2013 August PASO Magazine

BUSINESS
Growth at HFG necessitates move to new building
By Bob Chute
Business is good at Hinds Financial
Group, Inc., and growing pains have
necessitated a move to their new location
at 1818 Spring Street in Paso
Robles, “We’ve doubled in size in
the last two years and recently added
two new agents, Ty Barnhart and
Michael Talen,” said CEO Dee Hinds.
“We’re truly a financial planning full
service firm offering every type of insurance
and able to broker with most
of the A+ rated firms. We also offer
financial planning and estate planning
- you name it - and you’ll have
just one phone number to memorize,
239-7443.
“Plus we’re the local experts on the
President’s new Patient Protect and Affordable
Care Act. Many don’t realize
that under this new program everyone
will have to buy insurance, like it or
not, and the window will only be open
October 1 of this year until March 31
of 2014,” said Hinds. “There are only
17 agents in the North County who are
preparing to help with enrolling people
for coverage under this new Act. Only
17 agents to handle over 10,000 uninsured
in North SLO County and four of
them are in our office.”
The HFG Team includes, from left: Ted Davantzis, Shelli Maldonado, Sarah Hinds,
Edward Dee Hinds III, Michael R. Talen, Olga Hinds, Ty Barnhart, and Simon Lobo.
“Plus, for the majority of people
with insurance policies already in effect,
those will be superseded by this
new program,” added Hinds. “It’s
going to be a nightmare for many
people. The government is setting up
‘exchanges’ to answer your questions
and where people can buy insurance
and they expect people to either wade
through the new criteria on line to
make their decisions or, if they don’t
understand, they’ll have to call an
800 number and deal with ‘navigators’
or ‘assistors’ to answer questions.
But those are not licensed agents.
“I don’t mean to scare anyone, we
can guide you through the confusion.
The good news is you’ll be paying the
same price buying direct through the
‘exchange’ as you’ll pay meeting with us
one-on-one.”
“Would you prefer dealing through
an ‘800’ number or an ‘805’ with a local
person always available to assist?” added
Sarah Hinds, one of those trained in
the new programs. “We’re here for you
at no extra cost. We are preparing in the
weeks ahead to explain the Affordable
Care Act. Of course, we’ll be available
for individual appointments as well. We
are coordinating with Twin Cities Hospital
and other agents in North County
to set up enrollments.”
The team at HFG includes:
• Edward Dee Hinds III is the
Chief Financial Officer of HFG and
received his insurance licenses in May
of 1983, awarded the CLU designation
in 1989. He became series 6
and 63 securities licensed in 1991 and
obtained his Series 7 and 65 in 1995
and his Series 24 license in 2008. He
was awarded the ChFC designation in
2001. In 2002 he became a Fellow of
the Life Underwriter Training Council,
and became a Certified Financial
Planner in 2006 and was approved for
the CFP designation, while qualifying
for the AEP (Accredited Estate Planner)
designation. In 2007 he obtained
the Chartered Advisor for Senior Living
(CASL) designation. He is a life
and qualifying member of Million
Dollar Roundtable, membership in
which is restricted to the top 5% of
life insurance agents in the world. Dee
has had work published in the peer-reviewed
Journal of Financial Planning.
He is Past President of both Paso
Robles Sunrise Rotary and NAIFA
Central Coast.
• Olga Hinds serves as President
of HFG. She obtained her Life and
Health license in September of 2003
and her Series 65 Securities license in
Please see HFG page 54
August 2013, Paso Robles Magazine 53