Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
Tools to size coverage: how to factor income, debts, education, and existing assets.
Add up the income you'd want to replace, then deduct what's already available. This approach isn't exact—and doesn't need to be. Coverage amounts are rounded, and the aim is a number that sustains your household through the critical years.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = income × years + debts + education − assets you have, rounded to the nearest $5,000. This is a starting place, not guidance.
Why those inputs
Income years. Most planners recommend replacing between ten and twenty years of earnings; the right span depends on how long people depend on your income. Families with young children in Gardena typically lean toward the longer timeframe, since costs for childcare, housing, and education pile up together.
Debts. For most households, a home loan is the biggest debt. Coverage equal to what you owe gives your family the choice to keep the house or move without being forced by financial pressure.
Education. Set aside an amount per child in current dollars. Adding it to your coverage now beats buying another policy later.
What you have. Liquid savings and group life through your employer. Group protection typically disappears when employment ends, so many households discount part of it.
Once you've decided on an amount, the quote tool displays the monthly cost for terms of 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years from all carriers. Many people choose slightly more coverage than their estimate because the cost increase per month is minimal when you're young.