Jacques Wong

Jacques grew up around the insurance industry and began actively participating in 2013. Since then, he has gotten a Level 2 license, won an Insurance Council of BC award in 2015 for academic excellence in the insurance licensing courses and educates insurance professionals through PNC Learning.

Articles by Jacques Wong

Employee Benefits: What's in it for the Employer? Employee Benefits: What's in it for the Employer? Employee Benefits: What's in it for the Employer? Employee Benefits: What's in it for the Employer?


Employers have a lot to gain from offering benefits to their employees. Find out why in this article

How to Lower Your Health Insurance Rates How to Lower Your Health Insurance Rates How to Lower Your Health Insurance Rates How to Lower Your Health Insurance Rates


Healthcare costs seem to always be climbing, but your premium doesn't have to. Find out how you can lower your health insurance rate

Who Needs Umbrella Insurance? Who Needs Umbrella Insurance? Who Needs Umbrella Insurance? Who Needs Umbrella Insurance?


Lots of factors go into deciding whether you should buy an umbrella policy. Find out whether you're a good candidate for this coverage

What Self-Driving Cars Will Mean for Your Auto Insurance What Self-Driving Cars Will Mean for Your Auto Insurance What Self-Driving Cars Will Mean for Your Auto Insurance What Self-Driving Cars Will Mean for Your Auto Insurance


The insurance industry will have to adapt to self-driving cars. Find out what questions they need to answer and what it will mean for your...

Q&A by Jacques Wong

Do I need special coverage for my record collection? Do I need special coverage for my record collection? Do I need special coverage for my record collection? Do I need special coverage for my record collection?


When I first saw this question, I thought it would be a straightforward one to answer. But after doing a bit of research, I realized that...

Why can't some businesses purchase errors and omissions insurance? Why can't some businesses purchase errors and omissions insurance? Why can't some businesses purchase errors and omissions insurance? Why can't some businesses purchase errors and omissions insurance?


There are many reasons why an insured might be denied coverage or be ineligible for a particular type of insurance. An insured might have a...


First, lets have a quick refresher on the difference between the two types of cancellations: pro rata and short rate (we'll ignore flat...


Let's first take a look at what an insuring clause is. An insuring clause is one of the most important—if not the most important—elements...


First, lets start off by talking briefly about the differences between an insurance agent and an insurance broker. The key difference is...


You can think of your insurance agent as your insurance salesperson. In general, their job is to work with you to help you understand your...


The date of inception and the effective date of the policy are terms that generally refer to the same thing. They refer to the date at...


There are a few common scenarios in which an insurance company might reevaluate a piece of business and make adjustments.Have you ever had...


First, lets start by talking about what "guaranteed insurability" is. Having a guaranteed insurability option on your insurance contract...


Let's start this off by first talking about what it means to flat cancel an insurance contract. To flat cancel an insurance contract means...


The easiest ways to reduce your premium despite being deemed a substandard risk is to either increase your deductible or reduce your...


Clients who are concerned about this problem generally fall into one of two categories: building owners and tenants. The likely concern...


To put it simply, tenant improvements and betterments are all renovations that are paid for by an insured who does not own the building or...


First, let's talk a little bit about how aviation exclusions work in a life insurance context. It works in different ways depending on your...


Like the name implies, vandalism and malicious mischief (VMM) policies cover losses caused by vandalism. They are a default feature of most...


The short answer is "yes." But it depends on a few factors, like how often you use it for work, distances traveled, and the type of work...


Different insurance companies will have their own ways of calculating risk exposures and it will vary for different types of insurance....


To put it simply: no. You only need to show proof of ownership to have a valid claim. For example, if you received a gift from a friend and...


A partial loss refers to property that has been damaged but is still functional. Despite the differences between them, insurance claims on...


Let's start by going over what "vacant" means. A vacant building is one that is without regular occupants and whose former occupants have...


In some sense, yes it does. There is no difference in premiums paid for choosing different payment methods (cash, check, credit card)....


Under normal circumstances, changing insurance companies will not affect your credit score. People and businesses change insurance...


In general, the answer is no. However, there are situations where premiums may be higher due to factors incidentally related to a...


Insurance companies audit the businesses they insure for a variety of reasons, most of which are entirely benign so there's no need to...

Does my credit rating have any effect on my auto insurance premiums? Does my credit rating have any effect on my auto insurance premiums? Does my credit rating have any effect on my auto insurance premiums? Does my credit rating have any effect on my auto insurance premiums?


There are many things that play a role in determining your car insurance premiums and some factors vary by company and jurisdiction....


To put it simply, an independent insurance agent is someone who works for you. Your independent agent will help you determine what kind of...


First, let's talk about the main difference between the two: actual cash value factors in depreciation, whereas replacement cost does not....


First, let's define subrogation: subrogation is one of the fundamental concepts in insurance and it means to "place oneself into the shoes...

Do my commercial property premiums have anything to do with my building's ISO rating? Do my commercial property premiums have anything to do with my building's ISO rating? Do my commercial property premiums have anything to do with my building's ISO rating? Do my commercial property premiums have anything to do with my building's ISO rating?


Your building's ISO rating most commonly describes the type of construction used in making it. There are six ISO types for construction...


In general, your credit score has no direct effect on your insurance premiums. However, depending on your insurer, there are two...

When do I need to add an additional interest to my insurance policy? When do I need to add an additional interest to my insurance policy? When do I need to add an additional interest to my insurance policy? When do I need to add an additional interest to my insurance policy?


An additional insured is a person or organization that has an insurable interest in the property being insured. In light of this, you will...


Actual Cash Value (ACV) is one of the ways insurers determine the insurance value of something (find out How Auto Insurance Companies Value...


Replacement Cost is one of the 3 methods of calculating something's value. The other two are Actual Cash Value and Book Value. Book Value...

Should I get my home and auto insurance from the same insurance company? Should I get my home and auto insurance from the same insurance company? Should I get my home and auto insurance from the same insurance company? Should I get my home and auto insurance from the same insurance company?


The quick and dirty answer to this question is yes. If it is at all possible, you should explore the option of bundling all your insurance...

How do I go about offering health insurance to my employees? How do I go about offering health insurance to my employees? How do I go about offering health insurance to my employees? How do I go about offering health insurance to my employees?


First off, congratulations on wanting to offer group benefits to your employees. It's a great thing to do for them and it also makes a lot...

What do insurance companies consider a pre-existing condition? What do insurance companies consider a pre-existing condition? What do insurance companies consider a pre-existing condition? What do insurance companies consider a pre-existing condition?


To give you a dictionary definition, a pre-existing condition is a health condition that existed before a person's health insurance policy...

What is a high deductible health insurance policy? What is a high deductible health insurance policy? What is a high deductible health insurance policy? What is a high deductible health insurance policy?


A high deductible health plan (commonly referred to as an HDHP) is a health insurance plan in which a high minimum deductible must be met...

What is co-insurance and what effect does it have on my health insurance? What is co-insurance and what effect does it have on my health insurance? What is co-insurance and what effect does it have on my health insurance? What is co-insurance and what effect does it have on my health insurance?


Co-insurance in the health insurance context is a little different from, say, your regular commercial property insurance.The co-insurance...


To put it simply, flood damage, by itself, is usually not covered by your typical homeowners insurance policy. Flood, as a standalone peril...


To put it simply, living in a flood zone affects your flood insurance premiums by influencing your level of exposure to a flood-related...

Should I buy flood insurance? Should I buy flood insurance? Should I buy flood insurance? Should I buy flood insurance?


Whether you need flood insurance or not depends on a few factors. It mostly has to do with the level of risk you're comfortable with taking...

Should I get long-term care insurance? Should I get long-term care insurance? Should I get long-term care insurance? Should I get long-term care insurance?


This is a question I hear a lot in my professional life and I think the answer depends on your level of personal wealth and the specific...

Am I safe if I only have group life insurance through my employer? Am I safe if I only have group life insurance through my employer? Am I safe if I only have group life insurance through my employer? Am I safe if I only have group life insurance through my employer?


Great question. It's a hard one to answer but one that I get on a regular basis. Many people get life insurance from a group benefit plan...


The get a sense of how whole life and term life insurance policies differ, let's look at a few key features commonly seen in each kind of...

Should I buy key person insurance for any of my employees? Should I buy key person insurance for any of my employees? Should I buy key person insurance for any of my employees? Should I buy key person insurance for any of my employees?


First, let's define what key person life insurance is. Key person life insurance is a policy that businesses can buy to cover a person the...

Is long term disability insurance worth it? Is long term disability insurance worth it? Is long term disability insurance worth it? Is long term disability insurance worth it?


Good question. I frequently talk to my own clients about the need for disability income insurance. Everyone knows about life insurance and...

Will long-term care insurance cover the cost of staying in a nursing home? Will long-term care insurance cover the cost of staying in a nursing home? Will long-term care insurance cover the cost of staying in a nursing home? Will long-term care insurance cover the cost of staying in a nursing home?


This is a question insurance professionals hear a lot because many people are unclear about their long-term care coverage. The short answer...

Does my employer-sponsored life insurance provide enough coverage? Does my employer-sponsored life insurance provide enough coverage? Does my employer-sponsored life insurance provide enough coverage? Does my employer-sponsored life insurance provide enough coverage?


This is a hard question to answer, but it's one that I get on a regular basis. Many people receive life insurance through their employer's...

Why do some insurance companies offer life insurance for children? Why do some insurance companies offer life insurance for children? Why do some insurance companies offer life insurance for children? Why do some insurance companies offer life insurance for children?


This is a very good question, and one that everyone asks as soon as they learn that there is such a thing as life insurance for children....

What is the difference between universal and whole life insurance? What is the difference between universal and whole life insurance? What is the difference between universal and whole life insurance? What is the difference between universal and whole life insurance?


Many people find this distinction confusing when they are first learning about life insurance. And we can hardly blame them when many...

How much life insurance should I buy? How much life insurance should I buy? How much life insurance should I buy? How much life insurance should I buy?


This is a very tough question that gets asked all the time. The answer depends largely upon two factors: whether you a primary provider for...

What is universal life insurance? What is universal life insurance? What is universal life insurance? What is universal life insurance?


Universal life insurance is a great product that is sort of a hybrid between whole life insurance and term life insurance. Essentially, the...

What is employer's liability on a worker's comp policy? What is employer's liability on a worker's comp policy? What is employer's liability on a worker's comp policy? What is employer's liability on a worker's comp policy?


An employer's liability for injuries to employees is typically defined by the Workers' Compensation Act of your jurisdiction. This act...

Do I need to get workers comp coverage for independent contractors? Do I need to get workers comp coverage for independent contractors? Do I need to get workers comp coverage for independent contractors? Do I need to get workers comp coverage for independent contractors?


This is a very common question that I get asked all the time by builders and general contractors. In general, the answer to the question is...


In short, yes, they still can. Workers Compensation is offered on a no-fault basis, meaning that the employee doesn't need to prove that...

How do insurance companies calculate workers compensation premiums? How do insurance companies calculate workers compensation premiums? How do insurance companies calculate workers compensation premiums? How do insurance companies calculate workers compensation premiums?


That's a great question. Whenever you reach out to a broker or agent about getting an insurance quote and they send a number your way, we...


Umbrella insurance is an additional liability policy on top of existing insurance. It cannot be purchased as the primary policy. The...

What is personal liability insurance? What is personal liability insurance? What is personal liability insurance? What is personal liability insurance?


First, let's go over what liability insurance does. Liability insurance provides financial protection when someone is found legally...


Yes, debris removal is typically automatically covered under a homeowner insurance policy (learn more about your coverage in Breaking Down...

What is not covered by my homeowner's insurance? What is not covered by my homeowner's insurance? What is not covered by my homeowner's insurance? What is not covered by my homeowner's insurance?


What is not covered by your homeowner insurance policy depends on the details of your specific policy. Always refer to your policy wordings...


The simple answer is: no, a homeowners insurance policy will not cover nuclear explosion because it is explicitly excluded by the wording...


In my work as an insurance salesman, I hear this question a lot. The short and easy answer to this question is a resounding yes! You will...

How much homeowners insurance should I purchase? How much homeowners insurance should I purchase? How much homeowners insurance should I purchase? How much homeowners insurance should I purchase?


While the simple answer is that you should purchase a big enough limit to cover all of your property in the case of a total loss, this...


A standard home insurance policy will typically provide coverage for your jewelry, watches, gems, and furs (learn more in Breaking Down...


A coinsurance clause is a common clause in many policy forms that requires an insured to purchase a minimum amount of insurance based on a...

Does my homeowners insurance policy cover damage from hail? Does my homeowners insurance policy cover damage from hail? Does my homeowners insurance policy cover damage from hail? Does my homeowners insurance policy cover damage from hail?


The short answer to this question is yes, a homeowner policy will have windstorm and hail damage coverage. However, there are some...

Can my insurance company cancel my homeowners policy after I file three claims? Can my insurance company cancel my homeowners policy after I file three claims? Can my insurance company cancel my homeowners policy after I file three claims? Can my insurance company cancel my homeowners policy after I file three claims?


Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Technically, your insurance carrier can cancel your homeowner's policy at any time and for any reason....

How is rental home insurance different than homeowners insurance? How is rental home insurance different than homeowners insurance? How is rental home insurance different than homeowners insurance? How is rental home insurance different than homeowners insurance?


As the name implies, rental home insurance is bought by customers who want to insurance a home they own and intend to rent out to a tenant....

What is the physical damage coverage on my auto insurance policy? What is the physical damage coverage on my auto insurance policy? What is the physical damage coverage on my auto insurance policy? What is the physical damage coverage on my auto insurance policy?


Physical damage coverage on your auto insurance policy is also typically referred to as "own damage." As that name implies, it protects...

Are my comprehensive and collision premiums affected when my car loses value? Are my comprehensive and collision premiums affected when my car loses value? Are my comprehensive and collision premiums affected when my car loses value? Are my comprehensive and collision premiums affected when my car loses value?


Collision and comprehensive automobile insurance coverage are part of a coverage category called "own damage coverage." As the name implies...

Can I cancel my auto insurance at any time? Can I cancel my auto insurance at any time? Can I cancel my auto insurance at any time? Can I cancel my auto insurance at any time?


Good question. All the rhetoric you're probably getting from your broker or from the insurance company might make it seem like it would be...

Will the insurance company pay my claim if someone else was driving my car? Will the insurance company pay my claim if someone else was driving my car? Will the insurance company pay my claim if someone else was driving my car? Will the insurance company pay my claim if someone else was driving my car?


To give you a short answer: yes, your auto insurance policy will pay even if someone else if driving your car. This, however, is subject to...

Does my car insurance cover bodily injury and property damage? Does my car insurance cover bodily injury and property damage? Does my car insurance cover bodily injury and property damage? Does my car insurance cover bodily injury and property damage?


Great question. A lot of people get confused by this because there are really two or more parts to your automobile insurance policy. The...

When should I file an auto insurance claim? When should I file an auto insurance claim? When should I file an auto insurance claim? When should I file an auto insurance claim?


While there is no standard time, you should file an auto insurance claim as soon as possible if you are involved in a car accident or were...

What is the other than collision coverage on my car insurance? What is the other than collision coverage on my car insurance? What is the other than collision coverage on my car insurance? What is the other than collision coverage on my car insurance?


Great question. Other than collision coverage is the part of your automobile insurance policy that covers you for losses that occur as the...

Is there a difference between personal no fault and personal injury protection? Is there a difference between personal no fault and personal injury protection? Is there a difference between personal no fault and personal injury protection? Is there a difference between personal no fault and personal injury protection?


The simple answer is no. They're the same coverage. But let's dive into the topic in a little bit more and talk about what no fault...

Will my auto insurance cover a rental car? Will my auto insurance cover a rental car? Will my auto insurance cover a rental car? Will my auto insurance cover a rental car?


The short answer to this question is yes, your car insurance does cover you when you rent a car. However, like with most things in the...

Does my automobile insurance cover me against hit-and-run accidents? Does my automobile insurance cover me against hit-and-run accidents? Does my automobile insurance cover me against hit-and-run accidents? Does my automobile insurance cover me against hit-and-run accidents?


Yes, your auto insurance policy will definitely cover a hit-and-run accident. Provided, of course, that you're not the one running!While...

Will my homeowners insurance cover my car if my garage burns down? Will my homeowners insurance cover my car if my garage burns down? Will my homeowners insurance cover my car if my garage burns down? Will my homeowners insurance cover my car if my garage burns down?


This is a great question, and it's one I get a lot in my day job as an insurance broker. The question is logical: if my homeowners...

Will my auto insurance pay for a rental car if my car breaks down? Will my auto insurance pay for a rental car if my car breaks down? Will my auto insurance pay for a rental car if my car breaks down? Will my auto insurance pay for a rental car if my car breaks down?


Well, the quick and simple answer to this question is "not usually." The full answer really depends on the circumstances. Why your vehicle...

How are collision and comprehensive coverage different? How are collision and comprehensive coverage different? How are collision and comprehensive coverage different? How are collision and comprehensive coverage different?


This is a good question, and I often get it while working my day job as an insurance broker (see What Is an Insurance Broker to learn more...

What is uninsured motorist coverage? What is uninsured motorist coverage? What is uninsured motorist coverage? What is uninsured motorist coverage?


The term "uninsured motorist coverage" is one of those rare cases in the insurance industry where the name really does say it all. This...

Why does it take longer to get an insurance quote for a business policy than for an auto policy? Why does it take longer to get an insurance quote for a business policy than for an auto policy? Why does it take longer to get an insurance quote for a business policy than for an auto policy? Why does it take longer to get an insurance quote for a business policy than for an auto policy?


This has a lot to do with the nuances and complexities involved in underwriting these two types of insurance policies. Auto Insurance...

Does my loss ratio have any effect on my commercial insurance premiums? Does my loss ratio have any effect on my commercial insurance premiums? Does my loss ratio have any effect on my commercial insurance premiums? Does my loss ratio have any effect on my commercial insurance premiums?


Let's start with some basics. This is an oversimplification, but when you pay your insurance premiums, it goes into a large pool that the...

What is hired and non-owned auto liability insurance? What is hired and non-owned auto liability insurance? What is hired and non-owned auto liability insurance? What is hired and non-owned auto liability insurance?


There seems to be a lot of confusion around this, since some form of it appears in personal automobile insurance and commercial auto...

What is excluded in a general liability policy? What is excluded in a general liability policy? What is excluded in a general liability policy? What is excluded in a general liability policy?


To answer this question, let's go a little bit deeper into what makes up a general liability policy. A general liability policy pays...

Should my small business have business income insurance? Should my small business have business income insurance? Should my small business have business income insurance? Should my small business have business income insurance?


Business income insurance (or business interruption insurance) is something a lot of people have heard of. But unlike property or liability...