Doug Heller MPA Expertise: Auto Insurance Title: Insurance Expert, Consumer Federation of America Education: University of Southern California, University of California, Berkeley Location: Los Angeles, California Highlights • Member of The Balance's Financial Review Board• Insurance expert for the Consumer Federation of America and other non-profit consumer organizations• Member of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance• Member of the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (appointed by California Insurance Commissioner)• Member of the Executive Committee of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud Experience Doug Heller is a nationally recognized insurance expert whose knowledge has served federal, state, and nonprofit insurance boards. As an insurance expert for the Consumer Federation of America, Doug has testified before a congressional committee regarding auto insurers' pricing practices and has authored reports, op-eds, and articles about property-casualty insurance.Doug's vast knowledge of auto insurance led to his appointment to the board of the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan, a position through which he helps oversee the state's low-cost auto insurance program.As the executive director of consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, Doug battled against unfair auto insurance practices. His advocacy on behalf of insurance customers has led to consumers saving hundreds of millions of dollars on insurance premiums.In all, Doug has more than two decades of experience working in consumer advocacy and insurance. "Neither problems nor puzzles yield often to the first attack." T.S. Kuhn Education Douglas Heller earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and received highest honors in political science. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) with an emphasis on public management from the University of Southern California. There he was awarded the Sol Price School of Public Policy Dean’s Certificate of Merit in Recognition of Excellence in Academics. About The Balance The Balance, a Dotdash Meredith brand, makes money easy to understand. We give people tools they need to not only make smart financial decisions but also prepare for the experiences they will have along the way. Our team of expert writers and editors have extensive qualifications in the topics they cover, and many of them have MBAs, PhDs, CFPs, and other advanced degrees and professional certifications. We require our writers to use primary sources in their articles, which are also approved by our Financial Review Board and fact-checked. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.