Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A calculator and the reasoning: income years, debts, education, and what you have now.
The standard approach is to add what your income would have paid for and subtract what is already covered. It does not need to be exact—term coverage is bought in round numbers, and the goal is a figure that would keep your household stable through the critical years.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = (income × years) + debts + education − existing coverage, rounded to the nearest $5,000. It is a starting estimate, not professional advice.
Why those inputs
Income years. Most plans cover 10 to 20 years of income, depending on how long your dependents would need support. Families with young children in Azusa tend to choose the longer end because childcare, housing, and school costs are highest together.
Debts. A mortgage is the biggest debt for most families. Coverage that would pay it off gives survivors the option to keep the home or sell without running out of money.
Education. Estimate an amount per child in today's dollars. It is easier to include it now than to buy more coverage later.
What you have. Savings that could be used, and any group coverage through work. Group coverage usually stops when the job does, so most people count only part of it.
Once you know the amount, use the quote tool to see how much it costs for 10 to 30 years from each carrier. Many people buy a little above their estimate because the monthly cost is small at younger ages.