Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
How much term life do you actually need? A tool, the math behind it, and the factors: years of replacement income, debts, education, and what's already in place.
Start by totaling what your earnings might have provided, then subtract current assets. The math doesn't need to be exact: policies are sold in round amounts, and you're aiming for stability during the years that really matter.
Coverage estimate
Coverage need = (income × years) + debts + education costs − current assets, rounded up to $5,000. Not financial advice—just a starting framework.
Why those inputs
Support years. Most experts recommend replacing ten to twenty years of earnings. How many years you pick depends on how long your dependents will need that support. Burlingame families with small children often aim higher because childcare, housing costs and school expenses all peak at the same time.
Debts. Your home loan is usually the biggest one. Enough coverage to pay it off gives your family the choice to stay or move without money worries.
Education. Provide a rough per-child amount in today's prices. Including education coverage now is simpler than buying an additional policy down the road.
What's already in place. Bank accounts, investments, and employer coverage all count. Keep in mind: most workplace plans end if you leave the job, so some people don't count the full amount.
Once you've calculated your target, the quote tool will show you ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five and thirty year options across all participating carriers. Many people choose slightly more coverage than their calculation suggests, since the cost difference is often small when you're younger.