Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A tool and the thinking behind it: how many years of income, what debts matter, education costs to factor in, and assets already available.
A straightforward method adds up what your income could have provided and subtracts what is already in place. It is not precise, and it does not need to be: term amounts are typically rounded, and the goal is keeping your household steady during the years that matter most.
Coverage estimate
Calculation: (monthly income × years) + total debts + education costs − existing coverage, then round to the nearest $5,000. Use this as your starting estimate, not as professional advice.
Why those inputs
Income years. The conventional range is ten to twenty years of replacement income; the correct figure depends on how long dependents would need support. In Cupertino, many households with young children opt for longer terms due to the combined impact of childcare, housing, and school costs.
Debts. For most households, a mortgage is the primary debt. Coverage sufficient to clear this obligation lets heirs make choices rather than being forced by necessity.
Education. A rough allowance per child in today's dollars. Including it now avoids the need to add another policy later.
What you have. Liquid savings and coverage provided through work. Group coverage typically ends when employment ends, so many households count only a fraction of it.
Once you have a target amount, the quote tool lets you compare costs across 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year terms from each carrier. Buying slightly more than your estimate is common since the monthly cost difference is modest at younger ages.