Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
Use this tool to calculate the coverage amount and understand the factors: years of income, major debts, education funding, and what you already own.
The standard method: sum what your income would replace, subtract existing protections. It doesn't have to be perfect—coverage comes in round numbers, and the goal is a figure keeping your household stable through the important years.
Coverage estimate
Calculation: (income × years) + debts + education − existing coverage, rounded to the nearest $5,000. It's a starting point only.
Why those inputs
Income years. Most planners suggest 10 to 20 years of income protection; the best duration depends on when your dependents' support matters most. Families with young children in Orange regularly choose the longer end, since housing expenses, schools, and childcare are highest during the same period.
Debts. Mortgages represent the biggest obligation for most families. Coverage sufficient to pay off the mortgage gives survivors the choice to stay in their home or not.
Education. Include a rough amount per child in today's money. Including it now is simpler than buying additional coverage later.
What you already have. Liquid savings and employer-provided coverage matter. Group plans often end when employment does, so count only a portion.
Once you have an amount in mind, the quote tool shows pricing from each carrier for 10 to 30 year options. Many people increase the estimate modestly because the cost difference is modest at younger ages.