Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A simple calculator based on income years, debts, education and what you already have in place.
A straightforward method: add up the income your family would need to cover and subtract what you already have saved or insured. It's not perfect, but it doesn't need to be—you buy coverage in round numbers, and the goal is enough to keep your household stable through the years that matter most.
Coverage estimate
Formula: (yearly income × years of need) + debts + education costs − current savings − existing coverage, rounded to the nearest $5,000. Use it as a starting point, not as medical advice.
Why those inputs
Income years. Planning for ten to twenty years of income replacement is standard; the exact number depends on how long your dependents will need financial support. Families in Clovis with young children typically favor the longer terms because peak costs for school, childcare and housing align.
Debts. A mortgage is typically the biggest one. Insurance that would pay off the mortgage gives your survivors the option to keep or leave the house without financial pressure forcing the decision.
Education. A rough allowance per child in today's dollars. It's easier to add education costs now than to take out a second policy down the road.
What you have. This includes savings you could spend down, and employer group coverage through work. Keep in mind that group coverage usually ends when the job ends, so many people only count part of it.
Once you have a target number in mind, the quote tool lets you see what that amount costs over 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years from each carrier. Buying slightly more than your estimate is common because the monthly cost difference is usually small when you're younger.