Since our founding in 2014, Palomar has proudly called San Diego home. The city’s unique spirit and vibrant neighborhoods have been instrumental in shaping our journey, and we believe in the importance of creating shared value by building strong, lasting ties that uplift and strengthen our community.

In early 2025, we became a founding partner of the San Diego Football Club (SDFC). Our partnership with SDFC is built on common values like teamwork and a deep commitment to giving back. SDFC has made their presence felt in Major League Soccer as they currently hold 1st place in the Western Conference. We are proud to work alongside SDFC to make positive strides for the San Diego community.

Woven into One Planet

In the month of April, SDFC launched their inaugural Woven into One Plant Month, a charitable campaign, presented by Palomar. This campaign consisted of several service projects that were designed to fulfill various regional needs within the city.

One service project that Palomar hosted alongside SDFC, Cesar Chavez Elementary School, and the Harvey Family Foundation, was a clean-up of Chollas Creek aiming to support the Southcrest community following devastating flood events that occurred in January of 2024 affecting hundreds of families.

The event brought together over 150 volunteers. Together, volunteers collected approximately 30 bags of trash and removed debris from the creek, to improve the flow of water during heavy rainfall and reduce the risk of water backup causing future flooding in this community.

Sustainability

Palomar is committed to sustainability and a balanced strategy that not only drives our business growth but also strengthens the communities we’re proud to be part of.

To Palomar’s Founder and CEO Mac Armstrong, “Sustainability is providing solutions based on resilience whether that is offering insurance products or it could be how we engage with the community. We want to make sure the communities in which we operate as a citizen and as a business are able to endure challenges and remain resilient.”

We’re proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with SFDC to support and celebrate San Diego because when local organizations like sports teams, businesses, and schools unite around a shared purpose, we can address the specific sustainability needs of our community.

The post Palomar Partners with San Diego Football Club During Sustainability Month appeared first on Palomar.

As our insurance offerings include providing coverage against the risk of natural disasters, we are acutely aware of the impacts of climate change across the nation.

D.I.C.E Makes a Difference

In addition to incorporating environmental stewardship and sustainability into our business strategy and mission, Palomar team members are encouraged to lead and participate in hands-on sustainability efforts within our community. Dedicated to Diversity, Inclusion, Community Engagement and Equality (D.I.C.E), our team of volunteers works to facilitate putting our beliefs into action. Each of our D.I.C.E. leaders spearhead initiatives that champion their personal passions.

One organization that our team members have chosen to partner and volunteer with is Surfrider Foundation, a California-born, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting oceans, waves, and beaches worldwide. Surfrider focuses on coastal conservation, water quality, and plastic reduction among other issues.  

Andy, a leader of D.I.C.E, shares a deep commitment to the Surfrider Foundation’s mission to protect our community’s beaches. He comments, “Providing a shared space where people from all walks of life can come together and enjoy the natural environment, beach access serves as a powerful equalizer among community members and individuals throughout San Diego. As stewards of our environment and community, it is our job to actively engage in preserving these types of spaces.” By partnering with Surfrider, we can make a tangible difference in our local environment.

The Impact We’ve Made

Palomar team members aide directly in pollution prevention efforts by cleaning beaches around San Diego. By picking up plastic waste, litter, and other debris, we contribute to achieving cleaner oceans around our community.

At our most recent Mission Beach cleanup event this past June, our team worked to collect over 50 pounds of trash that would have otherwise ended up in the marine ecosystem for years, even decades to come. Through data collection, Surfrider shares our team’s impact in a data report after every beach cleanup.

“Beyond the cleaning of beaches, Surfrider is also dedicated to utilizing collected data to support their various advocacy and lobbying initiatives. This not only displays their impact but also provides evidence of the toll that usage takes on the environment, driving the need for larger influence and funding,” Andy says of Surfrider’s effort to make changes that go beyond cleanup efforts.

Looking Ahead

Palomar is committed to acting on our values, leading by example, and continuously seeking ways to promote sustainability. Beach cleanups represent just one example of the sustainability initiatives that underscore our commitment to environmental stewardship.

The post Palomar Partners with Surfrider Foundation on Coastal Clean-Up Initiatives appeared first on Palomar.

In 2022, we launched an initiative to measure and improve the diversity of our suppliers because building a broader pipeline leads to better products and services for our customers.

To advance our 2023 ESG goal of supplier diversity, Palomar joined the Big “I” Diversity Council in January 2023.

The Big “I” Diversity Council is a cooperative industry group comprised of multicultural Big “I” member agents and leading insurance company executives. The Big “I” and its Diversity Council seek to engage and develop a sustainable, diverse independent agency network through various industry programs.

One such program, the Big “I” National Young Agents Program, aims to reach future independent insurance agency leaders. The program provides young agents from across the country with education and networking opportunities to help hone their leadership and sales skills and prepares them to lead the independent agency system into the future.

In partnership with the Big “I” Diversity Council, we have put together a resource list with young, independent agents in mind. Covering topics from workers compensation to commercial automobile insurance, the below list will help emerging insurance leaders understand critical industry concepts and stay on top of dynamic trends.

Resources

• Big “I” Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program
  • “Every good Young Agent I know has a mentor. You can ask them [a mentor] things you can’t ask other people in your agency, and they will share things with you that others won’t” – Brock Elliott, Kansas, National Young Agents Committee Chair
• Agency Nation Radio and The Insurance Guys Podcasts
  • “One of the best resources we have at our fingers tips is the exchange of knowledge between people that are in the trenches doing the same job we do day in and day out. Some of the best lessons I’ve learned through the podcasts different innovators in our industry have put out. I would rather learn from someone else’s mistakes then learn the hard way!” – Avery Moore, Oklahoma
• Workers Compensation Coverage Verification
  • “This serves as a valuable resource for several reasons. Primarily, I use it to discover who the insured carries their Workers Compensation coverage with while I am prospecting new clients.  Since you can look at the historical data, it paints a picture of the insured’s longevity with each respective carrier, and quite possibly, each respective agency if you have knowledge of your local competition such as who carries direct contracts with each carrier.  It can be extremely useful to help arm yourself with insurance related background information to making those prospecting calls.” – Daschle Larsen, South Dakota
• NCCI (National Council on Compensation Insurance)
  • “The NCCI website can provide you with the Workers Compensation ExDate for prospects.  Once you locate the ExDate for the prospect if previously unknown, it provides a better idea ideal timing to make the prospect call. Are you targeting 120 days for the submission?  Then make the call 150 days out to gauge interest, collect information, and prepare the submission.   Gathering as much information prior to your initial call will only better position yourself for a successful sale!” -Daschle Larsen, South Dakota
• Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers – Commercial Automobile Insurance Manual
  • “For commercial auto, the ISO class codes can be an invaluable tool. Many insurance companies require this information to properly classify autos on more complex risks, especially those involving heavy and extra heavy equipment.  This is great information to have in your arsenal.” – Toni Jones, Alabama
• Grammarly
  • “This is an incredible value item! I have it on both my emails and my phone to support with texting. It is free and makes communication that much easier!” – Cassandra Koegel, Massachusetts

The post 7 Essential Resources for Emerging Insurance Leaders appeared first on Palomar.

Hurricanes and coastal flooding typically capture the most attention, but destructive flooding is happening far from coastlines. Rising annual precipitation across the nation has exposed the hidden risk of inland floods.

Inland floods, which can include urban flooding, occur during periods of intense precipitation, when snowpack melts too quickly or when dams or levees fail.

While Americans in some regions are no strangers to floods, other inland property owners might feel a false sense of security if they aren’t living in a floodplain or a designated FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. However, a recent NC State study shows that from 2006 to 2020, more than two-thirds of flood damage reports came from outside FEMA’s high-risk flood zones.

Inland floods not only put people at risk, but often destroy or damage homes, properties, and belongings. Having insurance can be the difference between recovery and ruin, especially for those who lack sufficient personal savings or fail to meet the federal criteria to access aid or loans.

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, one family shared that after a Kentucky flood event, they face paying for home repairs largely on their own. As the family had not purchased flood insurance, their only financial support included a FEMA disaster assistance payment that only covered a fraction of their costs.

Are You Protected?

According to FEMA, 99% of US counties have been impacted by a flooding event, and just one inch of water inside a home could cause $25,000 or more in flood damage.

Everyone is at risk for flooding, yet many remain unprotected.

Despite the prevalent risk of significant economic loss in the face of a flood, misconceptions about the peril result in highly inadequate levels of coverage nationwide.

Palomar Protects

Palomar’s flood insurance offerings are easier to obtain and offer broader coverage than policies backed by the NFIP. Palomar can quote any flood zone and does not require an elevation certificate, waiting period or, in many cases, an up-front payment to secure coverage.

More Resources:

• Introductory Guide to Palomar and Flood Insurance
• Palomar Flood Insurance Benefits Sheet
• Why Flood Insurance? An FAQ Guide

The post The Hidden Risk of Inland Flooding appeared first on Palomar.

According to a survey conducted by Harris Poll and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), a majority of homeowners have not taken important steps to ensure their insurance coverage is keeping pace with home renovations, rising inflation, and increased building costs.

In fact, the price of construction materials rose by 44% from December 2019 through December 2021, but only 30% of insured homeowners have purchased more insurance or increased coverage limits to compensate for rising building costs.

Further, among insured homeowners who completed renovations or remodels during the pandemic, only 40% updated their home insurance to account for those changes.

Preventing Underinsurance

What are key habits that homeowners can adopt to ensure that they are financially prepared for the next disaster?

• Update policies annually to ensure enough coverage: Circumstances are rarely static. As your home and surrounding conditions change, so do your insurance needs.
• Conduct an annual review of your insurance policies: An annual review of your policies helps you stay current with what your coverages protect and where you may have gaps to fill with supplemental coverage or additional policies.
• Create and update an annual home inventory: Having an up-to-date home inventory will make it easier to file insurance claims and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance.

What can agents do to help?

• Educate clients: In 2022, 26% of homeowners said they didn’t know they should contact their insurance agent when making home renovations. Agents can help close the insurance protection gap by encouraging clients to contact them when renovations are made.
• Build a relationship with clients: Being proactive and staying in regular contact with clients is a helpful way to learn about the changes to their home and insurance needs.

Palomar Protects

Palomar is an industry leader at providing comprehensive, flexible specialty insurance coverages.

The post Prevent Underinsurance: Key Habits to Mitigate the Risk of Being Underinsured appeared first on Palomar.

Earthquakes can strike suddenly and with a devastating force, potentially causing widespread damage.

The US West Coast, which includes California, Oregon, and Washington, is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its high seismic activity. This is due to the interaction of several tectonic plates, which can cause significant seismic events. Over the years, the West Coast has experienced numerous notable earthquakes, including the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, among others.

Many urban areas on the West Coast are located in seismically active zones, which can increase the risk of damage to buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure during earthquakes.

The Importance of Earthquake Insurance

Earthquake insurance provides coverage for damages and losses resulting from earthquakes. Here are some key reasons why having earthquake insurance is essential:

• Largely Not Covered by Standard Insurance Policies: Homeowner’s and commercial property insurance policies typically do not cover damages and losses resulting from earthquakes. Without separate earthquake insurance, property owners may be left financially vulnerable in the event of an earthquake. Earthquake insurance provides an additional layer of coverage specifically tailored to protect against damaging seismic risks.
• Potential for High Repair and Rebuilding Costs: Earthquakes can cause extensive damage to buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. The cost of repairing or rebuilding damaged structures can be substantial, especially given the severe shortage of available labor and materials that typically follow significant earthquake events. Earthquake insurance can help bridge the earthquake protection gap and provide financial assistance to repair or rebuild damaged property as well as for the cost of temporary housing.
• Peace of Mind: Earthquakes can be unpredictable and cause widespread damage. Having earthquake insurance provides reassurance to owners of homes and businesses that they have financial protection in the event of an earthquake.

Palomar Protects

Palomar is an industry leader at providing comprehensive, flexible earthquake insurance coverage.

Related Resources:

• Flyer: Why Earthquake Insurance is Important (FAQ)
• Blog Post: Why Earthquake Insurance Matters

The post Understanding Seismic Risk on the US West Coast appeared first on Palomar.

Spring Flood Risks

• Spring Showers: Spring storms can bring several inches of rain in just a few hours. Along with overfilling storm drains or causing rivers to overflow, heavy rain oversaturates soil. Saturated—or still frozen—soil is unable to absorb any excess moisture. The rain then collects on the surface and leads to flooding.
• Snowmelt: As the weather warms, snow begins to melt and releases large amounts of water into its environment. Released water that is not absorbed by the ground becomes runoff that flows into rivers, streams, and lakes, the excess water often spilling over and flooding nearby areas.
• Ice Jams: Ice jams occur when ice on top of a river begins to break up and large chunks of ice clump together as they move downstream, blocking the river’s flow. When the rushing water has nowhere to go, it begins to overflow and flood nearby areas.

Are You Protected?

According to FEMA, 99% of US counties have been impacted by a flooding event, and just one inch of water inside a home could cause $25,000 or more of flood damage.

Everyone is at risk for spring flooding, yet many remain unprotected.

Despite the prevalent risk of significant economic loss in the face of a flood, misconceptions about the peril result in highly inadequate levels of coverage nationwide. Only 2% of California homeowners have flood insurance, and significant protection gaps exist across the nation as well.

Palomar Protects

Palomar’s flood insurance offerings are easier to obtain and offer broader coverage than policies backed by the NFIP. Palomar can quote any flood zone and does not require an elevation certificate, waiting period or, in many cases, an up-front payment to secure coverage.

More Resources:

• Introductory Guide to Palomar and Flood Insurance
• Palomar Flood Insurance Benefits Sheet
• Why Flood Insurance? An FAQ Guide

The post Understanding Spring Flood Risks appeared first on Palomar.

Earthquakes Can Happen Anywhere

Earthquakes are a matter of when, not if. They can happen almost anywhere at any time. A minor quake might damage furnishings and personal belongings, but a big quake could cause catastrophic damage to a home’s structure. Purchasing earthquake insurance means having financial resiliency and peace of mind in the face of any quake.

Grow Your Portfolio

For agents as well as consumers, earthquake insurance is an important piece of your portfolio. Growing your book of business can be as easy as touching base with existing clients who carry other lines of coverage and starting a conversation about their protection gaps.

Protect Your Clients

The strongest predictor of a consumer having earthquake insurance was using an agent to make insurance decisions. Homeowners who used an insurance agent to make insurance decisions were nearly three times more likely to have earthquake insurance than those who did not. For agents, your clients rely on you to inform and educate them about the protection they need.

Protect Yourself

Two of the most common Errors and Omissions (E&O) claims filed against insurance agencies include failing to offer proper coverage and providing inadequate amounts of coverage. Even if your client is not required to buy earthquake coverage, it’s helpful to proactively provide a quote for their consideration.

How to Propose Earthquake Insurance to Potential Clients

Get to Know Your Clients

Identifying new clients can be challenging but remember that earthquakes can happen anywhere, anytime. There are potential clients in your area and community who need earthquake coverage today and educating them about the need for earthquake insurance can be a valuable way to build a new relationship.

Along with identifying new clients, look for opportunities to cross-sell. Do you have clients who currently carry other insurance coverages, but do not yet have earthquake insurance?

Ask Questions

To help keep earthquake insurance top of mind, ask your clients the following questions:

• Can they afford to repair their home without financial assistance from an insurance policy?
• Can they afford to replace their personal belongings without insurance?
• Could they cover the full costs of living elsewhere during the time repairs are being made? Given the concentrated nature of earthquakes, a damaging event may cause a severe shortage in the availability of both labor and materials. As a result, those who are displaced from their homes may end up spending significantly more time in temporary housing than they would otherwise expect.

Asking these types of questions helps highlight your clients’ potential risks and coverage gaps.

Educate

One driver of earthquake insurance uptake is strong educational programs and communication. You can help encourage financial resilience for your clients and communities by emphasizing the fact that over the past century, earthquakes have caused damage in all 50 states. Using information and tools like recent earthquake events and fault line maps can help you move the conversation forward.

Discuss Options

Each individual has specific needs. With Palomar’s affordable and flexible policies, you can help customers choose the coverage that best fits their budget.

More Resources:

• Flyer: Why Earthquake Insurance? (FAQ)

The post Why Earthquake Insurance Matters appeared first on Palomar.

According to a research associate at NC State’s Center for Geospatial Analytics, this is a problem that can be largely attributed to flood maps created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The FEMA flood maps show designated flood zones that are considered most susceptible to a 100-year flood event, but an NC State study shows that FEMA flood maps underestimate the extent of flood risk by about 790,000 square miles. The study also highlights that from 2006 to 2020 more than two-thirds of flood damage reports came from outside the maps’ high-risk flood zones.

Another study shows how communities are able to contest FEMA’s flood risk designations. These appeals are often successful – FEMA cites an 89% success rate for flood map amendments – and can affect how all homeowners and communities assess the true vulnerabilities of their properties.

Finally, as climate change accelerates, FEMA flood maps will underestimate the risk of flooding by failing to account for intense rainfall events.

What does this mean for homeowners?

Flooding isn’t typically covered by standard homeowners insurance policies, so homeowners with a federally backed mortgage in designated flood zones are required to purchase flood insurance through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or through private insurance providers like Palomar.

Many Americans, both inside and outside the designated flood zones, rely on FEMA flood maps to make decisions about buying flood insurance. Inaccurate or misleading maps can oversimplify risk and give homeowners and communities a false sense of security.

How can agents help?

A study by the University of Pennsylvania’s Risk Management and Decision Processes Center found that one driver of flood insurance uptake is strong educational programs and communication. Agents can help encourage financial resilience for their clients and communities by emphasizing the fact that floods often occur outside of designated high-risk zones.

Even if your client is not required to buy flood coverage, it’s helpful to proactively provide a quote for their consideration

Palomar Protects

Palomar’s flood insurance offerings are easier to obtain and offer broader coverage than policies backed by the NFIP. Palomar can quote any flood zone and does not require an elevation certificate, waiting period or, in many cases, an up-front payment to secure coverage.

More Resources:

• Palomar Flood Insurance Benefits Sheet
• Why Flood Insurance? An FAQ Guide

The post Misleading Flood Maps Can Block Insurance Uptake appeared first on Palomar.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it is increasing flood insurance options for homeowners with Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages living in special flood areas. Effective December 21, 2022, the FHA will now accept flood insurance from private insurance providers like Palomar.

Specifically, the final rule updates FHA regulations to allow borrowers the option to purchase a comparable private insurance policy meeting FHA requirements for FHA-insured mortgages secured by properties located in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs).

What does this mean for you?

Agents, you can now offer private flood to customers with a government-backed (FHA, VA, USDA) loan. Homeowners, you can now obtain a more comprehensive flood policy from private markets like Palomar.  

Palomar Flood Insurance vs. FEMA’s NFIP Flood Insurance

Unlike the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), private flood insurance is provided by companies like Palomar rather than the federal government. Palomar’s policies offer more flexibility and broader coverage than standard NFIP policies.

You can find a breakdown of key product differences within this downloadable guide.

Palomar Flood Benefits

• No waiting period for zero delays
• No elevation certificate for time and money savings
• Higher coverage limits for maximum protection
• Payment plan options available

Contact your agent today to get the flood insurance you need!

The post FHA Will Now Accept Private Flood Insurance Policies  appeared first on Palomar.