Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
Tools and logic to help you think through coverage needs, obligations, learning costs, and existing safety nets.
Add what your income supports for your family's needs, then deduct savings and employer insurance. While inexact, term comes in standard blocks, so a practical number that protects your family through critical years is the goal.
Coverage estimate
Basic math: annual salary × years + total owed + education budget − current savings/employer protection = starting estimate rounded to $5,000 intervals. Beginning framework, not counsel.
Why those inputs
Income years. A ten- to twenty-year window is standard in planning; the length that works for you depends on when dependents will need support. Most Seaside families with young children select the longer timeframe since childcare, housing, and education costs overlap.
Debts. A home loan typically comprises your biggest debt. Sufficient coverage to pay off the mortgage lets your family keep the home and decide their living situation without financial desperation.
Education. Budget a reasonable amount per child in dollars today if that's relevant. Bundling this from the start is quicker than layering on another policy later.
Existing protection. Account for liquid money and work-provided life insurance. Employer-provided policies generally terminate when you leave, so factor that in.
Once you decide on an amount, use the quote tool to see rates for 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-year terms from available carriers. Most people opt for more coverage than originally estimated because per-month premiums are relatively affordable when you're young.