfires make the code layer large, and California's 36 month post-disaster replacement cost windowClosing the gap: HO 04 77, premium tiers, the FAIR Plan with a DIC policy, and commercial limitsWhat ordinance or law does not do: upgrades with no loss, excluded perils like earthquake, prior violations, pollutants, and cash settlementsExample: Daniel's Ventura County rebuild with 10% versus 50% ordinance or lawFour questions to ask about your own policyResources: All Speaking of Insurance episodesHome insurance in CaliforniaRead the guide: Ordinance or law coverage in CaliforniaClarifications Around 2:28, "five sprinklers" means fire sprinklers. Some jurisdictions require fire sprinkler systems in new single family homes.Around 2:15, the glass requirement is tempered or multi-pane glass.Around 3:05, the ISO homeowners form is the HO 00 03 (often called the HO-3).Around 9:37, "read the law settlement" means read the loss settlement and ordinance or law wording together.In Daniel's example, 10% ordinance or law leaves a $65,000 gap on $140,000 of code items. With HO 04 77 at 50%, the $375,000 limit covers the full $140,000.CEA earthquake policies include a separate building code upgrade limit; check the amount on your policy.Get quoted: Compare coverage options with Bollinsure Insurance Services at www.bollinsure.com/quote, or call 562-268-9355. CA License 6013787 This episode is for general education only and is not legal, tax, or coverage advice. Coverage, eligibility, and pricing depend on the carrier, underwriting, and your policy terms. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: replacement cost, but still a gap00:32 Welcome and what this episode covers01:05 Disclaimer01:19 Why building codes change01:51 Grandfathering and what high fire areas require02:37 What a standard policy gives you03:37 Extended replacement cost is a different thing04:09 The three pieces of ordinance or law05:41 Why wildfires make the code layer large06:33 California's post-disaster rules07:09 How to close the gap08:23 What ordinance or law does not do09:41 Example: Daniel's rebuild11:25 What to do this week: four questions12:14 Getting help and sign-offTranscript excerpt Here is a sentence I have heard more than once from a California homeowner after a fire. I had replacement cost. Why is there a gap? The house burned. The policy paid to rebuild the house that stood there, but the city would not let them rebuild that house. The code says you must build today.… Full episode on bollinsure.com

  3. 1d ago

    Term vs Whole Life Insurance in California: Matching the Policy to the Need

    Two neighbors in Simi Valley, both 35, both married with two young kids, buy a $1 million life insurance policy on the same day. One pays about the cost of a streaming bundle each month. The other pays more than a car payment. Neither one got ripped off. They bought two different tools for two different jobs. Aaron Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services compares term life and whole life insurance for California families. We cover how each one works, what you actually pay for, the cash value question, the policy provisions that matter, a few California consumer protections, and three examples that show how to match the type of coverage to how long the need lasts. What we cover: The real question: how long does the need last, and what else should the policy do How term life works: level term, what happens after the level period, and conversion privileges Riders: waiver of premium and accelerated death benefits Laddering term policies so coverage steps down as the mortgage shrinks How whole life works: guaranteed cash value, dividends from mutual insurers, and why early years grow slowly Policy loans, surrender charges, and the MEC rule (the seven pay test) California protections: the 60 day grace period and lapse notice designee, the free look period, and the guarantee association Underwriting, exclusions, the contestable period, and how death claims get paid Examples: a young family in Oxnard, a lifelong special needs plan, and a Ventura buy-sell Buy term and invest the difference, blending term and permanent, and a checklist before you talk to a broker Resources: All Speaking of Insurance episodes Life insurance in California Read the guide: Term vs whole life insurance in California Clarifications Around 3:03 the word spoken as "writers" means riders: optional add-ons such as waiver of premium and an accelerated death benefit. Around 9:49: the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association protects policies from insurers licensed (admitted) in California, up to set limits. Non-admitted or surplus lines carriers are not covered by it. Laddering means owning several term policies with different lengths, as in the $750,000 30 year plus $750,000 15 year example around 3:25. Pairing a large term policy with a smaller permanent policy, mentioned around 14:33, is usually called blending. The opening example takes place in Simi Valley. To reach us by phone, use the number below. Get quoted: Compare coverage options with Bollinsure Insurance Services at www.bollinsure.com/quote, or call 562-268-9355. CA License 6013787 This episode is for general education only and is not legal, tax, or coverage advice. Coverage, eligibility, and pricing depend on the carrier, underwriting, and your policy terms. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: same coverage, two very different prices 00:25 Welcome and what this episode covers 01:30 What life insurance is for 01:57 How term life works 02:35 Conversion privileges and riders 03:25 Laddering term policies 03:58 How whole life works and cash value 06:14 Early years, loans, and the MEC rule 08:04 Grace period, beneficiaries, and California protections 10:07 Underwriting, exclusions, and death claims 11:56 When it goes wrong: the contestable period 12:32 Three examples 13:41 Matching the type to the need and buy term, invest the difference 14:38 Your checklist and four questions 15:22 Getting help and sign-off Transcript excerpt Two neighbors, both 35, both married with two young kids, buy a $1 million life insurance policy on the same day. One pays about the cost of a streaming bundle each month. The other pays more than a car payment. Neither one got ripped off. They bought two different tools for two different jobs. Today we're going to figure out which job you are actually hiring life insurance to do.… Full episode on bollinsure.com

  4. 4d ago

    DP-3 vs HO-3 in California: Why a Rental House Needs a Landlord Policy

    You move out, keep the house, and rent it to a nice family. The homeowners policy keeps renewing. Then a pipe bursts, and the adjuster asks one simple question: who lives there? That one question can change everything about the claim. Aaron Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services compares the dwelling fire forms (DP-1, DP-2, and DP-3) with the owner-occupied HO-3 for California property owners: why an HO-3 does not fit a rental, named perils vs open perils, actual cash value vs replacement cost, and the parts that actually decide landlord claims: vacancy, fair rental value, landlord liability, and how the tenant's own HO-4 fits in. What we cover: Why an HO-3 is built for a home the owner lives in, and what the "change in use" problem looks like at claim time The dwelling fire family: DP-1 basic, DP-2 broad, and DP-3 special form DP-3 vs HO-3 side by side: personal property, liability, loss of use vs fair rental value, and underwriting Vacancy and unoccupancy conditions, and what to do before a long gap between tenants Fair rental value: what it is meant to replace, and why to check the limit against a realistic repair timeline Landlord premises liability, umbrellas, and the tenant's own renters policy A walkthrough: a washing machine supply line leak on a DP-3, and the same leak on an old HO-3 What to bring a broker, and four questions to ask about your form Resources: All Speaking of Insurance episodes Landlord insurance in California Read the guide: California landlord rental use checklist Episode 26 companion: the coverage gaps in the cheapest landlord policy Clarifications Umbrella coverage: some landlords choose to carry a personal umbrella policy, but carriers do not require one. This corrects the line spoken around 10:00. Fair rental value: this coverage applies only after a covered loss makes the unit unfit to rent. On the ISO DP 00 03 form, it is capped at 20% of the Coverage A limit. Get quoted: Compare coverage options with Bollinsure Insurance Services at www.bollinsure.com/quote, or call 562-268-9355. CA License 6013787 This episode is for general education only and is not legal, tax, or coverage advice. Coverage, eligibility, and pricing depend on the carrier, underwriting, and your policy terms. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: who lives there? 00:32 Welcome and what this episode covers 01:22 Disclaimer 01:39 Why an HO-3 does not fit a rental 03:07 The dwelling fire family: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3 05:26 DP-3 vs HO-3 side by side 07:11 Vacancy and unoccupancy 08:46 Fair rental value and loss of rents 09:23 Landlord liability 10:11 Where the tenant's HO-4 fits 10:24 Claim walkthrough: a supply line leak on a DP-3 12:16 Same leak, still on the old HO-3 13:10 What to bring a broker 14:38 Four questions to ask about your form 14:54 Getting help and sign-off Transcript excerpt You move out of your house, but you keep the house and you rent it to a super nice family. The mortgage still gets paid, the tenants are happy, and the homeowners policy keeps on renewing. Then a pipe bursts and the adjuster asks a simple question: who lives there? That one question can change everything about the claim.… Full episode on bollinsure.com

  5. 5d ago

    Business Income vs Commercial Property in California: What Pays When You're Closed

    Your commercial property policy can help with the building and the stuff inside it after a covered loss. But does that same policy pay the income you lose while you are closed, or is lost revenue a different lane? A rebuild check is not a P&L check. Aaron Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services compares commercial property and business interruption (business income plus extra expense) for California small business owners: what each generally pays, what each generally does not, the covered physical loss trigger, waiting periods and the period of restoration at a high level, and how BOPs often package business income with time and dollar caps. What we cover: Why owners blur property and business income after a fire, water, or wind loss Commercial property: building, business personal property, valuation, and the "subject to" part Business income and extra expense: lost net income, continuing expenses, and getting back open faster The covered physical loss trigger, and why business income is not sales insurance Waiting periods, period of restoration, and extended period of indemnity BOP packages vs separate property forms, and the caps to check Examples: a SoCal restaurant kitchen fire and a BOP with a thin business income cap What to bring a broker: occupancy, what is on site, whether you can operate elsewhere, a realistic reopen timeline, and expenses you cannot shut off Resources: All Speaking of Insurance episodes Read the guide: Commercial property and business interruption in California Episode 25 companion: business interruption, lost income, and extra expense Get quoted: Compare coverage options with Bollinsure Insurance Services at www.bollinsure.com/quote, or call 562-268-9355. CA License 6013787 This episode is for general education only and is not legal, tax, or coverage advice. Coverage, eligibility, and pricing depend on the carrier, underwriting, and your policy terms. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: a rebuild check is not a P&L check 00:31 Welcome and what this episode covers 01:33 Why owners blur the two lanes 02:40 Commercial property at a high level 04:13 What property answers, and causes of loss 05:39 Business income on modern forms 06:56 Extra expense 08:05 The covered physical loss trigger 09:00 Rebuild check vs P&L 11:09 Waiting periods 12:40 Period of restoration and extended period of indemnity 13:37 When BI is packaged in a BOP 14:42 Questions to ask about your BI 15:08 Example: SoCal restaurant kitchen fire 16:07 Example: a BOP with a thin income cap 17:18 What to bring a broker 19:16 Episode 25 and the guide 19:47 Getting help and sign-off Transcript excerpt Your commercial property policy can help with the building and the stuff inside the building after a covered loss. But does that same policy pay the income that you lose while you are closed? Or is lost revenue a different lane? A rebuild check is not a P&L check. Today we will separate the two jobs so California small business owners stop mixing them up.… Full episode on bollinsure.com Correction: In this episode, the business income waiting period was described as a period the insurer uses to measure how affected the business is. That's not right. The waiting period works like a time deductible: on the ISO CP 00 30 business income form it is usually 72 hours, and business income starts paying after it ends.

  6. 6d ago

    Renters Insurance and HO-4 in California: What a Renter Policy Is For

    Your landlord has insurance on the building. Does that cover your furniture, clothes, laptop, and liability if someone gets hurt in your apartment, or do you need your own HO-4? Aaron Bollinger of Bollinsure Insurance Services explains what renters insurance and HO-4 policies are generally for in California, how contents, personal liability, and loss of use fit together, how that differs from a landlord dwelling policy, and why a lease insurance minimum is a floor, not a coverage plan. What we cover: What HO-4 means and the three jobs of a renter policy: contents, liability, and loss of use Why the landlord's policy usually does not cover a tenant's belongings Replacement cost vs actual cash value, and the special limits that catch people off guard Lease insurance minimums vs what you actually need Examples: a Long Beach kitchen fire, a guest injury, a break-in, and a dog in a rented unit Deductibles and common renter mix-ups, including roommates Resources: All Speaking of Insurance episodes Read the guide: Renters insurance and HO-4 in California Get quoted: Compare coverage options with Bollinsure Insurance Services at www.bollinsure.com/quote, or call 562-268-9355. CA License 6013787 This episode is for general education only and is not legal, tax, or coverage advice. Coverage, eligibility, and pricing depend on the carrier, underwriting, and your policy terms. Chapters 00:00 Cold open and welcome 00:57 HO-4 and the three jobs of a renter policy 02:50 Landlord policy vs tenant contents 04:04 Lane one: personal property, replacement cost vs ACV 05:51 Lane two: personal liability 06:25 Lane three: loss of use 08:15 Lease minimums vs what you actually need 09:36 Special limits and high-value items 11:27 Example: Long Beach kitchen fire 12:52 Example: liability claim in your unit 14:19 Example: apartment theft and sublimits 16:07 Example: a dog in a rented unit 17:52 Deductibles 18:51 Common renter mix-ups 20:13 Getting help and sign-off Transcript excerpt A lot of California renters assume the landlord insurance that their landlord has covers their stuff if something goes wrong in their apartment. Usually, though, that is not how it works. Your furniture, your laptop, your clothes, and your personal liability are often a different conversation from the building. So what is a renter's policy actually for? And when does the lease minimum requirement stop being enough for you as a renter?… Full episode on bollinsure.com Correction: In this episode, actual cash value (ACV) was described as replacement cost minus land value. That's not right. ACV is replacement cost minus depreciation, meaning what it costs to replace the item today, less wear and age. Replacement cost coverage pays to replace without that depreciation deduction.

  7. Oct 27

    Personal Umbrella Insurance in California: When Liability Limits Need a Second Layer

    What happens when a claim climbs past your home or auto liability limits? Aaron explains the personal umbrella as a second layer of liability on top of home and auto. He covers how carriers look at underlying limits, using an auto policy at 100/300/50 as the example, and how the umbrella protects both you and the underlying insurer. He walks through households with pools, trampolines, a dog with a bite history, and teen drivers. He explains why dogs with a bite history are hard to cover, and why rental properties, watercraft, and RVs need to coordinate with the umbrella. He finishes with teen drivers on their own low-limit policies and what to bring to a broker review. What we cover: When home and auto liability limits may need a second layer Underlying limit requirements at a high level Common umbrella trigger points for California households How to brief a broker for an umbrella review Resources: All Speaking of Insurance episodes Read the guide: Personal umbrella and asset protection in California Companion article: Personal umbrella liability limits in California Get quoted: Compare coverage options with Bollinsure Insurance Services at www.bollinsure.com/quote, or call 562-268-9355. CA License 6013787 This episode is for general education only and is not legal, tax, or coverage advice. Coverage, eligibility, and pricing depend on the carrier, underwriting, and your policy terms. Chapters 00:00 Welcome: the biggest liability gap in California 02:17 What an umbrella is, and what it is not 02:38 Example one: auto limits that felt fine 05:02 Underlying limits: a 100/300/50 auto policy 07:21 How the umbrella protects you and the underlying carrier 09:42 A free broker review 12:07 Watercraft, RVs, and rental properties 14:25 Teen drivers on their own policies 16:28 Wrap up Key terms Personal umbrella: excess liability above home, auto, and other underlying policies. Often an ISO DL 98 01 or a carrier form. Underlying limits: the liability limits the umbrella requires on your HO-3 (ISO HO 00 03) and personal auto (ISO PP 00 01). Split limits such as 100/300/50: $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, and $50,000 property damage. Follow form: for many claims, the umbrella follows the underlying coverage. Exclusions: umbrellas commonly exclude business pursuits and professional services. Many exclude or limit dogs with a bite history. Scheduled exposures: rental properties, watercraft, and RVs need their own policies and must be listed with the umbrella carrier.

  8. Oct 27

    HNOA on Your COI: Stand-Alone Hired and Non-Owned Auto vs a Full Commercial Auto Policy

    A general contractor or property manager rejects your certificate because it is missing hired and non-owned auto. What now? Aaron explains HNOA for businesses that do not own vehicles but whose employees drive for work. He explains why a $2 million general liability aggregate does not answer an auto requirement, and when HNOA can be added to a BOP or GL by endorsement or bought stand-alone. He covers when owned vehicles mean a full commercial auto policy, why HNOA does not pay to fix a rented cargo van, and how certificates may also require additional insured, primary and non-contributory wording, or excess over auto. What we cover: What hired vs non-owned means on a certificate request When stand-alone HNOA or an endorsement can answer a COI When owned vehicles need a full commercial auto policy How to brief a broker with COI wording, vehicle use, and drivers Resources: All Speaking of Insurance episodes Read the companion guide: Employees drive for work, commercial auto, and HNOA in California Get quoted: Compare coverage options with Bollinsure Insurance Services at www.bollinsure.com/quote, or call 562-268-9355. CA License 6013787 This episode is for general education only and is not legal, tax, or coverage advice. Coverage, eligibility, and pricing depend on the carrier, underwriting, and your policy terms. Chapters 00:00 Welcome: what hired and non-owned auto is 02:09 Your employees' personal auto does not protect the business 04:27 Why a general liability limit does not answer an auto claim 06:47 When the personal auto policy falls short 09:07 The certificate gets kicked back: adding HNOA 11:27 When stand-alone HNOA makes sense without full commercial auto 13:45 Contractor example: employee picks up materials 15:46 A larger accident and excess coverage 17:22 Have someone review the requirements Key terms Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA): liability for the business when employees use rented or personal vehicles for work. Can be an endorsement or stand-alone. Commercial auto is usually written on the ISO CA 00 01 Business Auto form. HNOA can be added to it, or to a general liability policy by endorsement. General liability, the ISO CG 00 01, excludes auto liability. That is why GL does not pick up the van. Certificate of insurance (COI): proof of coverage that a GC or property manager reviews against contract requirements. Hired auto physical damage: damage to a rented vehicle itself. HNOA liability does not pay it. Additional insured and primary and non-contributory: certificate wording that many contracts require.

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About

Insurance, explained clearly by a family with three generations of expertise. Speaking of Insurance from Bollinsure Insurance Services features California insurance conversations with Brian Bollinger and Aaron Bollinger, covering home, auto, business and personal umbrella topics. Find episode transcripts and related resources at https://www.bollinsure.com/podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Bollinger, Aaron Bollinger
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Bollinsure Insurance Services
  • Show Website
    Speaking of Insurance