In addition to world-renowned and respected scholarly research, the faculty at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics are also leaders in providing financial advice to the public.

In December, Xin Che, a Cal State Fullerton assistant finance professor, was featured in three articles on MoneyGeek, a consumer-focused personal finance website, on bundling home and auto insurance, finding the best care insurance in California and finding the lowest-cost car insurance.

Advice for Consumers

On bundling insurance, Che noted that consumers may bundle renters, landlord, motorcycle, boat, recreational vehicle and even pet insurance. He encourages shoppers to consult with insurance providers on the approach that would work best.

For finding the most suitable auto insurance provider, Che recommends independent insurance agents for the best personalized advice.

“Since an independent insurance agent represents multiple competing insurance providers, they can obtain quotes from these insurers and find the best deal for the driver,” he writes. “The driver can also ask questions and seek clarifications from the agent to make sure all insurance needs can be satisfied.”

And on lower insurance costs, Che advises: “Drivers need to shop around and compare quotes given by different insurers because usually there is a big variation in insurers’ pricing. Drivers may also consider bundling multiple insurance policies with one insurance provider, as many insurers offer a multi-policy discount. Choosing a higher deductible can help lower the premium for collision and comprehensive coverages. Last but not least, drivers must maintain good driving records and credit scores.”

Scholarly Research on the Rise of Insurtech

In addition to the MoneyGeek articles, Che is the co-author of the 2022 scholarly article Usage-Based Insurance – Impact on Insurers and Potential Implications for InsurTech, published in the North American Actuarial Journal.

Examining the rise of insurtech – the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, in the insurance field – Che noted that usage-based insurance is allowing carriers to tailor premiums based on individual driving behaviors.

This is helping insurers lower their loss ratios. And the benefits to the industry are only increasing as the technology matures.

Che joined the business college finance faculty in fall 2018. He earned his Ph.D. in finance from the University of Mississippi, his M.S. in finance from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from Xi’an Jiaotong University.

For more on the research and advice of our faculty, read more of our faculty research stories.