May 21, 2025 • 43 mins
Planning a trip across the border but not sure what you really need? In this episode of Border Masters, we reveal the often-overlooked essential for any Baja-bound traveler: Mexican auto insurance. Your U.S. policy won’t cover you in Mexico—and that surprise can ruin a trip fast. That’s where Baja Bound Insurance comes in. Founder Hank Morton shares how his company makes it easy to get covered in minutes and why it matters.
But that’s not all we reveal. From Baja’s hidden surf breaks and scenic wine country to common border myths and safety tips, this episode is packed with insights for anyone headed south. Hank explains how Baja Bound isn’t just about insurance—it’s about helping people enjoy Baja with confidence. Whether you’re crossing for a quick taco run or a full-on road trip, this episode has everything you didn’t know you needed to know. Tune in and get Baja-ready.
Algunos episodios serán en español y otros en inglés, conectando perspectivas únicas de la frontera.)
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Key moments in this episode:
00:02:11 – The Insurance Everyone Forgets
00:04:12 – Falling in Love with Baja
00:08:54 – How Baja Bound Was Born
00:12:35 – Turning Insurance into a Lifestyle
00:15:11 – More Than Insurance: Helping People Cross
00:19:23 – What to Do After an Accident in Mexico
00:24:12 – Busting the Biggest Border Insurance Myth
00:28:30 – Border Myths and Real Talk
00:32:36 – Supporting Baja’s Off-Road & Surf Culture
00:34:02 – Hank’s Baja Cycling Adventures
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:00):
Whether you're visiting family, planning a vacation, or heading to
a business trip, Cbx is your cross-border solution. One simple
bridge over 40 destinations in Mexico. Thank you to Cbx
for sponsoring this episode. Visit cross-border Express.com to plan your trip.
S2 (00:17):
Baja bound makes it easy to get the coverage you
need in just a few clicks. Thank you Baja Bound
for keeping us safe.
S3 (00:27):
Oh lost media.
S4 (00:32):
I think there's this sense of freedom. Baja is a
land that is so yet to be discovered. I mean,
it is a peninsula where you have two large, you know,
a big metropolis at the very north part of it.
But to me, the real Baja starts the adventure of
Baja starts, you know, sort of south of Ensenada. That's
the allure that captures the allure of Baja. Is that
(00:54):
sense of freedom, I would say.
S5 (00:55):
The idea of doing this podcast is that not everybody
has to live at the border to be a border master.
S6 (01:03):
Eolas media presents Border Masters, the podcast where the US-Mexico
border takes center stage.
S2 (01:10):
Gustavo is from Nogales. He has amazing credentials, so he's
super knowledgeable of everything border. But we come from very
different borders.
S5 (01:21):
Monique is very good on the emotional intelligence. It's the
personality that she has that allows people just to feel relaxed.
It's part of letting the world know why has it
been so successful to have that border and what has
inspired them about the border?
S6 (01:42):
Now, here are your hosts, Gustavo and Monique.
S5 (01:48):
Welcome to Border Masters, the podcast of border leaders. I'm
Gustavo de la Fuente, co-host, and I'm here with Border
Masters co-host Monique Casillas. Today I'm very excited to have
an incredible guest. Hank Morton, founder and CEO of Baja
Bound Insurance. Thank you so much, Hank, for joining us.
S4 (02:06):
Thank you. Gustavo, it's great to be here. Thank you
for the invitation.
S5 (02:11):
An often overlooked aspect of travel to Mexico by land
is car insurance. Most people think that their U.S. insurance
automatically covers them in Mexico, or they simply don't think
about it. Period. Baja bound insurance has worked with U.S.
individuals and families over the last 30 years. The company
is unique in that it was the first one to
(02:32):
offer online online insurance services back in 1999, and it
was our guest, Hank Morton, who was behind this innovation.
Since then, the company has grown to become the premier
car insurance company along the US Mexico border. Hank is
an entrepreneur at heart. He's a true border guy, having
straddled the border for his entire life, starting when he
(02:54):
went on a surfing and fishing trips across the border
as a child. So I've known Hank for the last
six years. We're friends. He became a Smart Border Coalition
board member when I was the organization's director. I could
tell from the beginning that he was going to be
very active and opinionated. And after all, I mean, if
(03:15):
anyone understands the day to day border crossing dynamic, it's
Hank Morton. So, Monique, how did you meet Hank?
S2 (03:23):
Well, I think I met Hank, thanks to you with
the Smart Border Coalition. Um, but I always. I'm always Hank.
I'm always in awe when I meet like an American citizen.
Like a true gringo, as we say it. With love. Um, that.
That loves Mexico and Baja. Like, I think even me
being from Tijuana and and knowing San Diego. But now
(03:48):
that I have been living here in the US for
12 years and now being in San Diego for seven years,
and I keep meeting these people that like, know No
Mexico very well. And love Mexico and love Baja. Like you,
I'm always in awe. And that makes me wonder. Like,
where did your love from Baja and Mexico started for you?
S4 (04:12):
Right, right. Well, thank you for that question. And actually,
you know, I just want to touch on the fact that, um,
there are a lot of us gringos that love Mexico.
And I speak for myself and all of our thousands
and thousands of clients, you know, personally and not just
I know that there's a lot of Americans who, um, are,
(04:33):
for instance, from this region or just they love traveling
to Mexico, they love going southbound, you know, going and
discovering Baja and, you know, so that probably also goes
into my story of how I grew to love Baja.
I'm from here, as Gustavo mentioned, I'm born and raised
in San Diego and Baja, and Mexico has always been
(04:57):
part of my life because I'm a, you know, San Diego,
you know, and, and, uh, it is our we're all
in this one big region. So to me, it's just
the same as walking out your, you know, it's just
going to your neighbor's house. You know, it's like going
to Tijuana, you know, and, um, so, yeah, I've just
grown loving it. Um, especially for Baja, for the adventure.
(05:19):
It's always represented adventure to me. I think that's what
it represents to a lot of folks. Um, it represents, um,
you know, obviously great food, great people. But I think
more than anything, it represents discovery to discover something new.
It's this amazing resource that you literally have right next
(05:42):
door to you that you can cross this imaginary line,
which is the US-Mexico border, and you enter into a
whole new world. I love it right away. And, you know,
a lot of folks from Mexico. They understand that. But
going north, yes, but there's plenty of Americans. Or I
(06:02):
should say I use that word loosely, right? Yeah, let's
call it, I mean, for lack of better words. Yeah.
Or sort of. I like the term. I don't mind
the term gringo. It's like. It's like that's what we
are to some degree. And, um. Yeah, there's nothing wrong
with that. And there's plenty of folks like me that
love south love to go south. So I love it.
S2 (06:24):
Love it.
S5 (06:26):
Well, Hank, you were saying that this is a sort
of a discovery thing for people. Do you find that
in your business, people come down to Mexico and say, well,
I want to discover, I want to do something new.
I want to the adventure. What is it about it? Uh,
you know, getting a little bit more into the weeds.
What is it about it that people love that people
(06:46):
like to do when. When they hear the border and
Rosarito and Tijuana and Ensenada? What what what attracts them
the most, do you think?
S4 (06:55):
Yeah. Yeah. No, that's a great question. Um, so I
would break it down into sort of, sort of, I
would say sort of more top line things, which are
obviously the, the things that, that Mexico and Baja offers them,
which is I mentioned, you know, the great food and
the hospitality and those are, those are sort of the features. But, um,
(07:19):
as I say, I think, I think below that, um,
I think there's this sense of freedom in Baja that
it gives you, especially Baja. No, it's like, um, it's
it's it's not, you know, Baja is a land that
is so, uh, yet to be discovered, right? I mean,
and literally, I mean, it is a peninsula where you
(07:42):
have two large, you know, a big metropolis at the
very north part of it. And then basically and then some.
Not a lot in between. Yeah. And a not a
lot between. Right. So, you know, that's always by the way,
to me. I mean, I love I love the city
part of of Baja, Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada. But to me,
the real Baja starts like like the the adventure of
(08:05):
Baja starts, you know, sort of south of Ensenada because
that's where it's just the wide open desert and the
beautiful terrain and the untouched ocean, relatively, you know, so
you go and you find, you know, as a surfer, right?
You there's all these unknown surf spots, but now they're,
(08:27):
they're obviously been discovered. But you know, it's harder to
get to those. Yeah. So um, and I think that's,
that's the allure that captures the allure of Baja is
that sense of freedom. I would say, you know.
S2 (08:39):
And with all this exploring and discovering, is that how
you stumble into this business of Baja bound insurance? Or like,
how was it because you were there and then were
were like, you got in trouble and then you're like, oh,
I need insurance? Or how did that happen?
S4 (08:54):
So I'm going to try to make this short. I'll
give you our whole my whole sort of, uh, creation
story of Baja Bound, which was, uh, so technically my
so my dad was a doctor. He had a clinic, um,
for exits north of the border, um, his whole career
and sort of later on in his career. And it
was right off the I-5, this clinic. And later on
(09:18):
in his career, he had this he had some friends
that were in the Mexican insurance business, um, and, uh,
and of course, we had already we had always had
to buy this, you know, going southbound. That was one
of the things that you needed to do. Like, you actually,
you know, your US insurance doesn't work and we can
get to this. Um, but it's something you need to do.
You have to buy your Mexican insurance. You. And so
(09:42):
we knew about this, and he had this idea. Okay. Hey,
I'm going to create a little agency out of my clinic.
He got his nurse licensed, um, to sell insurance, and
he had this little drive through for probably, I don't know,
maybe four years. And then he he retired. So he
shut that down. And but he came up with the
(10:02):
name Baja bound. And then I had at that time
I had recently graduated from college. I was working for
a biotech company, and I spoke a little Spanish. I
spoke I speak much more now. Well, at that time,
I definitely bluffed my way into.
S5 (10:20):
This.
S4 (10:20):
Into this role. But they said, hey, uh, they had
these commercial trials happening in Baja and Mexico, and they
would send me down to work down in these, in
these commercial trials. So, you know, I was cruising around
for probably 2 or 3 years during this time, and
I was crossing a lot. And um, and then that
(10:42):
company actually had some there was a startup and they anyways, they,
they I could see the writing on the wall. I
needed to kind of change my position or look for
other opportunities. And this was in 1999. Everybody at that time,
this was the the dawn of of really the internet
as we know it. It was kind of what we
(11:03):
call version 1.0. Right. And so, um, I knew about
what my dad had done with Baja Bound, and I
was like, hey, maybe, maybe this is something that could
be done online.
S5 (11:14):
Right.
S4 (11:15):
Right. So, uh, so we said, okay. Uh, so I
was like, well, and also I wanted to learn how
to program websites too. This was like a, you know, anyways,
I was trying to figure out what my next steps
in my life were.
S2 (11:29):
But that's not your undergrad.
S4 (11:31):
No, it was not my not what I studied in
college whatsoever.
S5 (11:35):
This is your technological side, which we'll get into as well.
This is a very important.
S4 (11:39):
Part of.
S5 (11:39):
What.
S4 (11:39):
You do. So this is kind of the the origin
story of Baja bound. And so, so I um, so yeah, I,
I did this really to learn how to program websites
and I, and I launched Baja bound And, um. And
then I, I really got into obviously the insurance side
of it. Um, and we can talk more about that
in a second. But, um, that's how I started. It was,
(12:01):
was doing that and just knowing because it was a
product that we had to get all the time and opportunity.
S2 (12:07):
It was an.
S4 (12:08):
Opportunity. And you know what? Honestly, it was something in
a area that I love. I've always loved going to Mexico.
I've always loved Mexico and Baja. And so it was like, wow,
what a cool little opportunity. Let's see if this could work.
S5 (12:24):
Well, you've answered the question I was going to ask you,
which was what? Insurance is not exactly the sexiest industry
out there, but now you've answered the question why you
were actually doing it?
S4 (12:35):
Absolutely. Yeah. I would like to say, you know, it's funny,
we the type our insurance is it's fun insurance because,
you know, it's not. Yes. It is something you need
to get, but it's also something that people are getting
when they're in the process of going to have have
fun doing something fun. So it also has to do
with how we've marketed our insurance. We market it as
(12:57):
a sort of a lifestyle. I mean, it's something that you. Oh, yeah,
you got to get it. Um, but you're going to
get it because you're going to go and have this
opportunity to explore this amazing place, which is Baja in Mexico.
And and you're about to you're about to have an adventure, right?
And we we love to. And we live that. You know,
personally I live it. Our our company lives it. And
(13:21):
anyways so it's a little different than Geico. Yes. Right.
S5 (13:25):
Yes.
S2 (13:25):
And you talked about your clients. So one question that
that comes to mind is how many clients? I'm curious.
You said like all of these gringos are going southbound.
So how many clients? That's question one. And second, are
there any favorite spots that you and your clients have?
S4 (13:43):
So we currently, um, work with approximately 60,000 clients every year. Um, and, um, uh,
and so, you know what they're doing south. Um, you know,
they're like, I say, exploring, exploring, Baja, you name it.
I mean, we we work with adventurers, we work with expats.
(14:03):
A lot of folks that are that live down there. Right. Um,
so those are a lot of our clients, basically the,
our insurance works, uh, for we can insure you foreign
plates in Mexico, meaning U.S. or Canadian or whatever. We actually,
we we insure European plates. People bring their vehicles over
(14:24):
and they're like, yeah, I have a German, some interesting
German vehicle, like, yes, uh, some big SUV type vehicle,
Jeep type vehicle, like, okay, let's see if we can
insure that. And it's got German plates and they're in Mexico,
you know. So, um, so yeah, it just runs the
gamut of the type of adventures people are, what they're
(14:45):
doing in Mexico. Yeah.
S5 (14:48):
Now you've got a lot of stuff on your website.
I mean, when you go to the website, it's not
just about, oh, get your insurance right, which is a
practical thing, and, you know, you should be able to
get it very easily. But you've got things like adventures
in Baja, wine country, hotel guides, vacation rentals, pet friendly homes.
I mean, you've got you've got it all there. And
you know why? Why have you felt this great need
(15:09):
to do that?
S4 (15:11):
Um, so, you know, I kind of touched on this.
I think that, um, obviously our main business is insurance,
but our real core mission with Baja bound is helping
people across the border.
S5 (15:24):
I love that.
S4 (15:24):
That is our true higher calling, you know. And so
we from the from the very beginning, um, we felt,
you know, I felt, hey, we need to help people.
A lot of the insurance, you know, insurance is just
one thing on someone's list. Hey, how do you cross
the border? So giving them the right information. Um, there's
(15:48):
a lot. And even back in the early days, especially
back in the early days, there's a lot of disinformation
out there, right? Online, something we battle with all the
time or just misunderstandings. And so we always spend a
lot of time working on, uh, developing content around how
to cross the border, what you need, requirements. What are
(16:10):
the latest things happening at the border with both U.S.
officials and Mexican officials? So it's a super important part
of what we do is, is conveying that information.
S2 (16:22):
Yeah. Giving information. I think that's super interesting.
S4 (16:25):
And then the other side of it is the travel piece.
What can you do down there. So, you know, we
work with we have this interesting. It's a Baja uh,
it's a bulletin we send out. It's a monthly newsletter
that we send out with writers that are writing about
interesting parts, interesting, you know, places or events or people
in Baja. And so we really, um, maintain that we
(16:49):
try to like, keep, you know, keep, keep developing content
for people to read about that. And, um, the cultural side.
S2 (16:58):
I love that. Can I go back to, um, I
love the story about your dad being a doctor and being, like,
sounds like closer to the to the border. And now
it's so funny because, again, as a border girl, I
remember crossing the border every weekend. It was for me
and just, you know, like, I went to the post
office and the bank and then Broadway and that now
(17:21):
is Macy's and so but but now that you're thinking that,
you're saying that I do see like back in San Isidro,
all these little shops that says Mexican insurance. Yes. And
I never understood what that was. So now I get it.
But then your dad had a lot of Mexican patients
or like. Like what was like.
S4 (17:42):
His.
S2 (17:43):
Population.
S4 (17:43):
He did. But, you know, also, I want to say
just my parents were, um, incredibly multicultural. I attribute a
lot of my passion for, um, Mexico and for actually
for just exploring the world to my parents. They instilled
that in us at a very early age. Um, they
were big, um, passionate about, especially Mexico. Um, they had
(18:06):
a lot of Mexican friends. Um, and, um, so I
grew up in that world and, um, you know, my
dad is also like, you know, poor gringo like me,
you know, obviously, but I mean, he also he speaks
Spanish like he's a very, uh, interesting guy. My dad
is certainly a character.
S7 (18:26):
He's a character I love that.
S4 (18:28):
Yeah. So I yeah.
S5 (18:31):
Well, you know, one of the things that when we
were talking about Mexicans, uh, or us people traveling into Mexico, um,
there's a lot of things that they may not know
and they might learn from your website and all that. Um,
but there's also this this situation that happens sometimes when
(18:51):
people get in accidents, uh, in Mexico. And what do
they need to do? Um, you know, that process sometimes
people don't know. They're used to doing it the US way.
But in Mexico it might be different. There might be
a situation where Mexican police officers show up at the scene.
And how do you handle those situations and how? I'm
sure there's a lot of questions you need to ask. Uh,
(19:14):
of of the people who are, you know, going down
to Mexico, but mainly it's them asking questions to you saying,
you know, what do I do in this situation? Who
do I call?
S4 (19:23):
Right, exactly. And so now you're just kind of identifying
literally my day to day. Okay, okay. Existence experiences. Um, yeah.
Is basically, uh, helping people on these when, when you
really need to use the insurance. Right? Which is when
you have an accident. Um, yes. The system is different, obviously. Uh, it's,
you know, it's different, but it's not at the same time.
(19:45):
There's a lot of similarities and, um, a lot of, um,
you know, a lot of the same types of laws exist. Um,
there are, as I say, there are differences. Um, we're
so we're technically a broker, right? We work with, um,
large multinational companies in Mexico. Okay. And they're the ones
(20:06):
that are ultimately responsible for paying the claims and handling
the claims. However, we're very involved. And that's a big
distinction that we have against maybe some of the other
folks that that are working on the border, um, as
sort of the largest provider for our companies, um, we, we,
we know all the claims staff. We know. I mean,
(20:29):
I'm personal friends with the CEOs of both of our
companies that we represent. Um, and, you know, we really
push them to always work on their service as we
push ourselves to, um, to to enhance our, you know, to,
to perform to perform our service better. We're always seeking
ways where we can make the process better and more efficient. Um,
(20:53):
and so that's a lot of it, uh, is knowing
knowing the system, knowing the insurance companies and also knowing the, the,
the governmental system. Right. The, you know, the Ministerio Publicos
and the and the claims adjusters. And so now, with
25 years of experience, you know, we know a lot
of those people too. And so we know how to
(21:13):
work with them. And again, there's so every situation is different.
There's always something new in my in my business. And
it's like, oh my gosh, I never thought of that.
And something comes up and you know, I get my
team together. I'm like, how are we going to solve this?
This is an interesting one, you know, so but we
work really hard and we always try to go above
(21:34):
and beyond when we can, you know, really push, especially
on the claims because that's when it counts.
S6 (21:39):
Let's take a quick break from the conversation. You're listening
to Border Masters. We will be right back.
S8 (21:47):
Thank you for listening to Border Masters, sponsored by kbps.
S2 (21:51):
Gustavo Bueno, pues hablando del cbx. El cross-border express de
Tijuana airport terminal in San Diego is the easiest way
to travel between Mexico and Southern California. Is this bridge
that actually connects Tijuana International Airport with its terminal in
San Diego. And this makes when you travel. This makes
(22:12):
your travel super fast, easy. You avoid the long lines
that we all hate at the border. And you just
go to the to the website, you buy the tickets. Done.
S9 (22:23):
Hey, it's Daniel from Beyond the Doors. We're super excited
to be a part of the Olas Media Network recording
right here in San Diego, alongside some amazing podcasts. There's
a host of wonderful shows from all types of genres
for the true San Diegan, who wants to know more
about local officials and their journey to success. There's dear
(22:43):
San Diego with my good friend Tony Mandilatos. Basically, like
real estate. He's a little something for all walks of life.
You won't want to miss it. So head over to
Olas Media.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget
to follow or subscribe while you're there. Now let's get
back to the show.
S6 (23:05):
Border Masters is back. Let's get to Gustavo and Monique.
S2 (23:09):
It's so funny because also, again, as as a Mexican
now living in San Diego, I didn't know that that
I needed Mexican insurance. And and actually, that happened. As
you know, for many Mexicans, they have either dual nationality
or there are many Mexicans that are residents here in
(23:31):
San Diego. And I don't think everybody knows that. They think, oh,
I'm Mexican, I know Mexico, I'm perfect. But they have
it's because of the American license plates. Right? And so
that happened to a friend of mine. She went to Mexico,
like where all her family is. And she got into
an accident at the central line that is like, you know,
(23:51):
you're you're fighting to get into the lane.
S7 (23:53):
Yeah.
S4 (23:53):
Yeah, exactly.
S2 (23:54):
And that's how she found found that she needed insurance. Yes.
So walk me through the process of. So before I
go there, do I just, like, connect to your website
and just, like, click a button and I have it
or how does like I'm I'm there. What do I do?
S4 (24:12):
Okay, so first of all, you address something that's probably
the biggest myth, right? Um, that people have or misconception
is that their U.S. insurance covers them in Mexico, which
it does not. Wow. Okay. It can cover certain things. Okay. Um,
(24:34):
but the main thing, for instance, your liability when you're
driving and you hit somebody else. If you're in Mexico
that US insurance contract isn't valid in the Republic of
Mexico legally. So that's the one thing. And people think
that they're us and even the the brokers here or
the agencies, they say, oh yeah, you you're covered. You know,
(24:57):
they because they think, yeah. Under the letter of our
insurance law, it's covered. But they don't know the Mexican law.
So that's one thing. And then in regards to getting
the insurance. Yeah. You know what's what's neat. And we've
worked 25 years of doing is to try to make
this process as easy as possible. So really, just with, um,
with your information and your driver's license, you know, your Vin,
(25:20):
the vehicle identification number, basically, that's all you need to
get insurance. Um, it takes the process is maybe five
minutes online if you have all that paperwork, um, if
you have trouble, you can always call us. But we've
tried to make the process as easy as possible. So
that's really and yeah, you know, it used to be
sold at kiosks at the border. We said, hey, you know,
(25:43):
the the real the original idea behind Baja Bound was, hey,
avoid the hassle of stopping at the border. You can
just do it online.
S2 (25:50):
It's a brilliant.
S7 (25:51):
Idea.
S2 (25:51):
I love that you've thought of it.
S4 (25:53):
Thank you. Well, now the entire industry is really online.
There are kiosks still at the border, but really most
of the Mexican insurance.
S5 (26:01):
But you started it all. And I understand that it's
not just, you know, your typical car. I mean, you
do campers and ATVs and all kinds of things, right?
Even boats, I don't know, boats.
S4 (26:11):
We do do boats. Um, we do. Um, so, yeah,
you know, a lot of it's, you know, we try
to cater to the whatever people are using to go
explore Baja. So nowadays it's a lot of sprinter. We
do a lot of these sprinter vans like folks that
are living out, you know, their, uh, their digital nomads,
for instance. I think it's really amazing. And they have
(26:32):
these amazing sprinter vans or camper vans, you know, these
that are just these vehicles that are suitable to go
anywhere in the world. Their total off road, you know,
amazing pieces of machinery. And we're like, okay, let's figure
out how to cover these things. Um, but yeah, it's
it's uh, and now we've recently actually launched a homeowner's insurance.
S7 (26:54):
To address.
S4 (26:55):
The trend of folks that are, you know, buying and
renting in Baja.
S7 (27:01):
Mhm. That's smart.
S4 (27:02):
And um, because there's more and more of our market,
you know, that are, that are living expatriate market that's,
that's moving down um, and living down there.
S5 (27:12):
And that trend I think is just going to continue.
S4 (27:14):
Absolutely.
S5 (27:15):
There's no question based on the expense it takes to
live here in the Southern California area.
S4 (27:20):
Yeah. Yep. Absolutely.
S2 (27:22):
And, Hank, we're having, like, a love fest of like, oh,
we all love Baja and all the gringos that go,
the 6000 gringos that go or more. However.
S7 (27:31):
Yeah.
S2 (27:32):
I have met a lot of people that are dying
to go. They want to go to the to the
wine country. They want to go to Val. Very close
people to me that. But they are afraid of going
to Mexico. Yeah. And they are like, oh, I would
go to Mexico City, but not to Baja or not
to Tijuana. Mhm. Um, so what are the biggest myths?
(27:55):
What are like the things that yet and even me
now like even people from Mexico that now we live
in San Diego, it's like oh my goodness. And which
is a road that I take. And going back what,
like we get a little more anxious um, because of
like everything you hear, the insecurities and the driving and just, like,
(28:16):
getting lost. What are some of the myths that you
have heard and that you will say in this program
to all of our listeners? Like, this is just a
myth and some of the things that you're like, yes,
this is something you do need to be aware of, right?
S4 (28:30):
Um, I, you know, the way obviously, this is a
big question that you're asking is, you know, the perception
of security in Mexico. Right. And it's it's probably our most, um,
the biggest, uh, the perceptions around this is the biggest
battle that we fight, um, in our business. Um, and,
you know, and honestly, I, you know, without getting too
(28:50):
much into it, um, what I usually say in terms
of just general feelings of security, I, I take it
from my, my very empirical point of view, which is
I tell people about sort of the types of claims
that we get.
S7 (29:04):
Right.
S4 (29:05):
So that's really interesting because it's a really empirical metric
that is, um, okay. You know, we insure against theft.
For instance, we insure against collision. Those are the main
some of the two, two biggest risks that we insure against.
And the biggest risk that we have is not theft.
Theft is actually very little. It's it's collision. So what
(29:28):
that tells you is that actually, you know, people's perception about,
oh gosh, I'm going to drive down and they're going
to rob me or, you know, I don't want to. Again,
I don't want to delve into all these stereotypes.
S7 (29:39):
Right.
S4 (29:40):
But I can just tell you my metrics, which is
I don't see that.
S7 (29:45):
Okay.
S4 (29:45):
And I don't hear that from my customers either.
S7 (29:47):
Okay.
S4 (29:48):
I see. So I can tell you, if you're afraid
to go talk to people that do go and ask
them their opinion, you know, do they feel safe in Baja?
I can tell you they'll they'll say yes.
S7 (29:59):
Okay.
S4 (30:00):
They feel safe. So again, it really depends on where
you are, where you're going. No, I mean, like everywhere.
S7 (30:07):
Exactly.
S4 (30:08):
Um, and, uh, but, uh, so yeah, that's the main,
the security thing. And I was going to touch on
I think the other big friction point with traveling in
Mexico is the whole other side. It's not let's not
talk about, you know, the bad ones, the, you know,
let's the, the mafia and stuff like that. But, but like,
just general issues with driving in Tijuana.
S7 (30:31):
See? It's crazy. I think that is.
S4 (30:33):
Almost equally a friction point and figuring out how to
get into the border line and then crossing.
S5 (30:39):
We've talked about this many times.
S4 (30:41):
And I think Gustavo and I know very well, and
we've been working on this issue now for years. You
more than me. And, um, you know, obviously that's a
huge friction point. So that's another side of things that, um,
you know, needs to be worked on. And it's something
that can be worked on, I think by by us
here in the, you know, in working on these issues
(31:02):
with our governments. Um, another myth I would say is about,
you know, a lot of Americans think, uh, either, you know,
some people and I hate this about about it, but
some people think, oh, there are no laws in Mexico
or the laws don't apply to them. Right.
S7 (31:24):
So that's a myth, right?
S4 (31:26):
And, um, you know, this is and, you know, they
they expect all this, uh, you know, people are there's
I definitely. I hate to say it, but there definitely
is sometimes an entitlement of the way the system should work.
And it should work just like it works in the States.
And you know, in Mexico there is a system. It
(31:47):
is a system of laws. It it does work to
in many ways. And but people have to adapt and
people have to understand that they are in a foreign
country and that they will they will, you know, they
will have a good outcome. But they just have to
understand that, that there are, you know, that they have
(32:10):
to work in the system in which they are, you know,
currently present.
S7 (32:14):
That's that's so smart. Yes.
S4 (32:16):
Um, that's another big myth that we have to always
fight against.
S7 (32:22):
Hank.
S5 (32:22):
Uh, let's talk a little bit about non-business activities that
you do. I mean, there's a lot of community building.
I understand there's events that you sponsor. I mean, what
what has happened over the years with that? Is that continuing?
Is that intensifying?
S4 (32:36):
Yeah. Well, absolutely. I mean, it goes along with our
whole mission to help people across the border and, you know,
make it interesting for them to cross the border. So
if there's events that are promoting Baja, we love to
be involved. If there are civic organizations that are helping
people across the border, for instance, the Smart Border Coalition,
for instance, you know, people that are actively working on
(32:58):
making our region better. Um, we want to be involved.
And so, yeah, we're heavily involved in, um, events down
in Baja, obviously. Um, we're really heavily involved into the
off roading world. For instance, you know, we have we
sponsor teams and we're, um, and a lot of the
best competitors and those in the off road events, um,
(33:19):
their friends and their customers and their, um, you know,
and we we sponsor them, um, you know, we work
with the surfers, we work with all the different activities that,
you know, that engage people to come to Baja, right?
S2 (33:33):
Yeah, all the fun stuff.
S7 (33:34):
I love that because again.
S4 (33:36):
Baja is.
S7 (33:37):
Fun.
S5 (33:37):
It's the adventure side that you were talking about.
S4 (33:39):
What we sell is, um, especially for our market, it's
they're going down to have fun. We were talking about
before we started the podcast about my adventure. I just
did part of the Baja divide, um, in southern Baja,
the Cape Loop. Um, and I love exploring that side of,
of Baja. And so I'm really excited to do do
(34:00):
more of that. Um.
S7 (34:02):
But yeah.
S2 (34:03):
So favorite biking spot would be like that loop.
S4 (34:07):
Well, and my story about that is, you know, I, I'm,
I'm a, I'm pretty fanatical cyclist. I love I love biking.
It's got pedals I love.
S7 (34:15):
It.
S4 (34:16):
Biking but I'll but I, I got into biking because
we started sponsoring the famous Rosarito to Ensenada.
S7 (34:24):
Bike ride. Right. Right.
S4 (34:25):
Which you guys are familiar with? Yeah. And it's, it's
been one of the biggest bike events really in this
part of the world, like it's huge. And, um, so
we sponsored that for many, many years. And, um, that's
how I got into biking actually was doing that was
riding bikes in Baja, and then it grew into just
(34:47):
riding anywhere. I bike all over the place.
S7 (34:50):
So I love.
S2 (34:50):
It. We will need to invite him next time to
about that. Yeah. And like favorite surfing spot?
S4 (34:57):
Uh, well, you know, you're not as a surfer. You're
not supposed to give away all this.
S7 (35:01):
Well, one.
S2 (35:02):
That.
S7 (35:02):
Everybody. 1 or 2. 1 or.
S5 (35:03):
2 that are.
S7 (35:04):
Interesting.
S4 (35:04):
I mean, you know, I grew up, you know, part
of the another part of the creation story. I grew
up camping. We we would take these camping trips, trips
down to the famous surf spot of Scorpion Bay, San Juanico.
S7 (35:17):
Which is.
S4 (35:17):
In.
S7 (35:17):
Baja Sur. Um.
S4 (35:19):
And that's really probably that was how I formed a
passion for, for Baja was doing those camping trips with
my friends, and my dad would take us down. My
dad and some of his friends. And we do these,
you know, weeks long camping trips in the summer in
places like San Juanico. So, yeah, I would say that's
probably Hank.
S5 (35:39):
Uh, we I know we're getting close. Uh, down to
the wire, but I wanted to get back to technology.
We had talked about your kind of dabbling in technology
from a pretty young age. Um, so where where is
technology taking insurance? Uh, especially your kind of insurance nowadays.
And where where is that going? You think?
S4 (35:57):
I think, uh, I think there's a lot of tools,
you know, for instance, using algorithms and AI to try
to make the products better. The try to specialize, you know,
figure out how to estimate the risk and things like that.
There's all sorts of new tools that are coming in, um,
that are hopefully making insurance more efficient and more cost effective. Um,
(36:20):
you know, so that so that it's a little it's, it's,
it's more precise in a way. Right. Um, it is
interesting with the Mexican insurance. Um, I feel like it
because we operate in this sort of, uh, niche niche
of a of a market. Um, I have a lot
of leeway to, to experiment and try new things, and
(36:42):
our companies are very open to that. And so, um,
we're always looking for ways to improve the product, uh,
the insurance, um, to make the, you know, using data, um, or,
or actually listening to our customers and hearing the things
that they're going through and what they need. And so
there's a lot of that. And, and if we can
(37:04):
use technology, it's always we've always been a technology first company.
So we've always been super excited about using technology to
solve a problem.
S2 (37:13):
We could be here forever. But like and it has
been so fast. Oh my goodness. Um, but one question.
So this program is called Border Masters and there's obvious
reasons why you were invited. Uh, you are a true
border masters. But when you hear the term and the name,
what do you think? What comes to mind?
S4 (37:32):
Well, you know, it's funny, I was thinking about this.
I in a lot of ways, I feel like a
boarder student.
S7 (37:38):
Huh?
S4 (37:38):
Because I'm always I want to learn about the boarder.
I want to keep always, uh, understanding more so I
can pass that information to my friends and my clients. And,
you know, I want I'm always seeking knowledge, so I
don't feel like I'm a master of anything. I might
(38:00):
I might know a little bit more about the boarder
than other people, but I have a lot to learn,
you know? So I've always felt like that that way.
S2 (38:09):
For as you are a master.
S7 (38:11):
Yes, you are for sure, for sure.
S5 (38:13):
So before, uh, the the episode ends. Hank, is there
anything you'd like to share with our audience? Uh, anything
related to bound insurance? Uh, how do how do they
how people get to your website, how they get informed
about you?
S4 (38:28):
Well, yeah. I mean, regarding Baja bound, I think, you know,
obviously we're we're online. Uh, if people want to find
out more about Baja bound, they can just Google Baja
bound or Baja bound. Dot com is our URL. Um,
you know, and we're happy to talk. We have our,
our phone number listed on the site. If people want
to call us and ask us questions, we're we're always around.
(38:49):
I have an amazing team, um, who are super, super capable, um,
and and very and full of. I try to pass
on all the information I learned to them. They're always
they they themselves are out researching things for me too. So,
you know, we're we're always looking for better ways to
help people cross the border. Um, and then the other
(39:10):
final word is, I'm so grateful for what you guys
are doing.
S7 (39:13):
So thank.
S4 (39:14):
You. You know, this is I'm all about shedding light
on the border and, um, understanding. Hey, how to help
people cross, how to help, how to help bridge borders.
S7 (39:27):
Mhm. Right.
S4 (39:28):
And I think you guys are doing a great job
doing that. Thank you. Thank you for this.
S2 (39:33):
Thank you. And thank you. Thank you so much for everything.
S5 (39:37):
Thank you very much Hank. So Monique, I really like
that interview with Hank. Um, you know, when he started
talking about the sense of adventure for his customers, his clients.
I didn't really think he was going to talk too
much about that. I mean, when he. When he mentioned, oh,
you know, it's it's the freedom these people have. It's
(39:58):
the adventure that they're looking for and that's what they
look for our services. But it was amazing to hear that.
S2 (40:04):
He's such a good guy. I know that I have
met him before and and I love that he can
be all corporate because I have met him in like
more in an academic corporate setting. And he was very serious,
very determined.
S7 (40:18):
Yes, he.
S2 (40:18):
Is like very businesslike, but also like now he was
just like this very San Diegan, very like good Goodbye.
So relaxed. So. But. But he knows what he's doing.
So I love the balance that he transmits of. I
can do business and. And you can trust me because
he has done it. Like he told us before the episode,
(40:41):
that he has gone through the Baja by himself biking,
which is just amazing.
S7 (40:47):
But he's.
S5 (40:47):
Lived it. He's he's done the experience. And I mean,
he he does it every, every year, you know, every
couple of months. I mean, he does something over there.
And that's part of what when he was talking about
how they inform I mean, it's not just about selling insurance,
but it's how to how they inform people as to
what to do, how to do things in Baja. I
(41:10):
think that's phenomenal, too, because you don't see that very
much coming out of companies.
S2 (41:14):
Yeah. And you talked about like adventure, freedom. And he
also said discovery, which I love. And I remember there
was like this slogan, I don't know if it was
like from tourism, but it was like this slogan that
it was like Discover Baja. Yes. And I love that
he used it, because that's true. It's like. It's like
a portal, like crossing the border. It's like a portal
(41:35):
to a whole.
S7 (41:36):
Other.
S2 (41:36):
World. So I really like that he said that?
S5 (41:40):
No. And I think also that he also can get
into the details. Uh, as far as you know, how
do I, if I have a, if I have trouble
in Mexico, if I have a collision, if I have
a how do I do that. How do I handle that?
I mean, they get they get involved. It's not just like, oh,
I sold you the insurance. Goodbye. You know, we're really,
(42:00):
you know, they're really, you know, into the nitty gritty
and and and getting things, making sure that their clients
are getting the service that they want.
S2 (42:10):
Yeah. And I think that also why we had him
as a, as a guest is again, he's another person
that sees the border as an opportunity. So I think
that all the people that we have had here is
because they see they don't see borders, they see bridges,
they see opportunities.
S5 (42:30):
Connections. Yes. And, and and the fact that he's so
passionate about what the border has to offer. Uh, all
his adventurous travelers, uh, and, you know, clients. So it's, uh,
I think Hank is, uh, you know, true San Diegan,
as you said, somebody who who understands kind of the
vibes of this region and and who lives that. And
(42:51):
at the same time, he's a great businessman.
S2 (42:53):
Exactly. So, shedding the light on the border, uh, sharing
some favorite spots. Thank you so much for doing this.
This is amazing. And thank you, everyone for listening to
our podcast, Border Masters. To tune in to more episodes,
go to Olas, Media.com or wherever you listen to your
favorite podcast. Remember also if you have comments, questions, guests, uh,
(43:16):
topic suggestions, you can contact us at info at Border
Master Podcast.com. And I'm Monica Seles and together with Gustavo
de la Fuente. We're so happy to have you here.
S6 (43:31):
This episode of Border Masters Dream Team. JSI nuestro, production
consultant that supports su experiencia y creatividad. Lina Alvarez, nuestra
executive producer. Siempre Armando Ulises Bretan, nuestro creative director. Bringing
the vision to life. Alan Gonzalez, el audio engineer. Sonar
increible y una agradecimiento especial a chat piece. Founder and
(43:54):
president por ser la inspiracion detras de todo esto producido
entre la Sony San Diego, California y la vibrant Tijuana,
Baja California media is part of the ABC media group
Quieres mas? Check out Olas media.com para mas episodios del show.
Gracias por escuchamos de parte de Gustavo y Monique. Nos
vemos la proxima vez.
S3 (44:21):
O Los media.
Whether you're visiting family, planning a vacation, or heading to
a business trip, Cbx is your cross-border solution. One simple
bridge over 40 destinations in Mexico. Thank you to Cbx
for sponsoring this episode. Visit cross-border Express.com to plan your trip.
S2 (00:17):
Baja bound makes it easy to get the coverage you
need in just a few clicks. Thank you Baja Bound
for keeping us safe.
S3 (00:27):
Oh lost media.
S4 (00:32):
I think there's this sense of freedom. Baja is a
land that is so yet to be discovered. I mean,
it is a peninsula where you have two large, you know,
a big metropolis at the very north part of it.
But to me, the real Baja starts the adventure of
Baja starts, you know, sort of south of Ensenada. That's
the allure that captures the allure of Baja. Is that
(00:54):
sense of freedom, I would say.
S5 (00:55):
The idea of doing this podcast is that not everybody
has to live at the border to be a border master.
S6 (01:03):
Eolas media presents Border Masters, the podcast where the US-Mexico
border takes center stage.
S2 (01:10):
Gustavo is from Nogales. He has amazing credentials, so he's
super knowledgeable of everything border. But we come from very
different borders.
S5 (01:21):
Monique is very good on the emotional intelligence. It's the
personality that she has that allows people just to feel relaxed.
It's part of letting the world know why has it
been so successful to have that border and what has
inspired them about the border?
S6 (01:42):
Now, here are your hosts, Gustavo and Monique.
S5 (01:48):
Welcome to Border Masters, the podcast of border leaders. I'm
Gustavo de la Fuente, co-host, and I'm here with Border
Masters co-host Monique Casillas. Today I'm very excited to have
an incredible guest. Hank Morton, founder and CEO of Baja
Bound Insurance. Thank you so much, Hank, for joining us.
S4 (02:06):
Thank you. Gustavo, it's great to be here. Thank you
for the invitation.
S5 (02:11):
An often overlooked aspect of travel to Mexico by land
is car insurance. Most people think that their U.S. insurance
automatically covers them in Mexico, or they simply don't think
about it. Period. Baja bound insurance has worked with U.S.
individuals and families over the last 30 years. The company
is unique in that it was the first one to
(02:32):
offer online online insurance services back in 1999, and it
was our guest, Hank Morton, who was behind this innovation.
Since then, the company has grown to become the premier
car insurance company along the US Mexico border. Hank is
an entrepreneur at heart. He's a true border guy, having
straddled the border for his entire life, starting when he
(02:54):
went on a surfing and fishing trips across the border
as a child. So I've known Hank for the last
six years. We're friends. He became a Smart Border Coalition
board member when I was the organization's director. I could
tell from the beginning that he was going to be
very active and opinionated. And after all, I mean, if
(03:15):
anyone understands the day to day border crossing dynamic, it's
Hank Morton. So, Monique, how did you meet Hank?
S2 (03:23):
Well, I think I met Hank, thanks to you with
the Smart Border Coalition. Um, but I always. I'm always Hank.
I'm always in awe when I meet like an American citizen.
Like a true gringo, as we say it. With love. Um, that.
That loves Mexico and Baja. Like, I think even me
being from Tijuana and and knowing San Diego. But now
(03:48):
that I have been living here in the US for
12 years and now being in San Diego for seven years,
and I keep meeting these people that like, know No
Mexico very well. And love Mexico and love Baja. Like you,
I'm always in awe. And that makes me wonder. Like,
where did your love from Baja and Mexico started for you?
S4 (04:12):
Right, right. Well, thank you for that question. And actually,
you know, I just want to touch on the fact that, um,
there are a lot of us gringos that love Mexico.
And I speak for myself and all of our thousands
and thousands of clients, you know, personally and not just
I know that there's a lot of Americans who, um, are,
(04:33):
for instance, from this region or just they love traveling
to Mexico, they love going southbound, you know, going and
discovering Baja and, you know, so that probably also goes
into my story of how I grew to love Baja.
I'm from here, as Gustavo mentioned, I'm born and raised
in San Diego and Baja, and Mexico has always been
(04:57):
part of my life because I'm a, you know, San Diego,
you know, and, and, uh, it is our we're all
in this one big region. So to me, it's just
the same as walking out your, you know, it's just
going to your neighbor's house. You know, it's like going
to Tijuana, you know, and, um, so, yeah, I've just
grown loving it. Um, especially for Baja, for the adventure.
(05:19):
It's always represented adventure to me. I think that's what
it represents to a lot of folks. Um, it represents, um,
you know, obviously great food, great people. But I think
more than anything, it represents discovery to discover something new.
It's this amazing resource that you literally have right next
(05:42):
door to you that you can cross this imaginary line,
which is the US-Mexico border, and you enter into a
whole new world. I love it right away. And, you know,
a lot of folks from Mexico. They understand that. But
going north, yes, but there's plenty of Americans. Or I
(06:02):
should say I use that word loosely, right? Yeah, let's
call it, I mean, for lack of better words. Yeah.
Or sort of. I like the term. I don't mind
the term gringo. It's like. It's like that's what we
are to some degree. And, um. Yeah, there's nothing wrong
with that. And there's plenty of folks like me that
love south love to go south. So I love it.
S2 (06:24):
Love it.
S5 (06:26):
Well, Hank, you were saying that this is a sort
of a discovery thing for people. Do you find that
in your business, people come down to Mexico and say, well,
I want to discover, I want to do something new.
I want to the adventure. What is it about it? Uh,
you know, getting a little bit more into the weeds.
What is it about it that people love that people
(06:46):
like to do when. When they hear the border and
Rosarito and Tijuana and Ensenada? What what what attracts them
the most, do you think?
S4 (06:55):
Yeah. Yeah. No, that's a great question. Um, so I
would break it down into sort of, sort of, I
would say sort of more top line things, which are
obviously the, the things that, that Mexico and Baja offers them,
which is I mentioned, you know, the great food and
the hospitality and those are, those are sort of the features. But, um,
(07:19):
as I say, I think, I think below that, um,
I think there's this sense of freedom in Baja that
it gives you, especially Baja. No, it's like, um, it's
it's it's not, you know, Baja is a land that
is so, uh, yet to be discovered, right? I mean,
and literally, I mean, it is a peninsula where you
(07:42):
have two large, you know, a big metropolis at the
very north part of it. And then basically and then some.
Not a lot in between. Yeah. And a not a
lot between. Right. So, you know, that's always by the way,
to me. I mean, I love I love the city
part of of Baja, Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada. But to me,
the real Baja starts like like the the adventure of
(08:05):
Baja starts, you know, sort of south of Ensenada because
that's where it's just the wide open desert and the
beautiful terrain and the untouched ocean, relatively, you know, so
you go and you find, you know, as a surfer, right?
You there's all these unknown surf spots, but now they're,
(08:27):
they're obviously been discovered. But you know, it's harder to
get to those. Yeah. So um, and I think that's,
that's the allure that captures the allure of Baja is
that sense of freedom. I would say, you know.
S2 (08:39):
And with all this exploring and discovering, is that how
you stumble into this business of Baja bound insurance? Or like,
how was it because you were there and then were
were like, you got in trouble and then you're like, oh,
I need insurance? Or how did that happen?
S4 (08:54):
So I'm going to try to make this short. I'll
give you our whole my whole sort of, uh, creation
story of Baja Bound, which was, uh, so technically my
so my dad was a doctor. He had a clinic, um,
for exits north of the border, um, his whole career
and sort of later on in his career. And it
was right off the I-5, this clinic. And later on
(09:18):
in his career, he had this he had some friends
that were in the Mexican insurance business, um, and, uh,
and of course, we had already we had always had
to buy this, you know, going southbound. That was one
of the things that you needed to do. Like, you actually,
you know, your US insurance doesn't work and we can
get to this. Um, but it's something you need to do.
You have to buy your Mexican insurance. You. And so
(09:42):
we knew about this, and he had this idea. Okay. Hey,
I'm going to create a little agency out of my clinic.
He got his nurse licensed, um, to sell insurance, and
he had this little drive through for probably, I don't know,
maybe four years. And then he he retired. So he
shut that down. And but he came up with the
(10:02):
name Baja bound. And then I had at that time
I had recently graduated from college. I was working for
a biotech company, and I spoke a little Spanish. I
spoke I speak much more now. Well, at that time,
I definitely bluffed my way into.
S5 (10:20):
This.
S4 (10:20):
Into this role. But they said, hey, uh, they had
these commercial trials happening in Baja and Mexico, and they
would send me down to work down in these, in
these commercial trials. So, you know, I was cruising around
for probably 2 or 3 years during this time, and
I was crossing a lot. And um, and then that
(10:42):
company actually had some there was a startup and they anyways, they,
they I could see the writing on the wall. I
needed to kind of change my position or look for
other opportunities. And this was in 1999. Everybody at that time,
this was the the dawn of of really the internet
as we know it. It was kind of what we
(11:03):
call version 1.0. Right. And so, um, I knew about
what my dad had done with Baja Bound, and I
was like, hey, maybe, maybe this is something that could
be done online.
S5 (11:14):
Right.
S4 (11:15):
Right. So, uh, so we said, okay. Uh, so I
was like, well, and also I wanted to learn how
to program websites too. This was like a, you know, anyways,
I was trying to figure out what my next steps
in my life were.
S2 (11:29):
But that's not your undergrad.
S4 (11:31):
No, it was not my not what I studied in
college whatsoever.
S5 (11:35):
This is your technological side, which we'll get into as well.
This is a very important.
S4 (11:39):
Part of.
S5 (11:39):
What.
S4 (11:39):
You do. So this is kind of the the origin
story of Baja bound. And so, so I um, so yeah, I,
I did this really to learn how to program websites
and I, and I launched Baja bound And, um. And
then I, I really got into obviously the insurance side
of it. Um, and we can talk more about that
in a second. But, um, that's how I started. It was,
(12:01):
was doing that and just knowing because it was a
product that we had to get all the time and opportunity.
S2 (12:07):
It was an.
S4 (12:08):
Opportunity. And you know what? Honestly, it was something in
a area that I love. I've always loved going to Mexico.
I've always loved Mexico and Baja. And so it was like, wow,
what a cool little opportunity. Let's see if this could work.
S5 (12:24):
Well, you've answered the question I was going to ask you,
which was what? Insurance is not exactly the sexiest industry
out there, but now you've answered the question why you
were actually doing it?
S4 (12:35):
Absolutely. Yeah. I would like to say, you know, it's funny,
we the type our insurance is it's fun insurance because,
you know, it's not. Yes. It is something you need
to get, but it's also something that people are getting
when they're in the process of going to have have
fun doing something fun. So it also has to do
with how we've marketed our insurance. We market it as
(12:57):
a sort of a lifestyle. I mean, it's something that you. Oh, yeah,
you got to get it. Um, but you're going to
get it because you're going to go and have this
opportunity to explore this amazing place, which is Baja in Mexico.
And and you're about to you're about to have an adventure, right?
And we we love to. And we live that. You know,
personally I live it. Our our company lives it. And
(13:21):
anyways so it's a little different than Geico. Yes. Right.
S5 (13:25):
Yes.
S2 (13:25):
And you talked about your clients. So one question that
that comes to mind is how many clients? I'm curious.
You said like all of these gringos are going southbound.
So how many clients? That's question one. And second, are
there any favorite spots that you and your clients have?
S4 (13:43):
So we currently, um, work with approximately 60,000 clients every year. Um, and, um, uh,
and so, you know what they're doing south. Um, you know,
they're like, I say, exploring, exploring, Baja, you name it.
I mean, we we work with adventurers, we work with expats.
(14:03):
A lot of folks that are that live down there. Right. Um,
so those are a lot of our clients, basically the,
our insurance works, uh, for we can insure you foreign
plates in Mexico, meaning U.S. or Canadian or whatever. We actually,
we we insure European plates. People bring their vehicles over
(14:24):
and they're like, yeah, I have a German, some interesting
German vehicle, like, yes, uh, some big SUV type vehicle,
Jeep type vehicle, like, okay, let's see if we can
insure that. And it's got German plates and they're in Mexico,
you know. So, um, so yeah, it just runs the
gamut of the type of adventures people are, what they're
(14:45):
doing in Mexico. Yeah.
S5 (14:48):
Now you've got a lot of stuff on your website.
I mean, when you go to the website, it's not
just about, oh, get your insurance right, which is a
practical thing, and, you know, you should be able to
get it very easily. But you've got things like adventures
in Baja, wine country, hotel guides, vacation rentals, pet friendly homes.
I mean, you've got you've got it all there. And
you know why? Why have you felt this great need
(15:09):
to do that?
S4 (15:11):
Um, so, you know, I kind of touched on this.
I think that, um, obviously our main business is insurance,
but our real core mission with Baja bound is helping
people across the border.
S5 (15:24):
I love that.
S4 (15:24):
That is our true higher calling, you know. And so
we from the from the very beginning, um, we felt,
you know, I felt, hey, we need to help people.
A lot of the insurance, you know, insurance is just
one thing on someone's list. Hey, how do you cross
the border? So giving them the right information. Um, there's
(15:48):
a lot. And even back in the early days, especially
back in the early days, there's a lot of disinformation
out there, right? Online, something we battle with all the
time or just misunderstandings. And so we always spend a
lot of time working on, uh, developing content around how
to cross the border, what you need, requirements. What are
(16:10):
the latest things happening at the border with both U.S.
officials and Mexican officials? So it's a super important part
of what we do is, is conveying that information.
S2 (16:22):
Yeah. Giving information. I think that's super interesting.
S4 (16:25):
And then the other side of it is the travel piece.
What can you do down there. So, you know, we
work with we have this interesting. It's a Baja uh,
it's a bulletin we send out. It's a monthly newsletter
that we send out with writers that are writing about
interesting parts, interesting, you know, places or events or people
in Baja. And so we really, um, maintain that we
(16:49):
try to like, keep, you know, keep, keep developing content
for people to read about that. And, um, the cultural side.
S2 (16:58):
I love that. Can I go back to, um, I
love the story about your dad being a doctor and being, like,
sounds like closer to the to the border. And now
it's so funny because, again, as a border girl, I
remember crossing the border every weekend. It was for me
and just, you know, like, I went to the post
office and the bank and then Broadway and that now
(17:21):
is Macy's and so but but now that you're thinking that,
you're saying that I do see like back in San Isidro,
all these little shops that says Mexican insurance. Yes. And
I never understood what that was. So now I get it.
But then your dad had a lot of Mexican patients
or like. Like what was like.
S4 (17:42):
His.
S2 (17:43):
Population.
S4 (17:43):
He did. But, you know, also, I want to say
just my parents were, um, incredibly multicultural. I attribute a
lot of my passion for, um, Mexico and for actually
for just exploring the world to my parents. They instilled
that in us at a very early age. Um, they
were big, um, passionate about, especially Mexico. Um, they had
(18:06):
a lot of Mexican friends. Um, and, um, so I
grew up in that world and, um, you know, my
dad is also like, you know, poor gringo like me,
you know, obviously, but I mean, he also he speaks
Spanish like he's a very, uh, interesting guy. My dad
is certainly a character.
S7 (18:26):
He's a character I love that.
S4 (18:28):
Yeah. So I yeah.
S5 (18:31):
Well, you know, one of the things that when we
were talking about Mexicans, uh, or us people traveling into Mexico, um,
there's a lot of things that they may not know
and they might learn from your website and all that. Um,
but there's also this this situation that happens sometimes when
(18:51):
people get in accidents, uh, in Mexico. And what do
they need to do? Um, you know, that process sometimes
people don't know. They're used to doing it the US way.
But in Mexico it might be different. There might be
a situation where Mexican police officers show up at the scene.
And how do you handle those situations and how? I'm
sure there's a lot of questions you need to ask. Uh,
(19:14):
of of the people who are, you know, going down
to Mexico, but mainly it's them asking questions to you saying,
you know, what do I do in this situation? Who
do I call?
S4 (19:23):
Right, exactly. And so now you're just kind of identifying
literally my day to day. Okay, okay. Existence experiences. Um, yeah.
Is basically, uh, helping people on these when, when you
really need to use the insurance. Right? Which is when
you have an accident. Um, yes. The system is different, obviously. Uh, it's,
you know, it's different, but it's not at the same time.
(19:45):
There's a lot of similarities and, um, a lot of, um,
you know, a lot of the same types of laws exist. Um,
there are, as I say, there are differences. Um, we're
so we're technically a broker, right? We work with, um,
large multinational companies in Mexico. Okay. And they're the ones
(20:06):
that are ultimately responsible for paying the claims and handling
the claims. However, we're very involved. And that's a big
distinction that we have against maybe some of the other
folks that that are working on the border, um, as
sort of the largest provider for our companies, um, we, we,
we know all the claims staff. We know. I mean,
(20:29):
I'm personal friends with the CEOs of both of our
companies that we represent. Um, and, you know, we really
push them to always work on their service as we
push ourselves to, um, to to enhance our, you know, to,
to perform to perform our service better. We're always seeking
ways where we can make the process better and more efficient. Um,
(20:53):
and so that's a lot of it, uh, is knowing
knowing the system, knowing the insurance companies and also knowing the, the,
the governmental system. Right. The, you know, the Ministerio Publicos
and the and the claims adjusters. And so now, with
25 years of experience, you know, we know a lot
of those people too. And so we know how to
(21:13):
work with them. And again, there's so every situation is different.
There's always something new in my in my business. And
it's like, oh my gosh, I never thought of that.
And something comes up and you know, I get my
team together. I'm like, how are we going to solve this?
This is an interesting one, you know, so but we
work really hard and we always try to go above
(21:34):
and beyond when we can, you know, really push, especially
on the claims because that's when it counts.
S6 (21:39):
Let's take a quick break from the conversation. You're listening
to Border Masters. We will be right back.
S8 (21:47):
Thank you for listening to Border Masters, sponsored by kbps.
S2 (21:51):
Gustavo Bueno, pues hablando del cbx. El cross-border express de
Tijuana airport terminal in San Diego is the easiest way
to travel between Mexico and Southern California. Is this bridge
that actually connects Tijuana International Airport with its terminal in
San Diego. And this makes when you travel. This makes
(22:12):
your travel super fast, easy. You avoid the long lines
that we all hate at the border. And you just
go to the to the website, you buy the tickets. Done.
S9 (22:23):
Hey, it's Daniel from Beyond the Doors. We're super excited
to be a part of the Olas Media Network recording
right here in San Diego, alongside some amazing podcasts. There's
a host of wonderful shows from all types of genres
for the true San Diegan, who wants to know more
about local officials and their journey to success. There's dear
(22:43):
San Diego with my good friend Tony Mandilatos. Basically, like
real estate. He's a little something for all walks of life.
You won't want to miss it. So head over to
Olas Media.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget
to follow or subscribe while you're there. Now let's get
back to the show.
S6 (23:05):
Border Masters is back. Let's get to Gustavo and Monique.
S2 (23:09):
It's so funny because also, again, as as a Mexican
now living in San Diego, I didn't know that that
I needed Mexican insurance. And and actually, that happened. As
you know, for many Mexicans, they have either dual nationality
or there are many Mexicans that are residents here in
(23:31):
San Diego. And I don't think everybody knows that. They think, oh,
I'm Mexican, I know Mexico, I'm perfect. But they have
it's because of the American license plates. Right? And so
that happened to a friend of mine. She went to Mexico,
like where all her family is. And she got into
an accident at the central line that is like, you know,
(23:51):
you're you're fighting to get into the lane.
S7 (23:53):
Yeah.
S4 (23:53):
Yeah, exactly.
S2 (23:54):
And that's how she found found that she needed insurance. Yes.
So walk me through the process of. So before I
go there, do I just, like, connect to your website
and just, like, click a button and I have it
or how does like I'm I'm there. What do I do?
S4 (24:12):
Okay, so first of all, you address something that's probably
the biggest myth, right? Um, that people have or misconception
is that their U.S. insurance covers them in Mexico, which
it does not. Wow. Okay. It can cover certain things. Okay. Um,
(24:34):
but the main thing, for instance, your liability when you're
driving and you hit somebody else. If you're in Mexico
that US insurance contract isn't valid in the Republic of
Mexico legally. So that's the one thing. And people think
that they're us and even the the brokers here or
the agencies, they say, oh yeah, you you're covered. You know,
(24:57):
they because they think, yeah. Under the letter of our
insurance law, it's covered. But they don't know the Mexican law.
So that's one thing. And then in regards to getting
the insurance. Yeah. You know what's what's neat. And we've
worked 25 years of doing is to try to make
this process as easy as possible. So really, just with, um,
with your information and your driver's license, you know, your Vin,
(25:20):
the vehicle identification number, basically, that's all you need to
get insurance. Um, it takes the process is maybe five
minutes online if you have all that paperwork, um, if
you have trouble, you can always call us. But we've
tried to make the process as easy as possible. So
that's really and yeah, you know, it used to be
sold at kiosks at the border. We said, hey, you know,
(25:43):
the the real the original idea behind Baja Bound was, hey,
avoid the hassle of stopping at the border. You can
just do it online.
S2 (25:50):
It's a brilliant.
S7 (25:51):
Idea.
S2 (25:51):
I love that you've thought of it.
S4 (25:53):
Thank you. Well, now the entire industry is really online.
There are kiosks still at the border, but really most
of the Mexican insurance.
S5 (26:01):
But you started it all. And I understand that it's
not just, you know, your typical car. I mean, you
do campers and ATVs and all kinds of things, right?
Even boats, I don't know, boats.
S4 (26:11):
We do do boats. Um, we do. Um, so, yeah,
you know, a lot of it's, you know, we try
to cater to the whatever people are using to go
explore Baja. So nowadays it's a lot of sprinter. We
do a lot of these sprinter vans like folks that
are living out, you know, their, uh, their digital nomads,
for instance. I think it's really amazing. And they have
(26:32):
these amazing sprinter vans or camper vans, you know, these
that are just these vehicles that are suitable to go
anywhere in the world. Their total off road, you know,
amazing pieces of machinery. And we're like, okay, let's figure
out how to cover these things. Um, but yeah, it's
it's uh, and now we've recently actually launched a homeowner's insurance.
S7 (26:54):
To address.
S4 (26:55):
The trend of folks that are, you know, buying and
renting in Baja.
S7 (27:01):
Mhm. That's smart.
S4 (27:02):
And um, because there's more and more of our market,
you know, that are, that are living expatriate market that's,
that's moving down um, and living down there.
S5 (27:12):
And that trend I think is just going to continue.
S4 (27:14):
Absolutely.
S5 (27:15):
There's no question based on the expense it takes to
live here in the Southern California area.
S4 (27:20):
Yeah. Yep. Absolutely.
S2 (27:22):
And, Hank, we're having, like, a love fest of like, oh,
we all love Baja and all the gringos that go,
the 6000 gringos that go or more. However.
S7 (27:31):
Yeah.
S2 (27:32):
I have met a lot of people that are dying
to go. They want to go to the to the
wine country. They want to go to Val. Very close
people to me that. But they are afraid of going
to Mexico. Yeah. And they are like, oh, I would
go to Mexico City, but not to Baja or not
to Tijuana. Mhm. Um, so what are the biggest myths?
(27:55):
What are like the things that yet and even me
now like even people from Mexico that now we live
in San Diego, it's like oh my goodness. And which
is a road that I take. And going back what,
like we get a little more anxious um, because of
like everything you hear, the insecurities and the driving and just, like,
(28:16):
getting lost. What are some of the myths that you
have heard and that you will say in this program
to all of our listeners? Like, this is just a
myth and some of the things that you're like, yes,
this is something you do need to be aware of, right?
S4 (28:30):
Um, I, you know, the way obviously, this is a
big question that you're asking is, you know, the perception
of security in Mexico. Right. And it's it's probably our most, um,
the biggest, uh, the perceptions around this is the biggest
battle that we fight, um, in our business. Um, and,
you know, and honestly, I, you know, without getting too
(28:50):
much into it, um, what I usually say in terms
of just general feelings of security, I, I take it
from my, my very empirical point of view, which is
I tell people about sort of the types of claims
that we get.
S7 (29:04):
Right.
S4 (29:05):
So that's really interesting because it's a really empirical metric
that is, um, okay. You know, we insure against theft.
For instance, we insure against collision. Those are the main
some of the two, two biggest risks that we insure against.
And the biggest risk that we have is not theft.
Theft is actually very little. It's it's collision. So what
(29:28):
that tells you is that actually, you know, people's perception about,
oh gosh, I'm going to drive down and they're going
to rob me or, you know, I don't want to. Again,
I don't want to delve into all these stereotypes.
S7 (29:39):
Right.
S4 (29:40):
But I can just tell you my metrics, which is
I don't see that.
S7 (29:45):
Okay.
S4 (29:45):
And I don't hear that from my customers either.
S7 (29:47):
Okay.
S4 (29:48):
I see. So I can tell you, if you're afraid
to go talk to people that do go and ask
them their opinion, you know, do they feel safe in Baja?
I can tell you they'll they'll say yes.
S7 (29:59):
Okay.
S4 (30:00):
They feel safe. So again, it really depends on where
you are, where you're going. No, I mean, like everywhere.
S7 (30:07):
Exactly.
S4 (30:08):
Um, and, uh, but, uh, so yeah, that's the main,
the security thing. And I was going to touch on
I think the other big friction point with traveling in
Mexico is the whole other side. It's not let's not
talk about, you know, the bad ones, the, you know,
let's the, the mafia and stuff like that. But, but like,
just general issues with driving in Tijuana.
S7 (30:31):
See? It's crazy. I think that is.
S4 (30:33):
Almost equally a friction point and figuring out how to
get into the border line and then crossing.
S5 (30:39):
We've talked about this many times.
S4 (30:41):
And I think Gustavo and I know very well, and
we've been working on this issue now for years. You
more than me. And, um, you know, obviously that's a
huge friction point. So that's another side of things that, um,
you know, needs to be worked on. And it's something
that can be worked on, I think by by us
here in the, you know, in working on these issues
(31:02):
with our governments. Um, another myth I would say is about,
you know, a lot of Americans think, uh, either, you know,
some people and I hate this about about it, but
some people think, oh, there are no laws in Mexico
or the laws don't apply to them. Right.
S7 (31:24):
So that's a myth, right?
S4 (31:26):
And, um, you know, this is and, you know, they
they expect all this, uh, you know, people are there's
I definitely. I hate to say it, but there definitely
is sometimes an entitlement of the way the system should work.
And it should work just like it works in the States.
And you know, in Mexico there is a system. It
(31:47):
is a system of laws. It it does work to
in many ways. And but people have to adapt and
people have to understand that they are in a foreign
country and that they will they will, you know, they
will have a good outcome. But they just have to
understand that, that there are, you know, that they have
(32:10):
to work in the system in which they are, you know,
currently present.
S7 (32:14):
That's that's so smart. Yes.
S4 (32:16):
Um, that's another big myth that we have to always
fight against.
S7 (32:22):
Hank.
S5 (32:22):
Uh, let's talk a little bit about non-business activities that
you do. I mean, there's a lot of community building.
I understand there's events that you sponsor. I mean, what
what has happened over the years with that? Is that continuing?
Is that intensifying?
S4 (32:36):
Yeah. Well, absolutely. I mean, it goes along with our
whole mission to help people across the border and, you know,
make it interesting for them to cross the border. So
if there's events that are promoting Baja, we love to
be involved. If there are civic organizations that are helping
people across the border, for instance, the Smart Border Coalition,
for instance, you know, people that are actively working on
(32:58):
making our region better. Um, we want to be involved.
And so, yeah, we're heavily involved in, um, events down
in Baja, obviously. Um, we're really heavily involved into the
off roading world. For instance, you know, we have we
sponsor teams and we're, um, and a lot of the
best competitors and those in the off road events, um,
(33:19):
their friends and their customers and their, um, you know,
and we we sponsor them, um, you know, we work
with the surfers, we work with all the different activities that,
you know, that engage people to come to Baja, right?
S2 (33:33):
Yeah, all the fun stuff.
S7 (33:34):
I love that because again.
S4 (33:36):
Baja is.
S7 (33:37):
Fun.
S5 (33:37):
It's the adventure side that you were talking about.
S4 (33:39):
What we sell is, um, especially for our market, it's
they're going down to have fun. We were talking about
before we started the podcast about my adventure. I just
did part of the Baja divide, um, in southern Baja,
the Cape Loop. Um, and I love exploring that side of,
of Baja. And so I'm really excited to do do
(34:00):
more of that. Um.
S7 (34:02):
But yeah.
S2 (34:03):
So favorite biking spot would be like that loop.
S4 (34:07):
Well, and my story about that is, you know, I, I'm,
I'm a, I'm pretty fanatical cyclist. I love I love biking.
It's got pedals I love.
S7 (34:15):
It.
S4 (34:16):
Biking but I'll but I, I got into biking because
we started sponsoring the famous Rosarito to Ensenada.
S7 (34:24):
Bike ride. Right. Right.
S4 (34:25):
Which you guys are familiar with? Yeah. And it's, it's
been one of the biggest bike events really in this
part of the world, like it's huge. And, um, so
we sponsored that for many, many years. And, um, that's
how I got into biking actually was doing that was
riding bikes in Baja, and then it grew into just
(34:47):
riding anywhere. I bike all over the place.
S7 (34:50):
So I love.
S2 (34:50):
It. We will need to invite him next time to
about that. Yeah. And like favorite surfing spot?
S4 (34:57):
Uh, well, you know, you're not as a surfer. You're
not supposed to give away all this.
S7 (35:01):
Well, one.
S2 (35:02):
That.
S7 (35:02):
Everybody. 1 or 2. 1 or.
S5 (35:03):
2 that are.
S7 (35:04):
Interesting.
S4 (35:04):
I mean, you know, I grew up, you know, part
of the another part of the creation story. I grew
up camping. We we would take these camping trips, trips
down to the famous surf spot of Scorpion Bay, San Juanico.
S7 (35:17):
Which is.
S4 (35:17):
In.
S7 (35:17):
Baja Sur. Um.
S4 (35:19):
And that's really probably that was how I formed a
passion for, for Baja was doing those camping trips with
my friends, and my dad would take us down. My
dad and some of his friends. And we do these,
you know, weeks long camping trips in the summer in
places like San Juanico. So, yeah, I would say that's
probably Hank.
S5 (35:39):
Uh, we I know we're getting close. Uh, down to
the wire, but I wanted to get back to technology.
We had talked about your kind of dabbling in technology
from a pretty young age. Um, so where where is
technology taking insurance? Uh, especially your kind of insurance nowadays.
And where where is that going? You think?
S4 (35:57):
I think, uh, I think there's a lot of tools,
you know, for instance, using algorithms and AI to try
to make the products better. The try to specialize, you know,
figure out how to estimate the risk and things like that.
There's all sorts of new tools that are coming in, um,
that are hopefully making insurance more efficient and more cost effective. Um,
(36:20):
you know, so that so that it's a little it's, it's,
it's more precise in a way. Right. Um, it is
interesting with the Mexican insurance. Um, I feel like it
because we operate in this sort of, uh, niche niche
of a of a market. Um, I have a lot
of leeway to, to experiment and try new things, and
(36:42):
our companies are very open to that. And so, um,
we're always looking for ways to improve the product, uh,
the insurance, um, to make the, you know, using data, um, or,
or actually listening to our customers and hearing the things
that they're going through and what they need. And so
there's a lot of that. And, and if we can
(37:04):
use technology, it's always we've always been a technology first company.
So we've always been super excited about using technology to
solve a problem.
S2 (37:13):
We could be here forever. But like and it has
been so fast. Oh my goodness. Um, but one question.
So this program is called Border Masters and there's obvious
reasons why you were invited. Uh, you are a true
border masters. But when you hear the term and the name,
what do you think? What comes to mind?
S4 (37:32):
Well, you know, it's funny, I was thinking about this.
I in a lot of ways, I feel like a
boarder student.
S7 (37:38):
Huh?
S4 (37:38):
Because I'm always I want to learn about the boarder.
I want to keep always, uh, understanding more so I
can pass that information to my friends and my clients. And,
you know, I want I'm always seeking knowledge, so I
don't feel like I'm a master of anything. I might
(38:00):
I might know a little bit more about the boarder
than other people, but I have a lot to learn,
you know? So I've always felt like that that way.
S2 (38:09):
For as you are a master.
S7 (38:11):
Yes, you are for sure, for sure.
S5 (38:13):
So before, uh, the the episode ends. Hank, is there
anything you'd like to share with our audience? Uh, anything
related to bound insurance? Uh, how do how do they
how people get to your website, how they get informed
about you?
S4 (38:28):
Well, yeah. I mean, regarding Baja bound, I think, you know,
obviously we're we're online. Uh, if people want to find
out more about Baja bound, they can just Google Baja
bound or Baja bound. Dot com is our URL. Um,
you know, and we're happy to talk. We have our,
our phone number listed on the site. If people want
to call us and ask us questions, we're we're always around.
(38:49):
I have an amazing team, um, who are super, super capable, um,
and and very and full of. I try to pass
on all the information I learned to them. They're always
they they themselves are out researching things for me too. So,
you know, we're we're always looking for better ways to
help people cross the border. Um, and then the other
(39:10):
final word is, I'm so grateful for what you guys
are doing.
S7 (39:13):
So thank.
S4 (39:14):
You. You know, this is I'm all about shedding light
on the border and, um, understanding. Hey, how to help
people cross, how to help, how to help bridge borders.
S7 (39:27):
Mhm. Right.
S4 (39:28):
And I think you guys are doing a great job
doing that. Thank you. Thank you for this.
S2 (39:33):
Thank you. And thank you. Thank you so much for everything.
S5 (39:37):
Thank you very much Hank. So Monique, I really like
that interview with Hank. Um, you know, when he started
talking about the sense of adventure for his customers, his clients.
I didn't really think he was going to talk too
much about that. I mean, when he. When he mentioned, oh,
you know, it's it's the freedom these people have. It's
(39:58):
the adventure that they're looking for and that's what they
look for our services. But it was amazing to hear that.
S2 (40:04):
He's such a good guy. I know that I have
met him before and and I love that he can
be all corporate because I have met him in like
more in an academic corporate setting. And he was very serious,
very determined.
S7 (40:18):
Yes, he.
S2 (40:18):
Is like very businesslike, but also like now he was
just like this very San Diegan, very like good Goodbye.
So relaxed. So. But. But he knows what he's doing.
So I love the balance that he transmits of. I
can do business and. And you can trust me because
he has done it. Like he told us before the episode,
(40:41):
that he has gone through the Baja by himself biking,
which is just amazing.
S7 (40:47):
But he's.
S5 (40:47):
Lived it. He's he's done the experience. And I mean,
he he does it every, every year, you know, every
couple of months. I mean, he does something over there.
And that's part of what when he was talking about
how they inform I mean, it's not just about selling insurance,
but it's how to how they inform people as to
what to do, how to do things in Baja. I
(41:10):
think that's phenomenal, too, because you don't see that very
much coming out of companies.
S2 (41:14):
Yeah. And you talked about like adventure, freedom. And he
also said discovery, which I love. And I remember there
was like this slogan, I don't know if it was
like from tourism, but it was like this slogan that
it was like Discover Baja. Yes. And I love that
he used it, because that's true. It's like. It's like
a portal, like crossing the border. It's like a portal
(41:35):
to a whole.
S7 (41:36):
Other.
S2 (41:36):
World. So I really like that he said that?
S5 (41:40):
No. And I think also that he also can get
into the details. Uh, as far as you know, how
do I, if I have a, if I have trouble
in Mexico, if I have a collision, if I have
a how do I do that. How do I handle that?
I mean, they get they get involved. It's not just like, oh,
I sold you the insurance. Goodbye. You know, we're really,
(42:00):
you know, they're really, you know, into the nitty gritty
and and and getting things, making sure that their clients
are getting the service that they want.
S2 (42:10):
Yeah. And I think that also why we had him
as a, as a guest is again, he's another person
that sees the border as an opportunity. So I think
that all the people that we have had here is
because they see they don't see borders, they see bridges,
they see opportunities.
S5 (42:30):
Connections. Yes. And, and and the fact that he's so
passionate about what the border has to offer. Uh, all
his adventurous travelers, uh, and, you know, clients. So it's, uh,
I think Hank is, uh, you know, true San Diegan,
as you said, somebody who who understands kind of the
vibes of this region and and who lives that. And
(42:51):
at the same time, he's a great businessman.
S2 (42:53):
Exactly. So, shedding the light on the border, uh, sharing
some favorite spots. Thank you so much for doing this.
This is amazing. And thank you, everyone for listening to
our podcast, Border Masters. To tune in to more episodes,
go to Olas, Media.com or wherever you listen to your
favorite podcast. Remember also if you have comments, questions, guests, uh,
(43:16):
topic suggestions, you can contact us at info at Border
Master Podcast.com. And I'm Monica Seles and together with Gustavo
de la Fuente. We're so happy to have you here.
S6 (43:31):
This episode of Border Masters Dream Team. JSI nuestro, production
consultant that supports su experiencia y creatividad. Lina Alvarez, nuestra
executive producer. Siempre Armando Ulises Bretan, nuestro creative director. Bringing
the vision to life. Alan Gonzalez, el audio engineer. Sonar
increible y una agradecimiento especial a chat piece. Founder and
(43:54):
president por ser la inspiracion detras de todo esto producido
entre la Sony San Diego, California y la vibrant Tijuana,
Baja California media is part of the ABC media group
Quieres mas? Check out Olas media.com para mas episodios del show.
Gracias por escuchamos de parte de Gustavo y Monique. Nos
vemos la proxima vez.
S3 (44:21):
O Los media.
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