Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A tool is provided here that walks through income years, outstanding liabilities, education funding and current coverage.
A straightforward path: sum the income impact plus outstanding obligations, then reduce by existing coverage. It will not be perfect, and precision is not required—insurance is bought in increments, and the target is simply a number that keeps the household stable during critical years.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = income × years + debts + education − existing coverage, rounded to $5,000. Use this as your starting place, not as guidance.
Why those inputs
Income years. Ten to twenty years is the typical span; your choice reflects how long dependents need financial backing. Families with small kids in Newport Beach frequently go longer, as expenses for care, housing and education cluster in those decades.
Debts. Mortgages top the list for most households. Insurance sufficient to pay it off gives survivors choices rather than forcing action due to money pressure.
Education. A per-child amount in current dollars. Factoring it in now beats taking out a second policy down the road.
What you have. Liquid savings and employer group insurance. Employer coverage terminates at separation, so most count only a fraction of it.
Once you have a target, use the quote tool to see pricing across 10- to 30-year spans from every carrier. Going over the estimate is typical, as the monthly jump is often modest when you are younger.