7 Ways to Improve Your Finances During Financial Literacy Month

April is tax season, so a lot of people are thinking about their finances these days. But if you’re like most people, you’re probably thinking in the short term: What’s my refund going to be—or how much do I owe? And what is that going to do to my monthly budget? It’s good to be…

Taxes and ID Theft

4 Things to Know About Taxes and Identity Theft In 2014, almost 18 million people in the U.S. were victims of identity theft. Two-thirds of them said they suffered a direct financial loss because of it, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). During tax season, your personal information is particularly vulnerable. After all,…

The Hartford Ranks No. 1 In Customer Satisfaction In J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study℠

The Hartford now ranks highest in customer satisfaction with both the auto and home insurance claims experience HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Hartford ranked No. 1* in customer satisfaction with the property insurance claims experience in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction StudySM. The study measures customer experience with the home insurance claims process, from first…

Protect your Home While on Vacation

With many families heading out of town this month for Spring Break vacations, follow these simple steps for keeping your home safe from burglars or damage! We recommend taking the following preventative measures to keep your home and personal belongings safe: Keep your home well-lit. Mount exterior lights in your yard or on your house so…

THE HARTFORD IS #1 IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH AUTO AND PROPERTY CLAIM EXPERIENCES!

HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Hartford ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction with the auto insurance claims experience in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM. The study measures performance throughout the entire claims experience, from first notice of loss through the repair and delivery of a vehicle or settlement of a total loss. The Hartford…

Why are auto insurance premiums increasing?

Recent Trends Boost Costs for Bay Area Drivers Does it seem like driving has become more expensive in the Bay Area in recent years? It likely has. Since 2014, the U.S. has seen more new cars on the road, and those cars are driving more miles than in years past. The severity of traffic-related accidents…

Insurance Tips for Young Adults

Insurance Tips for Millennials You keep your car filled up with gas so you don’t get stranded on the side of the road. And, your phone charged so your loved ones can reach you. But, what kind of safety measures do you have in place for more extreme scenarios? What if you lost everything you…

Tree Maintenance

5 Tips to Help Prevent Tree Trouble Trees are pretty amazing things. They produce oxygen. They serve as natural air conditioners, both by blocking sunlight and through evaporation. And they even absorb sounds, helping to keep things peaceful. These benefits, along with countless others, are great reasons to keep the trees on your Tri-Valley property…

Fire-wise landscaping tips

Making a Case for a Fire-Wise Landscape You’ve heard all about the record dry weather across the country, and you’ve probably heard about the increased threat of wildfires, too. But, have you considered the fire risk of your own landscaping here in the Bay Area? While there’s no such thing as a “fire-proof” plant, you…

EXPECT HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL HOME AND AUTO PREMIUM INCREASES IN 2022

We have conversations daily with our clients about the extreme rise in insurance premiums lately. We are also here to tell you give you even more bad news: This is absolutely not expected to end any time soon. Why? Historic inflation and other contributing trends have been driving up costs related to the repair and…