Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A calculation tool and breakdowns of each part: income length, current debts, future schooling, and existing protections.
Tally up what your salary replaces plus major costs, then deduct what you've already accumulated. You don't need absolute precision—term policies come in round numbers anyway, and the target is just enough to sustain your family through the important decades.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = (annual salary × number of years) + obligations + schooling needs − existing insurance, rounded to $5,000 increments. Think of it as a baseline, not professional guidance.
Why those inputs
Income years. Advisors typically recommend 10 to 20 years; choose based on how long dependents would need income support. Mountain View families with younger children frequently opt for longer terms due to overlapping school, home, and childcare expenses.
Debts. For most households, the mortgage is largest. Coverage sufficient to clear it gives survivors genuine options rather than forcing financial constraints into their decisions.
Education. Set aside a rough amount per kid using today's dollars. It's easier to include now than add another contract years later.
What you have. Bank balances you could access and work-based life insurance. Since employer plans typically end if you leave, many people only include a portion.
Once you've picked an amount, the quote tool displays monthly costs for 10 to 30-year options from all carriers. It's common to go higher than your estimate—monthly premiums don't jump much at younger ages.