Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
An online tool with the logic that supports it: years of income, major debts, children's education and existing protection.
The most frequently used approach involves calculating what your income would cover if applied over time, then subtracting anything already paid for. The result doesn't need to be exact—term policies are purchased in round increments anyway, so the objective is a reasonable sum that preserves stability during the critical years.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = income × years + major debts + education costs − existing coverage, rounded to the nearest $5,000. This is a guideline only, not a recommendation.
Why those inputs
Years you'll need income. Ten to twenty years is where many households fall; your choice depends on how long others would rely on your earnings. A Delano household with young children often picks the longer range since childcare, housing and school expenses bunch together.
Outstanding loans. The mortgage on your home is typically the biggest obligation. Coverage sufficient to eliminate it gives survivors the ability to choose rather than being locked into a financial decision.
Education and children. Budget something reasonable for each child, expressed in current-dollar terms. Adding it into your initial coverage request now is preferable to taking on separate coverage later.
What you already have. Liquid savings available to draw on, and group life coverage from your employer. Employer policies typically stop when employment ends, so most people don't count all of it.
Once you have a target number, the quotes page displays quotes for that amount across 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-year terms from every available carrier. It's not uncommon to increase your initial figure slightly—at younger ages, the extra monthly cost is usually a small amount.