Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A calculator plus the thinking: income years, debts, school costs and existing protections.
The basic math: total what your earnings would have paid for, then subtract existing protections. Perfect precision is neither necessary nor expected; term coverage comes in standard amounts, and you want just enough to support your household through the critical years.
Coverage estimate
Formula: earnings × years + all debts + education costs − current protections, rounded to $5,000. This is a starting benchmark, never guidance.
Why those inputs
Income years. Planners typically recommend ten to twenty years of income replacement; the exact number depends on your dependents' needs. Families raising young children in Colton frequently opt for the longer range because child care, housing and education expenses cluster in the same decade.
Debts. For most households, a home loan is the biggest debt. Enough coverage to pay it off gives your family the freedom to stay or leave the house without being forced by finances.
Education. Set aside a ballpark figure per child in current dollars. Putting it in now is simpler than buying more coverage later.
What you have. Liquid savings and employer-provided coverage. Employer plans typically end when employment ends, which is why most count only a fraction of it.
Once you know your number, the quote tool reveals what each carrier charges for 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30-year periods. Many people choose above the estimate because premiums rise gradually with age.