Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A tool and the logic it uses: income years, what you owe, education costs, and resources already in place.
Add the years you want covered by income, multiply by what you earn, then factor in debts and education. Subtract savings and workplace coverage. It will not be exact, and it does not need to be: term policies come in round figures, and the aim is a sum that steadies your family through the years when it counts.
Coverage estimate
Start with income × years + major debts + education costs − existing resources, then round to the nearest $5,000. This is a beginning estimate, not financial guidance.
Why those inputs
Income years. Coverage planners typically work with a ten- to twenty-year window; selecting within this range means deciding how many years of your current earnings your family would require. Sacramento families raising young children frequently opt for coverage extending to the twenty-year mark, as that is when childcare, housing, and education expenses coincide at their maximum.
Debts. Most households carry a mortgage as their biggest debt. Enough coverage to pay it off gives survivors the freedom to decide what to do, rather than being forced by finances.
Education. Set aside a ballpark amount for each child in today's money. It is simpler to include it now than to buy more coverage later.
What you have. Savings that could cover obligations, and any workplace coverage. Group policies typically end when employment does, so most people count only a portion.
Once you have a target, the quote tool shows the cost from each carrier for 10 to 30 year terms. Many people round up because the monthly difference is modest when you are younger.