Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A calculator plus the reasoning behind each component: income years, outstanding debts, education, and current coverage you already own.
The standard approach: calculate what your earning years represent, deduct existing resources already set aside. It isn't exact—and doesn't need to be. Coverage amounts work in round figures, and the goal is stability, not precision.
Coverage estimate
Amount = (Annual income × Years) + Outstanding debts + Education reserves − Existing coverage, rounded to nearest $5,000. This is a starting framework, not professional advice.
Why those inputs
Years of earning potential. Financial professionals typically recommend 10-20 years as the basis, determined by how long dependents would rely on your income. Escondido households raising young children often choose the longer span since education, care and housing demands cluster in those years.
Outstanding loans. A home loan tops the list for most households. Insurance that pays off your mortgage gives survivors the choice to stay, rather than forcing a sale.
Future education. Set aside an amount per child in today's values. Including it now is simpler than adding another policy down the road.
Coverage you already have. Emergency savings and workplace insurance are worth counting. Most workers lose group coverage when they leave a job, so factoring only part of it is prudent.
Once you've settled on a figure, the quote tool lets you view costs for 10-, 15-, 20-, 25- and 30-year options across all carriers. Buying above your target is common since the monthly cost increase is often small when you're young.