Staring at colored blocks across calendars can seem daunting, but for Rob Casares, who calls himself “a little OCD organized,” it’s the best way to keep his career and personal life in order.
Outlook and phone alerts fuel his days — packed with client meetings, HOA board duties, nonprofit calls, walks with his dog Kevin, race weekends and the occasional family trip.
“I fill my calendar as I have openings, and I probably say yes to more things than I should,” Casares said. “But it’s what keeps me busy and I enjoy it, so I don’t even think about it.”
But a jam-packed lifestyle isn’t new for Casares. It stems back to his upbringing, sharing a room with his sister and four stepbrothers in Downey.
“I grew up in a big kind of Brady Bunch, mixed family,” he recalled. “We had two bunk beds and a little pad on the floor, so we didn't have a ton of money or a lot of space.”
He also grew up surrounded by his half brother and cousins, and every year they joined his father’s family for a trip to Yosemite, a tradition for over 50 years. He remembers rolling around the dirt as a kid, and now his sister’s two little boys are running around barefoot doing the same.
“You have to spend time and enjoy every moment you can with the people in your life, good or bad,” Casares said.
He attributes his closeness to his family to his ability to relate to many of his clients. As a third-generation State Farm agent — following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather — who helps people protect their income, families and futures, his work goes beyond selling and writing policies.
“Having [family] be a big part of my life helps me relate and understand [my clients’] situations, their hardships, their worries,” he reflects. “And I think makes me a better adviser when I’m having those conversations.”
Casares runs his business from his Bixby Knolls office, where he serves clients in California, Nevada and Oregon. Aside from traditional home and auto insurance, he spends majority of his time working on life insurance plans and financial services for individuals and businesses.
“Not every State Farm agent has the licensing and the credentials to do this,” he said. “It’s probably like 5% at this point. I mean, it’s growing, but there are very few agents that are licensed in this area, and in Long Beach, I’m probably one of the few.”
He also points out many traditional advisors will not work with you unless you have $500,000 to $1 million to invest, and they usually charge for building reports and any analyses on savings or retirement plans.
“That stuff all costs money, where we do it for free,” he said. “If you don't have a lot of money, but still want to plan for the future, we can help you set up an account.”
Outside the office, some of the most meaningful work on Casares’ calendar happens as a board member for Pathways to Independence, a nonprofit supporting women from disadvantaged backgrounds as they work toward college degrees. The organization provides education, therapy, mentoring, housing and healthcare to break the cycle of poverty and abuse.
“I got on the board about three years ago,” he said. “I was the treasurer for the last two years, and for 2026 and 2027, I’ll be the board president.”
Casares also serves on the HOA board for his condo association, another volunteer role that sits alongside his agency and nonprofit work.
When he is not in client meetings or a boardroom, Casares is taking Kevin on walks, trying mom-and-pop restaurants around Long Beach or out on the racetrack.
“We've got a couple of cars that we race competitively through different events throughout the year,” he said. “Every time it breaks, you have to fix it, so I've learned in the last two years how to basically replace every part in the cars that we own.”
He also enjoys stepping back from the fast lane to watch Formula One and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
“If I’ve got two options to take an easier route or the hard route, I always take the hard route,” he said. “Challenging yourself and getting out of your comfort zone and accomplishing things is important and makes you a better person.”
For more information on insurance coverage, life insurance planning and financial services, you can call Rob Casares at (562) 490-0033 or visit yourinsurance360.com.