Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A tool and the reasoning behind it: income years, debts, education and what you already have.
The standard method sums what your income would have supported and subtracts existing resources. It's not an exact calculation, nor does it need to be: term coverage is purchased in round dollar amounts, and the objective is a sum that stabilizes the household through critical years.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = income × years + debts + education − existing resources, rounded to the nearest $5,000. This serves as a starting point only, not formal guidance.
Why those inputs
Income years. Planners usually recommend ten to twenty years of income coverage; the exact span depends on your dependents' support window. Cathedral City families with younger kids frequently extend toward the upper range because childcare, housing costs, and school expenses tend to peak simultaneously.
Debts. A home mortgage is typically the largest for most households. Choosing coverage that eliminates it gives loved ones the freedom to decide their future without financial pressure.
Education. A rough set-aside per child, based on today's costs. It's simpler to include it now than to add a second policy down the road.
What you have. Available savings and employer-provided coverage. Group coverage often ends when employment does, so many people count only a portion of it.
Once you have your target amount, the quote tool displays what carriers charge for 10 to 30-year periods. People often purchase slightly more than calculated because the monthly cost difference is modest at younger ages.