Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A calculator walks through the math and the reasoning: income replacement years, debts, education funding, and what you already own in assets and coverage.
The calculation is straightforward: add up financial obligations, multiply years of income you want to replace, and subtract existing assets and coverage. It does not need to be exact—term policies are priced in round increments, and the goal is ballpark accuracy.
Coverage estimate
Amount = (income to replace × years) + debts + college costs − existing savings and coverage, rounded to the nearest $5,000. It is a starting point for thinking, not professional guidance.
Why those inputs
Income years. Most advisors recommend ten to twenty years of income replacement; the right length depends on how long your family would need support. Gardena households with young children often lean toward the longer end because housing, schools, and childcare costs cluster during those years.
Debts. Most families carry a mortgage; some have student loans or other obligations. Coverage large enough to pay off the largest debts leaves survivors free to make choices rather than scrambling to cover payments.
Education. Rough per-child costs in today's dollars, included now rather than trying to add a second policy later when circumstances change.
What you have. Savings that could fill a gap, and any group coverage through employment. Most people count only part of group coverage since it ends when the job does.
Once you have an estimate, the quote tool lets you check what various coverage amounts cost across 10- to 30-year terms from each carrier. Going higher than the estimate is often practical because the cost difference tapers at younger ages.