Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
Use this calculator plus the thinking behind it: income years, debts, education, and what you already have covered.
The straightforward method: total up what your earnings could cover, then subtract what's already in place. It won't be perfect, and it doesn't need to be—coverage comes in round numbers anyway. The goal is a number that would stabilize your household through the years when it matters most.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = (annual income × years of support) + debts + education funding − existing resources, rounded to a $5,000 increment. It's a starting point, not professional guidance.
Why those inputs
Income support years. Most financial advisors suggest 10 to 20 years of income, depending on how long dependents will need support. In Eureka, families with young children often lean toward 20 years because childcare, housing, and education expenses tend to overlap in those same years.
Debts. A mortgage is usually the biggest. Insurance that clears it lets your family make decisions about staying without being forced by money pressure.
Education. Set aside a rough estimate per child in today's dollars. It's easier to include now than to buy an extra policy after the first one's locked in.
What you have now. Savings available to use, plus group life through your job. Group coverage usually ends when employment does, so many people count only half of it.
Once you settle on a figure, the quote tool will show you what that amount costs across 10 to 30 year terms from each carrier. Many people choose slightly more than their estimate because the monthly cost difference is tiny when you're younger.