If you love the roar of a muscle car or the gleaming chrome of a restored classic – and have made your passion for owning one a reality – these important insurance facts pertain to you.
As you know, collectible vehicles are an investment. Some are now selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars. If something were to happen to your beloved ’57 T-bird convertible, ’69 Camaro Z28, or ’55 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, you need full replacement value insurance coverage.
And the insurance you have on your every day, commuter vehicle doesn’t offer that. A typical auto insurance policy is based on actual cash value and depreciation, so the older your vehicle is, the less it is worth.
Some people don’t insure their collector vehicles because they store them or drive them so seldom, but that could be a big mistake.
Classic car auto insurance pays the agreed value if the vehicle is damaged in a fire, flood or during transportation, or if it is stolen. It also covers the higher cost of repairs if someone scratches the paint or chrome, or steals a specialty part.
It’s true. Classic car insurance protects the vehicle for the full agreed value, meaning it covers these desirable cars and trucks for their increased worth.
Classic auto policies offer the same coverage options as standard insurance – liability, collision, comprehensive, and medical pay – while also protecting the vehicle’s true worth.
Here’s the best part, classic auto insurance usually costs less than standard auto insurance because classic and collector vehicles are normally driven less, are kept garaged, and owners typically maintain them better; therefore, they are considered a better risk.
Classic car policies do come with restrictions:
The vehicle must be stored in a locked, safe garage or storage facility
The insured vehicle is unique or at least 15 years old
It is not used as a regular commute vehicle
All drivers have a clean driving record
California Casualty’s Agency Services division offers insurance for collectible, classic, antique and exotic vehicles with:
Protection for the full agreed value
Adjustable deductibles
Towing
Coverage for lost or stolen parts
Mileage plans
There are many choices to insure your classic vehicle. Our partner for classic car insurance is Condon Skelly. Unlike most classic insurance providers, Condon Skelly does not limit mileage or require seasonal coverage, while still offering competitive rates.
TAKEAWAY:
Contact one of California Casualty’s Agency Services advisors today to arrange insurance for your classic or collectible car at 1.877.421.8348 or visit www.calcas.com/classic-car-insurance
Who would have thought that an insurance company would focus on a strong social media presence? We did. After all, it’s a great way to connect with you.
Meet Chloe, our social media scientist.
On a daily basis, Chloe is the online heart of our organization; creating and sharing content, resources, and occasional “aww moments” that inform and entertain you.
“I love social media, and like the rest of the world, I am glued to my phone,” she said. “What attracted me to the job with California Casualty is the writing/blogging involved.”
Working out of our Leawood, Kansas office, Chloe is a Kansas girl who loves the Kansas City Chiefs. She and her fiance, Trevor, also love to travel, go to concerts, and hang out with their dog, Maverick, a 1-year-old border collie mix.
Originally from Cherokee, a small town in southeast Kansas that she describes as “a place with no stoplights, and a 30-minute drive to find a Walmart,” Chloe graduated from Pittsburg State University with a B.A. in Communication/Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. “Through college, I wrote for a blog and I loved it. I remember when my second post got published and there were 20,000 shares – I FREAKED OUT!”
Her goal at California Casualty is to learn more about you and create posts that ignite your interest.
“Let’s face it, insurance can be confusing,” says Chloe. “I try to find facts and details that people may not know about their coverage – like how renters insurance can cost less than college textbooks or how you get free ID theft protection with your policy – anything to make the posts a little more interesting and entice readers to go to our blog to learn more.”
“However, I strongly believe that our insureds don’t want to just see just insurance facts on their feeds. While keeping insurance posts in the mix is important, I like to go with a ‘we get it’ strategy – highlighting that California Casualty understands that teachers work 10-plus hours a day and some days just want a funny classroom meme to make them smile; or that the media sometimes show first responders in a dark light, so here’s an officer breakdancing with a child or a firefighter bringing groceries to the elderly. When you understand the audience and what they want to see, you start seeing engagement go up.”
And, engagement on our various social media platforms is definitely up. Since Chloe took the reins, the numbers have shot up. “Our social engagement has more than doubled since Chloe came on board,” said California Casualty Social and Digital Marketing Manager, Demian Tallman.
Chloe finds it inspiring interacting with audiences across the platforms. “We are very active on all of our social media sites. We love to hear about the difference our policyholders are making in their departments, classrooms, and communities, and we would be happy to feature more of them.”
She also appreciates hearing from and interacting with many of you who have taken the opportunity, via the various social media platforms we offer, to say hi or share with others. One important follower gives Chloe a lot of feedback. It’s her mom, a dispatcher for a county sheriff’s department, who has taught Chloe firsthand about the stress and challenges of being called to work in the middle of the night because of violent storms or missing holidays because of work. “It taught me to have so much respect for dispatchers and their spouses.” Oh, and one of Chloe’s aunts is a high school science and astronomy teacher, who also gives her advice.
You will find many avenues to follow, learn about, and engage with California Casualty.
Chloe’s favorite is Facebook, where there are more than 120,000 followers, but she hopes that you will follow California Casualty on your favorite platform. “That way, they can keep up with news and helpful information pertaining to their professions, which are posted daily. Another cool thing we do on social media (and probably the favorite thing for our readers) is giveaways and contests.”
Here’s a list of where to find us:
Facebook: @CaliforniaCasualty
Twitter: @CalCasInsurance
Instagram: @CalCasInsurance
LinkedIn: @California Casualty (there’s a space between the words)
Pinterest: California Casualty
YouTube: CalCasInsurance
Spotify: Cal Cas
Chloe highlighted a couple of her – and your – favorite posts. One was about a nine-year-old boy who started a GoFundMe and raised $80,000 to purchase bulletproof vests for K9 dogs (“How could anyone not love that?”) that garnered hundreds of likes and shares and reached over 10,000 people. Another is a new page of educator printables, downloadable posters, and interactive activities that are free to use (https://mycalcas.com/printables-for-teachers/).
Chloe added this invitation: “Follow us and enjoy the fun.”
TAKEAWAY: Connect and share with Chloe and California Casualty at our blog,www.mycalcas.com, and scroll down on that page to find the various other social media available.
You found the perfect company, sent over your resume and cover letter, and just got scheduled for an interview. Whether you’re a job-hunting pro or seeking a foothold in your new career, there’s often a mix of anticipation and anxiety about what to wear, what to say, and how to impress your potential employer.
So, we asked our Human Resource experts, what are the best practices that they recommend to nail an interview? Here are our California Casualty HR professional’s interview dos and don’ts:
First, don’t underestimate the importance of the initial phone interview. Many companies -California Casualty included- want to do a first interview over the phone. This is the first key step to get a face-to-face interview, and eventually the job.
DO:
Find a quiet place with good reception
Make sure your phone is charged
Research the company
Have your resume and notes in front of you
Remember to keep it conversational, but always be professional
Ask questions
DON’T:
Have pets or kids in the room
Use filler words like, “um” or “uh”
Do anything besides sit and talk (EX. having a side conversation, watching TV, doing the dishes, going to the bathroom) *Yes, these have all happened.*
Use profanity or slang
Automatically assume you will get an in-person interview
If you get invited to the next step, congratulations! Now it is time for an interview at the actual company. It is important to put your best foot forward and make a good, lasting impression with your potential employer.
DO:
Research the company and know what it does, its core beliefs and values, and how you might fit in
Know what job you are interviewing for and if you will be a good fit
Be articulate and concise, and confident in your answers
Prepare and ask questions about the company or the specific job
DON’T:
Arrive late
Use slang, inappropriate language, or bad grammar
Slouch or fidget
Talk negatively about your current or past job and coworkers
Share too much personal information
Lie about past experiences or qualifications
Completely dominate the conversation
Make your first question about pay, sick time, or vacation
Show signs of panic when you don’t know an answer to a question
Be afraid to ask the interviewer to clarify a question
And lastly, don’t doubt yourself, you’ve got this! 🙂
At California Casualty, we serve American Heroes who are committed to making their communities better: educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. We are always looking for motivated individuals who are dedicated to providing a higher level of service to those who serve their communities. We invite you to learn more about exciting opportunities on our career page, https://www.calcas.com/careers.
The National Education Association Representative Assembly is an exciting and important gathering for the country’s educators. Every year, delegates from districts and states meet to share stories, learn new ideas, and set the agenda for tackling issues impacting public education. California Casualty continued our tradition of joining NEA Member Benefits to attend the conference and share the value of NEA membership.
This year’s RA was extra special. Not only were we able to connect with delegates from around the country, but the Member Benefits area was within earshot of the actual assembly. Brian Goodman, California Casualty AVP of Field Relations, was impressed as he witnessed the incredible dedication and energy of getting the NEA business done. “I was humbled and awed by all the organization and passion that went into the Assembly,” he said.
We work hard to honor your dedication to the teaching profession and your commitment to students and the community. It was gratifying for the California Casualty Partner Relations team to get a chance to greet many attendees who stopped by to say hello and spend time with the people they consider friends and cohorts. “We get members who have such an affinity for their local Field Marketing Manager that they want to say hello and share how close they feel with the Field team member they work with. These relationships are very real, and the delegates want us to know how proud they are of that partnership,” noted Brian.
An example of that appreciation comes from Ohio Education Association Regional Director Cristina Munoz-Nedrow, who shared how much she loves working with California Casualty’s Ohio Field Marketing Manager, Sharlie Trentman. “Sharlie has done an amazing job of building relationships with my staff in the field to promote the benefits of California Casualty. Just as important, she has built relationships with the local leaders and members in my region. I am always amazed at the number of members she knows and those who know her when I am at an event with Sharlie. She is a great ambassador for California Casualty and is always poised, professional and knowledgeable when attending local, regional or state level OEA events. I look forward to working with Sharlie for years to come, and want you to know that I so appreciate the work she does.”
Brian added that other NEA regional delegates dropped by to let us know how happy they are with California Casualty and all the company does for them. “They are very proud of the decision to be insured with California Casualty and want to say thanks.”
The working relationship between California Casualty and NEA Member Benefits pays dividends, especially for growing NEA membership. “Our Field team works as ambassadors for NEA Member Benefits, promoting the value and power of the organization. This partnership is strong, built on trust, respect, and a long history of providing exceptional insurance for educators,” Brian said.
Taking A Ride With First Responders
It’s not often the general public gets to experience the reality of being a firefighter or test out some of their tools. That’s why our New Jersey Account Relations Manager, Alina Fayerman, considers herself fortunate after spending an afternoon with the Wyckoff Fire Department. Alina always appreciates the opportunity to meet with the men and women who wear a uniform, but this visit was special. Bergen County’s new Fire Coordinator, Joseph Alvarez, invited Alina take a test ride in the department’s recently updated bucket ladder. Alina said it was a thrill to experience such an important piece of equipment for fighting fires and rescuing people. Alina also got to show off her special fire chief helmet.
TAKEAWAY:
We love hearing your California Casualty stories. Share them at our Facebook page,www.facebook.com/CaliforniaCasualty, or tell your colleagues and family about our exceptional service and have them visit www.calcas.com to learn more about what we do and how we serve you.
August is prime moving season. It can be quite a task if you are packing up for your first apartment, or heading to your forever home. Not only do you need enough boxes, but you’ll soon be learning a new route to work or school, trying to figure out the parking situation, and going through the fun of setting up utilities, internet and other necessities. As you race around trying to get everything prepared, it’s easy to get frustrated or forget important things.
Make sure you have enough boxes for your move (find a box calculator here)
Designate an “essentials” suitcase or bag for hygiene products, medications, toothbrushes, chargers and a change of clothes you’ll need for a few days (and keep in your car)
Keep clothes on hangers, zip tie them together and wrap them in plastic for easier transition into a new closet
Put fitted sheets on both sides of a mattress to protect it
Pack glass bottles in kids pool floaties to protect them from breaking
Wrap breakable dishware and glass in t-shirts or towels
Use painters tape to label electrical cords with the name of the corresponding appliance for hassle-free matching, and pack them in toilet paper or paper towel rolls
Put screws and other small hardware in sandwich bags and tape them to the piece they go to
Instead of using markers, use color-coded tape to designate where each box will go
Getting to your new home and realizing you left important things behind can be a real downer. Here’s a list of some essentials things you’ll want to do:
Submit your change of address to the Post Office a couple weeks before your move – it often takes ten-business days to get processed
Open a checking account in your new city a few weeks prior to the move
Get copies of your family’s medical records and veterinary records for your pets, as well as copies of prescriptions you may need to transfer
Have official copies of your child’s school records (needed to enroll them into a new school)
Look for valuables you may have hidden around the house (jewelry, stamps, coins)
Remember items you left at the cleaners (or the watch at the repair shop)
Leave some cleaning supplies for the after-move clean-up
Bring an extra roll or two of toilet paper (enough said)
Leave behind the garage door opener – many people forget to take them out of their vehicles
Gather all the house keys you have hidden or given to neighbors and friends, and to rekey the doors of your new place
You can find an easy to use, downloadable moving checklist here.
Here’s an important note: If you are renting a moving truck, most auto insurance companies don’t extend coverage to those type of vehicles, and auto insurance may not cover rental trailers. You should contact your insurance provider before the move, and consider buying the rental truck company’s liability, damage waiver, and cargo protection policies.
TAKEAWAY:
Are you ready to move? Download a renter’s moving checklist from our resources page, mycalcas.com/resources. Also, let one of our advisors make sure you have the coverage you need for your big move. Contact us at 1.800.800.9410 option 3.
Imagine the heartbreak of coming home to find burglars have cleaned out your valuables or that a fire reduced everything you owned to ashes. Having renters insurance can help you replace all that you lost and get you back on the road to recovery. If you don’t yet have a renters insurance policy, here are some facts that might convince you to do so.
Your landlord’s insurance does not cover your possessions. It only protects the structure: roof, walls, etc. Their policy ends where the interior walls begin.
You probably own more than you think. From kitchen goods and cookware, bedding, clothing, shoes, electronics and other household essentials, most people underestimate the expense to replace those items. Imagine how much it would cost to buy new furniture, clothes, personal items, computers, stereos, and electronics if they are stolen, damaged, or destroyed by a fire, water leak or a broken pipe.
Renters insurance provides for the cost of meals and other expenses. This includes a temporary place to live (like a hotel) while your place is repaired or rebuilt after a claim.
Renters insurance gives you liability protection if someone gets hurt at your place. It pays medical bills and some court costs if someone sues after an accidental fall on your steps or is bitten by your dog.
For the protection it offers, renters coverage is very affordable. The Insurance Information Institute estimates the average policy costs $185 a year, just over 50 cents per day. The savings from bundling with an auto policy can make renters insurance practically free.
Plus, a renters policy from California Casualty protects your items away from home – like luggage lost on vacation, a camera or computer taken from your vehicle, and TVs and furniture in storage. Each policy also comes with free ID theft protection.
TAKEAWAY:
Make sure you have the protection you need as a renter. Contact one of our advisors to get coverage tailored to your specific needs at 1.800.800.9410 option 3, or visit www.calcas.com/renters-insurance.
Some people don’t insure their collector vehicles because they store them or drive them so seldom, but that could be a big mistake.
Meet Chloe, our social media scientist.
Originally from Cherokee, a small town in southeast Kansas that she describes as “a place with no stoplights, and a 30-minute drive to find a Walmart,” Chloe graduated from Pittsburg State University with a B.A. in Communication/Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. “Through college, I wrote for a blog and I loved it. I remember when my second post got published and there were 20,000 shares – I FREAKED OUT!”
