Insurance Segment – May 23, 2025

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Seg 1 – Insurance Segment

LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE SHOW FOR DETAILS OF SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN THIS INTERVIEW.

ASCEND INSURANCE w/ Dennis Van Buskirk re; re: 36917 Cook St., #101, Palm Desert, CA. 92211. In University Village.
– DISCUSSION of what he’s doing the “most” of now…helping folks find insurance because MORE companies are leaving CA left and right. i.e. Kemper and Nationwide. So there are fewer companies to choose from. So many companies have STOPPED writing insurance in CA. Nationwide has closed their doors to new business. Dennis can move these folks to other insurance companies. Companies are getting more aggressive.
– REPORT that his staff includes his son and another new employee and he still needs a couple more. Dennis will train anyone new.
– QUESTION “JOEY PALS”
1. What’s the “free to look” period? (Doesn’t cover auto, property etc., covers policy about life insurance or annuities. You have a time frame in which to change you mind and get your money back w/ no fees.)
2. With this economy should we increase the value and insurance on our home in case they need to be replaced? (No, you don’t need to do that, the insurance companies do that for you automatically. Usually 4 %. Replacement costs of $350 per square foot. Best you look and check. There is something called “extended replacement costs.” You can INCREASE this BUT NOT DECREASE the amount they give you.
3. Is there really an insurance company that WILL NOT turn anyone down? (No, i.e. for homes, the insurance company will inspect and have you make repairs. Dennis will usually fine you another company and that gives you time to make repairs. THERE IS NOT A HOUSE DENNIS CANNOT INSURE. Some insurance companies will NOT insure historical homes.)
4. Is there an insurance company that requires no physical and cannot be cancelled? (No, medical insurance will always increase and then you’ll get Medicare. Term insurance WILL never go up.)
5. Is insurance more for an electric car (unicar) than a gas operated car? (Yes. Parts for electric cars are a fortune.)
– REPORT on how Dennis is an independent broker and still has more agencies he can write with than other insurance agents.
– DISCUSSION that Dennis is now writing a lot of insurance for manufactured homes and vacation rental properties. Rates are going up.
– REPORT that there are NO BROKERAGE FEES @ Ascend.
– REPORT that when you have an incident, CALL DENNIS FIRST before you call the Insurance Company and it goes on your record.
– REPORT that he writes a lot for Canadians.
– REPORT that the whole office is bi-lingual.
– REPORT that the office does the paperwork…a lot of it on-line and over the phone. Fill out the form on the front page of the website and Dennis will give you a quote about anything you need.
– REPORT that he also writes commercial policies.
– (contact info; www.ascendins.com and (760) 341-3477.)

Dennis