Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
An estimator with guidance on the process: protection horizon, debt load, education reserves, and existing safeguards.
Sum up expected income protection and deduct whatever reserves and group plans already cover. Exactness is not critical; term insurance uses $5K increments, and the goal is a sufficient floor for the vulnerable years.
Coverage estimate
Calculation: income × security years + liabilities + education reserves − present resources, in $5K steps. Use this baseline, not as a directive.
Why those inputs
Income security years. Ten to twenty years is what advisors usually recommend; the appropriate horizon depends on how far dependents require financial support. Foster City residents with small kids routinely opt for a longer window since expenses for care, housing and schooling align.
Liabilities. A mortgage is the average household's single biggest debt; insurance proceeds that retire it provide survivors freedom in housing without money-driven displacement.
Schooling. Budget a per-child component in current dollars. Building it in now avoids adding supplemental coverage later.
Present safeguards. Emergency savings and work-provided coverage both factor in; note that employer benefits typically end if employment ceases, so conservative calculations prevail.
With a target in mind, the quote tool presents monthly costs for 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-year spans from participating insurers. Selecting coverage 5–10% higher is routine; per-unit cost advantage is substantial at younger ages.