Plus - How CIG is Giving Back This Holiday Season. The days following Thanksgiving are known for frenzied shopping sprees and full-on preparation for the December gift-giving season. You’re probably familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but what about Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday, also known as the National Day of Giving, is observed on [...]

Thinking of Becoming a Landlord? 10 Things to Know Before You Hand Over the Rental Keys   Becoming a landlord is a big commitment — for you and your tenants. Some see it as a great investment, and it’s not hard to understand why. In the U.S., the number of renters is rising: between 2009 [...]

This season is a festive time with harvest events, pumpkin carving, costume parties, and the beloved activity for children – trick-or-treating. To help keep your little ghosts and goblins safe this Halloween, consider the following tips: 1. Have a game plan. If you want to hit the streets, look up a specific route. Consider community […]

This week, PG&E announced they will be shutting down power to prevent wildfires caused by electrical lines — a move that will impact nearly 800,000 people. Since the shut-off may last several days, it’s important that you are prepared for the worst-case scenario. Below are several precautions residents should heed to stay safe: Back-up power [...]

You can’t stop the intensity or the path of these major natural disasters, but you can prepare for them. Below, we cover several ways to be aware and prepare.   Mudslides and landslides are notorious for occurring after a particularly bad wildfire or snowmelt season. Depending on where you live, you could be at risk [...]

Prepare you and your household for emergencies ahead of time with these essential tips. September is National Preparedness Month, and there’s no time like the present to be prepared. Not only will some early preparation save you crucial time if a disaster does hit, but it also allows you more peace of mind knowing that [...]

9 Tips for Camping Safety Enjoying the great outdoors is a national pastime — especially near the end of summer when families can take advantage of an extra-long weekend during Labor Day. But before you hit the trail or find the perfect campsite, review these camping safety tips for a stress-free outdoor adventure. Location, Location, [...]

Understanding the risks of subletting can help you decide if this is the best option for you. Subletting is a great way to maintain your apartment, condo, or house while you’re going to be away for an extended time period. Many members of the military end up subletting during their deployment, and it may also […]

We’ve all seen the funny pictures of pets caught in the act – rummaging through the garbage, eating the stuffing out of throw pillows, and going to the bathroom in places where they shouldn’t. As an outsider, it’s funny to see these photos, but what if it’s your home that this happened to? Or worse […]

It’s that time of year again, and everyone is hitting the beach to soak up the summer sun. Before you start jumping the waves, it’s a good idea to brush up on these beach safety tips for the most enjoyable summer getaway. Understanding the risks involved with water safety can help prepare you and your […]

Let’s face it. Renting your property can be a bigger headache than you might have imagined (or maybe you already knew and expected the headache), so it’s worth it to make sure you — as well as your tenants — are covered and protected. Some property owners even make renters insurance a mandatory agreement in [...]

How a rent-back agreement could help you avoid moving twice The paperwork involved in selling and then buying a new home is stressful enough – much less the logistics of it all. This type of double transaction is very common, but nonetheless still nerve-wracking because everything needs to line up just right in order to [...]

With animal-vehicle collision claims on the rise, stay safe and follow these best practices Throughout the year, thousands of animal-vehicle collisions happen across the United States. Encountering wildlife while driving can be dangerous and scary. Often animals will suddenly jump onto a roadway or find themselves in busy, urban areas and in harm’s way. According [...]

Selling a car to a private party can be a daunting task. Not only do you need to schedule times to show your car to potential buyers, but you also must organize the paperwork. Find out why selling your car privately doesn’t have to be difficult. Get your vehicle history report ready If you’ve heard [...]

Child Passenger Safety Week is September 15-21, 2019 It’s a familiar routine. You round up the kids each morning, scramble into the family car, and make sure everyone is buckled in before hitting the road. Knowing the latest in child passenger safety and car seat regulations can help ensure a safer drive for everyone. Did [...]

We all lead busy lives and at times use our cars as a method of storage for our “on-the-go” routines. From a beach bag, to lip balm or favorite sunglasses, it’s easy to forget these items in our car or leave them in there for convenience and easy access. While outside temperatures may still be tolerable, [...]

Planning a trip this summer that involves renting a car? Keep these things in mind before you hit the road.   Rental car insurance is one of those topics in life that never truly seems to have a definitive answer. Most people skip out on purchasing the extra coverage, but at what cost? Capital Insurance […]

November 5-11, 2017 marks National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. While most people are aware of the dangers of drinking or texting and driving, many do not realize the dangers of drowsiness. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admit to falling asleep behind the [...]

Baby, it’s cold outside! Temperatures are dropping as we welcome the winter months. Depending on where you live, your idea of a “winter wardrobe” could mean swapping out flip flops and shorts for booties and a sweater (we’re looking at you, Southern California!). On the other hand, your winter preparation may mean breaking out puffy [...]

  For any car-owner, having an auto insurance policy is pretty standard. Your insurance policy will come in handy should you ever get into a car accident or experience something like a flat tire and need help. It’s generally well-known that insurance companies charge younger drivers higher rates. Even when an adult with an existing […]

From floods and windstorms, to power outages and snowstorms, winter can be a cruel season for weather. Winter is notorious for strong, sudden storms that can strike at any time. Here are six easy hacks to help you get through the season: Monitor local news and weather reports. Winter weather can strike at any time. [...]

Monterey community offers free car seat inspections on September 30th.   “As a leading insurer serving the Western United States for over a century, we take great pride in protecting the communities where we live and serve. While it’s imperative to have car insurance to protect your family, passenger safety requires daily vigilance,” said Arne […]

June 28 marks National Insurance Awareness Day! Whether you own a small business or rent an apartment, it’s important to be aware of the insurance you have, check your policies regularly and make sure you’re not missing any opportunities. When it comes to insurance, here are four common gaps to be aware of: HO3 vs. […]

Theft is a pervasive concern for retailers. A thief not only poses a safety threat to the employees and customers, but crime can negatively impact a business's bottom line. Unfortunately, retail theft happens all too often. This problem is particularly common during the holiday season. According to the 2016 Retail Holiday Season Global Forecast, a [...]

The global cost of cyber crime has skyrocketed, estimated at $400 billion annually, with 70% of breaches attributable to malware or hacking. Today, the risk of sensitive data getting into the wrong hands is a much bigger and more dangerous risk than ever before. As consumers or business owners, we supply and store so much [...]

Depending on where you live, earthquakes are a reality for many. They can’t be prevented and are extremely hard to prepare for. And although building codes have come a long way with the latest in innovative construction, many people — and specifically — many business owners, don’t realize they still need earthquake insurance, independent of […]

Building Safety Month is an international awareness campaign created to help educate the public on building safety. In this blog post, we’ll cover some common building safety tips and misconceptions about building safety — what you should know and what you might not be aware of.   Knowing your building safety is about more than […]

Owning a small business comes with more responsibilities, but having the right insurance doesn’t have to be a headache  If you’ve ever considered becoming a business owner, or you already own a small business, having the right insurance can make a big difference for your bottom line. Protect and insure your company’s livelihood by knowing […]

According to a recent report published by Verizon, 81% of hacking-related breaches leveraged either stolen and/or weak passwords. Yikes! This is the number one method used by perpetrators to breach companies, up 29% from 2017. In honor of World Password Day on May 2nd, I’m sharing 7 tips for best practices when it comes to […]

Going green at work is painless and takes only a second to remind yourself to reduce, reuse, and recycle daily. Find out how you can kick-start your eco-friendly journey and celebrate Mother Earth this month!   Reduce - For most people, there is almost zero need to keep papers laying around or stacks of files [...]

Follow this safety checklist before your next restaurant inspection If you own or operate a restaurant, health inspections can be an intimidating and stressful experience. Health inspections are held routinely to ensure business practices and food operations are performed safely, to protect customers and the greater public. Inspections follow state and local regulations, outlined by [...]

Tax season is here, which means it's time for small-business owners to learn which expenses qualify for small-business tax deductions. Businesses can deduct expenses that are both ordinary (meaning it's commonly accepted in your trade) and necessary (meaning it's helpful and appropriate, but not necessarily a must-have), according to the IRS. Items that are personal [...]

An important step in keeping your business financially stable is investing in the right insurance policy. For entrepreneurs in California, there's a lot to consider when it comes to insurance. Here's how to shop for the right small-business policy: Small-business insurance required by law According to the Small Business Administration, by law, every small business with [...]

Farmers typically take numerous steps to protect their land, crops and other assets. One form of protection farmers can invest in is agricultural insurance. There are many different types of policies and coverages, but they all offer financial protection to the farmer should anything disrupt his or her crop, product, assets or anything else impacting [...]

Your business may represent your passion, your livelihood, or your hobby, but above all, it represents your hard work. As a small-business owner, it's important to ensure your company is protected from unexpected circumstances. Any number of unpredictable occurrences can reduce your profitability, integrity, or ability to operate. A fire can be just as damaging as [...]