Admitted carriers
Explore standard-market options and how your property's details and mitigation work may affect available coverage.
Independent brokerage · Personally led
Mark Hicks
Insurance Solutions
Personal attention. Specialist perspective.
Coverage thoughtfully tailored to you.
Independent CA brokerage, licensed in Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey and Texas. We place coverage when standard carriers say no — including wildfire-prone homes and commercial risks.
Silicon Valley roots. Multi‑state reach.Explore our expertise
Independent.
On your side.Personally led by
Mark HicksLicensed in
CA · AZ · IL · NJ · TX80 Google reviews
On your side.Personally led by
Mark HicksLicensed in
CA · AZ · IL · NJ · TX80 Google reviews
01 / Coverage expertise
Not a standard risk.
Not a standard approach.
From the home you live in to the business you've built, your needs deserve more than a one-size-fits-all policy.
Find your way forward02 / The California specialist
When the answer is “no,”
we look closer.
Hard-to-place property insurance in CA. A clear-eyed approach to wildfire-prone homes, commercial property, and a changing insurance market.
Property coverage, with a California perspective.More options.
A considered plan.
We help make complex coverage decisions understandable, reviewing realistic paths for your specific property.
Surplus lines (E&S)
When standard carriers decline, consider specialty markets for risks that need a different approach.
FAIR Plan + DIC
Review California's last-resort fire coverage alongside a Difference in Conditions policy to address coverage gaps.
Higher-value homes
Consider specialty programs with limits and coverage tailored to higher-value properties.
Wildfire mitigation
Understand defensible space, home hardening, and the documentation carriers may request.
Coverage transitions
Plan around non-renewal dates, lender requirements, and the steps needed to move between policies.
Practical guides
A little clarity
goes a long way.
Compare your options
Alternatives to the FAIR Plan
Start with available admitted carriers, then review surplus-lines markets and FAIR Plan + DIC options. Compare the coverage, not just the premium.
Your next steps
Received a non-renewal?
Confirm when your current policy ends, gather your property details, and begin reviewing alternatives before the deadline.
Prepare your property
Wildfire mitigation & specialty markets
Document defensible space and home-hardening work. Ask which carriers consider those improvements and whether credits are available.
The bigger picture
Understanding hard-to-place coverage
Identify why a property is difficult to insure, which markets may consider it, and what exclusions or gaps need a closer look.
03 / Personal by design
Your broker.
Mark Hicks.
“Life's too short for generic advice.”
I'm Mark Hicks, founder of Mark Hicks Insurance Solutions in the South Bay, serving clients across Silicon Valley and beyond. I believe the best guidance starts with a real conversation — understanding what matters to you before recommending a policy.
My focus is making complex insurance decisions simple, actionable, and personal. From hard-to-place California property to business, auto, and life coverage, I help you understand the options and build a plan around your needs.
- Education
- BS Business · San Francisco State University
- Licensed
- CA, AZ, IL, NJ & TX
- California
- Individual #0H06950 · Agency #6009908
04 / Independent access
Access to top rated carriers.
Options, not a single answer.
Mark Hicks Insurance Solutions works with multiple carriers to find coverage that fits your home, business and budget.
AegisAhoy!AlchemyAmTrustAnnex RiskAon EdgeAssurityBacknineBambooBerkshire HathawayBerxibiBerkBoltBridger InsuranceBTISCARMAChubbCollectibles Insurance ServicesCoterieCover WhaleCoverage CatCowbellDelosFetchFirstFirst Capital Property InsuranceFoxquiltGeicoGeoVeraGreat AmericanGreen ShieldGuardHagertyHanoverThe HartfordHiscoxHoneycombIDIQInsur-FiInternational Insurance Group / Mexico InsuranceJewelers MutualJohnson & JohnsonKanguroKemper Auto / InfinityLiberty MutualLiferaftLightspeedLIOLocal EdgeMGTMonolineMSINational GeneralNeptuneNovellaNovoNuSureCoObieOpenRoadOrion180PalomarPathpointPIE InsurancePouchProgressivePropellerRainbowRLISEMSEESESSimplicity GroupSimply BusinessSkywatch.aiSliceSolaStarfishSteadilyStillwaterThe TravelersUS Assure
Community events
Out in the neighborhood.
You'll find us there.
We show up locally — coffee, conversation and answers to your insurance questions, in person.
Every first Thursday of the month, 9:30–11:30 am
Monthly Coffee Chat
A relaxed morning of coffee and conversation with local experts. We co-host this open discussion on residential and commercial real estate — whether you're buying, selling, investing or just curious — and Mark is on hand to answer insurance questions along the way. Coffee is free.
Hosted by Mark Hicks Insurance Solutions · Haylen Real Estate · PMG Home Loans · Philz Coffee
Event details at Haylen GroupA few things to know
Good questions.
Clear answers.
Knowledge articles
Questions we hear often.
Answered in plain English.
Short guides Mark shares with clients when these topics come up — feel free to read and share them.
Article 01
Remodeling or renovating your home?
What happens to your insurance before, during, and after construction.
Read the article Article 02Owner-occupied vs. tenant-occupied
Why who lives in the home changes the policy you need.
Read the article Article 03Why are CA auto rates so high?
What's behind the increases — and what you can do about it.
Read the articleLet's start with a conversation