Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
Use our calculator to explore the reasoning: how many years of income to replace, major debts, education funding, and existing financial resources.
Start by calculating the income you'd want to replace plus any debts to cover, then subtract assets already available. While this method isn't perfect, term insurance is bought in increments anyway, so your goal is a realistic number that keeps the household stable through the critical years.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = (Annual income × Years) + Debts + Education costs − Existing savings and coverage, rounded to the nearest $5,000. This is a rough guideline, not a professional recommendation.
Why those inputs
Income years. Most insurance professionals suggest replacing 10 to 20 years of income; the precise number depends on how long your family would require that income. In Fresno, families with younger children frequently select the longer range because child-related expenses, housing costs, and education converge during those same years.
Debts. Most households carry a mortgage as their largest debt. Insurance sufficient to pay off the debt preserves the survivors' freedom to choose their future instead of being locked into financial decisions.
Education. Budget a general amount per dependent based on present costs. Planning ahead for education funding prevents the need to shop for additional coverage later.
Existing resources. Include savings and money you have on hand, plus any employer-provided coverage. Employer plans typically end with employment, so don't count the full amount.
Once you've calculated your target amount, the quote tool calculates the cost from all carriers for coverage spanning 10 through 30 years. Many people buy more than they initially calculated because monthly costs at younger ages differ only slightly.