Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A calculator plus the logic: years of income you want to cover, unpaid debts, education funds, and what you already own in coverage.
The typical approach is to sum what your earnings would support and remove what you already have in place. Precision is not required: coverage is sold in round amounts, and your goal is a figure that would sustain your household during the years when income loss would hurt most.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = income × years + debts + education − existing coverage, rounded to the nearest $5,000. This is a starting point for comparison, not professional guidance.
Why those inputs
Income years. Planners typically suggest ten to twenty years of income replacement; your choice reflects how long your dependents would require support. A Berkeley household with young children often selects the higher end since childcare, housing and school expenses cluster during those years.
Debts. A home loan is the biggest debt for most households. Term coverage sized to cover this debt allows your family to make choices about their home rather than being forced by financial pressure.
Education. A per-child estimate in current dollars. Including this now is more practical than buying a second policy later.
Existing coverage. Savings and assets available, plus any group life coverage through employment. Group coverage typically stops when you leave that job, so many households include only a portion.
Once you know your target amount, the quote tool displays monthly costs across 10-, 15-, 20-, 25- and 30-year terms from multiple carriers. Many people choose coverage slightly above their estimate because the extra cost per month is modest while you are younger.