Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A computation tool and the logic: pay replacement years needed, liabilities outstanding, higher education planning, and savings on hand.
A normal approach: sum what your salary would cover, take away existing protections. This isn't meant to be science—people shop for term in large round units, and the aim is just providing stability if your income stopped.
Coverage estimate
protection level = (salary × coverage duration) + unpaid obligations + school costs − bank balance and workplace plans, rounded to nearest $5,000. This serves as your baseline estimate, not guidance.
Why those inputs
Income years. Industry standard puts this between a decade and two decades of annual wages; the right choice reflects how many years family members need financial support. Irvine households with young kids commonly pick longer durations since expenses tied to children peak in the same years.
Debts. The largest debt for typical families: home loans. Picking enough coverage to resolve the mortgage allows survivors freedom rather than forcing a move.
Education. Budget a ballpark sum per kid in today's money. Factoring this in now prevents buying additional insurance when college bills approach.
What you have. Liquid money available to cover gaps, and any workplace death benefit. Recall that when you leave your job, workplace coverage ends, so budget for standalone coverage later.
With your target figured out, enter the quote system to see 10-to-30-year options priced across all participating carriers. Often buyers choose somewhat above their calculation—when you're young, the monthly jump is negligible.