The Morgan and Seth Podcast Episode 3

Posted on February 19, 2021February 19, 2021 by Seth Arruda

Morgan and Seth are talking investment properties! In this episode they talk about getting into real estate investing, the advantages of buying a multi-family property as a smart first choice, and the best way to insure these types of real estate assets.

Whether you’re a first time homebuyer or real estate investor, it’s important to understand how to be financially protected. Click the video above and watch this episode!

To get a quote for your investment property or if you have a portfolio of properties and need an agent that understands how to properly protect those types of real estate assets in California. Click below and schedule a consultation to talk about making a plan.

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The Morgan and Seth Podcast Episode 3 Watch on Youtube and Subscribe!

Morgan and Seth Podcast Episode 2

Posted on February 2, 2021February 22, 2021 by Seth Arruda

Episode 2

Morgan and Seth talk about the crazy week the stock market experienced with the GameStop short squeeze, retail investors and the market manipulation, the real estate market in Southern California and how to protect those assets and why real estate continues to be a healthy and strong investment strategy.

Don’t miss this episode and make sure you like, comment, and subscribe because we love doing this!

Morgan and Seth Podcast Episode 1

Posted on February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 by Seth Arruda

Episode 1

We started a podcast! This is not your regular insurance podcast.

Since we’re in the business of protecting our client’s real estate assets, we thought it would be valuable to talk about real estate as a primary investment strategy, how to build wealth through real estate, and the best way to protect those assets.

We also talk about current events and how they relate to investing and talk to subject matter experts in the industry to hear their stories and give us some guidance on best practices so you can be financially protected, build wealth, and live your best life. We also have some fun along the way!

Check it out! Time for the call to action! Like, comment, subscribe!

How California Homeowners Protect Their Real Estate Assets

Posted on January 28, 2021February 2, 2021 by Seth Arruda

I’m embarking on a new journey this year. Over the last thirteen years I’ve helped homeowners, new home buyers, and real estate investors in California protect their lifestyles and stay out of harms way so they can keep their assets in their pockets.

Very early on I saw the importance of being a problem solver and educating my clients so they could make the right decisions about their insurance protection. It sounds sexy, but it’s not. In fact, most people when you say the word “insurance” they immediately check out and look for the nearest exit.

WHY? I get it. Insurance is boring. Most consumers have no interest in it, until something happens in their life that changes their perception of what insurance actually does and the value it brings.

Insurance is a great tool and when used properly it can create a strong foundation to protect your income, your family, and your health.

I have said before,

the foundation to building wealth starts with financial protection. Understanding how to protect what you already have is one of the primary concepts to achieve financial freedom.

Many of these ideas have to do with the proper mindset. Mindset is everything. Without the right mindset you end up “running for the hills” when someone talks about insurance.

This is where the industry and many of my peers underdeliver. They constantly focus on price and the cost of insurance and overlook the importance of the proper protection. They do consumers a huge disservice by focusing so much of their time and resources on lowering the cost to squeeze every dollar out of the policy that it loses its value. And when the time comes when you need it the most the coverage doesn’t protect your lifestyle.

That is my goal as a personal risk manager. I want to change your mindset and the way you look at insurance. I want to invite you into a story where all your assets are protected, you have peace of mind, and you have the proper plan to achieve financial freedom.

Starting with a plan to be financially protected is the part of the story where we begin our journey. Insurance agents play an important role in guiding their clients in the right direction so they can make educated decisions about the proper protection they desire. That is very valuable to consumers seeking to protect their assets and their real estate investments.

In California, having an insurance agent that works closely with your real estate agent, CPA, and CFP creates a healthy ecosystem of “subject matter experts” that provide holistic solutions to their client’s problems.

Want to learn the benefits of adding a personal risk manager to your team?

Book an Appointment

https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethArruda@aviains.com/bookings/

And as your needs change they play an intricate role guiding you through different stages of life making sure you stay on the right path to building wealth through real estate.

No matter where you are on your journey through life it’s always best practice to educate yourself on the best way to protect yourself, your family, your income, and your health and well being. You don’t need a million dollars in the bank to start learning how to be financially protected and build wealth.

So let’s start making insurance exciting! Well, maybe not. How about we start with changing the mindset when it comes to insurance. This year I want to lay a foundation starting with some basic strategies that you can implement right now to help you create a plan for you and your family.

Whether you’re buying your first home in California or adding another investment property to your portfolio, this information will help you understand exactly how to protect your lifestyle.

Personal Insurance Protecting Your Home

I’m going to start with some basic tips on how to help you get the best value out of your homeowners insurance in California. These are benefits you can include if you own a home or you’re a first time home buyer!

Make sure your home in California is insured to value and your policy has extended dwelling replacement coverage. Replacement cost is a MUST. Your home has to be insured up to the replacement cost of the structure. How much would it cost to rebuild? That’s replacement cost or insurance to value. I recommend a minimum of 150% extended dwelling replacement. That will come into play if the cost of materials increase or labor costs increase after a covered peril.
Loss of Use. If you have a claim and you cannot live in your home while the repairs are being completed, you need additional living expense coverage. If you have a total loss from a fire you could be displaced from your home up to 1-2 years. This is why having adequate loss of use limits for your lifestyle are critical. Most people overlook this coverage and most agents will reduce this type of coverage to lower the rate. Purchase the maximum amount of loss of use that is available from your insurance company. In California, you can activate this coverage if your home is in a mandatory evacuation zone. Lodging, food, gas, and transportation costs can be covered under additional living expenses.
Liability for your residence premises. If you’re sued due to negligence this will keep your assets in your pockets. In some cases, this coverage can be activated for personal injury as well. Remember, you don’t have to be a millionaire to be sued like one. If you live in California, your property is one of your most valuable assets. You should purchase at least $500,000 in liability on your homeowners policy. Some insurance companies are offering up to $1 Million limits.
PRO TIP: I would also purchase a personal umbrella policy. This is a separate policy you can purchase that provides an additional layer of protection for your assets. It will cover your home, autos, toys, and rental properties and provide you with legal defense in case of a large lawsuit.

Get a quote for your home today

Go to https://www.altavistainsurance.com/compare-quotes.html?t=Home

Some of my peers say insurance is like defense and if you played sports defense was never very glamourous. But, a good defensive strategy always wins championships. That’s how I want you to start thinking about your insurance protection. As a defensive strategy to help you win so you can live your best life.

Is Commercial Insurance Always a Smart Investment?

Posted on January 19, 2021January 19, 2021 by admin

Commercial insurance is always a smart investment. This applies whether you’ve owned a company for the past 30 years by building it from the ground up or you’ve just entered the market as a business owner. No matter the industry your company operates in, it’s imperative to understand the risks you could potentially face and how to protect yourself from those risks. Here at the Alta Vista Insurance Agency, serving the Vista, CA area, we have helped thousands of business owners just like you with all of their commercial insurance needs. Here’s a quick look at one of the top reasons you need to consider commercial insurance as always being a smart investment.

You Might Get Sued

You can do all that you can to provide the utmost care and attention to your customers. You can even go out of your way to ensure they get the best customer service ever. However, if a customer chooses, you can get sued. Take, for example, that a customer comes onto your business premise and slips and gets injured. Do you have the monies to pay for the injured person’s medical expenses? Do you have monies to help cover any pain and suffering compensation owed to the injured person? With commercial insurance, you can rest assured that you will have a policy in place that protects you in this type of instance.

To understand how commercial insurance works and the type of policy you need, it is highly recommended that you speak with a qualified and experienced agent. Want to learn more now? Give us a call here at the Alta Vista Insurance Agency, serving the Vista, CA area.

Barbecue for Labor Day 2020

Posted on September 10, 2020January 12, 2021 by Morgan Hege

Labor day marks the end of summer and usually the return to school. But here in California it also means the beginning of fire season. Sadly, this year is no exception with over 1.2 million acres burned so far this year nationwide.

Here in San Diego is the Valley Fire near Alpine having burned 17,665 acres as of 9/10/2020. (For more recent updates check the Cal Fire website https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/

What does this mean for insuring my property? Many insurance carriers are on new business binding moratorium. Meaning they have closed zip codes where there are active fires. If you are shopping for home insurance, or in escrow and trying to close, this can mean delays in the transaction process.

How else should I prepare? Consider making sure your policy protection is up to date. Standard homeowners insurance policies cover fire and your contents, but more and more frequently we are seeing the standard carriers declining homes for brush. Luckily there is a program set up through the state called the California Fair Plan. However, California Fair Plan policy only covers the structure for fire, and does not provide liability, loss of use, or contents coverage. For that you will need another policy called a “Difference in Conditions” or DIC policy. With the two policies together, you have similar coverage to a normal homeowners policy.

What Are My Next Steps? To learn more about insuring your home in California start by comparing home insurance quotes on our website. If you would prefer to speak to a licensed insurance guide; book an online appointment with one of our agents.

Fourth of July Festivities and the Ultimate Burger

Posted on July 1, 2020January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

Summer holidays like the fourth of July are American made for celebrating our freedom and grilling with family and friends. I know this year’s fourth of July seems overshadowed by the current state of affairs, but I still believe this is the greatest country on Earth and we all have the right to stand up for what we believe in.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

-Barack Obama

No one says America like the fictitious character from NBC’s hit show, Parks and Recreation, Ron Swanson. He’s become a cultural icon and a satirical metaphor for a libertarian and has some classic “one-liners”. Here, Ron show us his Ultimate American burger recipe in perfect Ron Swanson fashion.

“Turkey can never beat cow, Chris.”

Grilling in the summer is a pastime for many that brings us together. The smell of charcoal and sunscreen bring back memories spending long summer days at the beach enjoying a cheeseburger on a white bun with a little bit of ketchup. And a hint of sand.

For those of us firing up the grille this fourth of July looking for a simple recipe for a backyard burger, look no further. Gourmet burgers serve their purpose, but nothing beats a good hamburger cooked on a charcoal grill in someone’s backyard on the fourth of July. A hamburger on a bun with ketchup and mustard gets my vote everyday.

Here’s a recipe from actor Nick Offerman that will save you time preparing but still have you looking like a grille master.

You can read the full article in Entertainment News here.

Even if Offerman’s not a Swanson-level specialist on red meat, he does have a taste for burgers. Here, he shares his own tips for a burger that’ll put a Quarter Pounder to shame.

1. What’s Your Beef?

“You start with getting the best ground beef you can, with a nice lean-to-fat ratio,” Offerman says. “The lean is delicious, but the fat is an important binder.” Mix in a few raw eggs to help the patties stick together.

2. Don’t Mince Words

Mince garlic instead! Sauté the garlic and some chopped onion in oil, and then mix that into the ground beef. Add a little salt and pepper, and maybe some grated Parmesan cheese or Gruyère “if [you’re] feeling hedonistic.”

3. Get Grilled

“Keep the patties thick, and grill medium-rare over charcoal. “I don’t think I’ve ever used a grill fueled by gas,” he says. “There’s something about the primitive nature of charcoal, of real fire.”

4. Top It Off

“Depending on how gluttonous I’m feeling, the max I’ll go with is Gruyère or cheddar on the burger and bacon and a fried egg,” Offerman says. “That’s if I’m planning to go chop down a tree that day.”

However you celebrate your Independence Day, we hope you have a safe and happy fourth of July.

Coronavirus Insurance Relief

Posted on April 17, 2020January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

California Department of Insurance Orders All Insurance Companies to Offer Relief Refunds

In these rapidly changing times one thing remains constant, protecting your lifestyle. Taking care of our clients, our employees and our community is our top priority. I am proud to see that our industry is taking the necessary steps to provide financial relief to consumers and business owners throughout California. Since the shelter in place order many consumers and businesses have been doing their part to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Now, the insurance companies are providing a little more relief from paying insurance premiums for specific lines of business. We’ll breakdown the latest bulletins from the Department of Insurance highlighting which types of policies are getting relief refunds. It’s important to contact your agent or insurance company and inquire about the steps each company is taking to implement their refunds to policyholders.

According to the Department of Insurance’s Bulletin 2020-3, to protect consumers and to provide consistent direction to the insurance industry regarding misclassifications of risk resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and to address certain issues raised in CFC’s petition, Commissioner Lara hereby orders insurers to make an initial premium refund for the months of March and April to all adversely impacted
California policyholders in the following lines of insurance, as quickly as practicable, but in any event no later than 120 days after the date of this Bulletin:

Private passenger automobile insurance
Commercial automobile insurance
Workers’ compensation insurance
Commercial multiple peril insurance
Commercial liability insurance
Medical malpractice insurance
Any other line of coverage where the measures of risk have become substantially
overstated as a result of the pandemic.

Commissioner Lara grants each insurer reasonable flexibility in determining how best to quickly and fairly accomplish the refund of premium to policyholders. Insurers may comply with the premium refund order by providing a premium credit, reduction, return of premium, or other appropriate premium adjustment.

It’s important to check with your individual insurance company to inquire about their method of premium adjustment.

Read the full bulletin from The CA Department of Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo Lara

CA Dept of Insurance Bulletin 2020-3

California Department of Insurance Requirement to Accept, Forward, Acknowledge, and Fairly Investigate All Business Interruption Insurance Claims Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Business Interruption insurance is an optional coverage that may be purchased as part of a comprehensive multi-peril commercial policy, business owners’ policy, or on a stand-alone basis. Many small and large California businesses purchase Business Interruption insurance to protect against the loss of income and other losses caused by an interruption to the normal operations of the business.

The California Department of Insurance (Department) continues to encourage businesses to review their policies, including policy exclusions, coverage limits, and applicable deductibles, and contact their insurance companies to determine what their policies cover as each insurance policy is different and the coverage varies. However, despite the Department’s on-going guidance to businesses statewide during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has received numerous complaints from businesses, public officials, and other stakeholders asserting that certain insurers, agents, brokers, and insurance company representatives are attempting to dissuade policyholders from filing a notice of claim under its Business Interruption insurance coverage, or refusing to open and investigate these claims upon receipt of a notice of claim.

Therefore, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara finds it necessary to issue this Notice to ensure that all agents, brokers, insurance companies, and other licensees accept, forward, acknowledge, and fairly investigate all business interruption insurance claims submitted by businesses.

After conducting a thorough, fair, and objective investigation of the claim, the insurer must accept or deny the claim, in whole or in part, immediately, but in no event more than 40 days after receipt of the proof of claim. The amount of the claim accepted or denied by the insurer must be clearly documented in the claim file unless the claim has been denied in its entirety. (Regulations, section 2695.7(b).)

If you’re a business owner that has been physically impacted by COVID-19, we highly recommend reviewing your policy along with any exclusions, coverage limits, deductibles and endorsements and contact your insurance company to determine if there is appropriate coverage provided.

Business Interruption Insurance Claims Caused by the COVID-19

We’ve compiled a list of our insurance companies we represent and their claims department information. If you do not see your insurance company listed, refer to your current insurance policy.

Liberty Mutual

Small Business Claims 844-325-2467
Mid/Large Business 800-362-0000

CIG 800-986-9974

Travelers 800-238-6225

Mercury 888- 313-6372

Nationwide 800-421-3535

Progressive 800-274-4499

Safeco 800-332-3226

Encompass 800-588-7400

Kemper 888-252-2799

Chubb 800-682-4822

American Modern 800-375-2075

First American Property and Casualty 800-348-3782

Mapfre 877-627-3735

Stay healthy and safe. Practice social distancing, wear a mask when entering retail establishments, and wash your hands. Everyone is doing their part to flatten the curve. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to assists families, local businesses, and their communities. Thank you for being a part of Alta Vista Insurance.