Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A calculator plus the logic behind it: how many income years, what debts to clear, education funding, and what's already covered.
Start by adding up what your earnings would have provided and subtract what's already saved. It's not an exact science, and it doesn't have to be: policies sell in round numbers, and the goal is enough to sustain your family through the critical years.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = earnings × years + debts + schooling − existing coverage, rounded to the nearest $5,000. This is a starting point, not guidance.
Why those inputs
Income span. Financial experts frequently advocate ten to twenty years of income replacement; the appropriate range depends on your dependents' needs. Families with young children in San Clemente typically prefer the upper range since education, housing and child supervision all demand resources simultaneously.
Debts. The biggest debt for most households is a mortgage. Protection that clears the mortgage gives survivors the choice to keep or leave the home without being forced by financial pressure.
Education. Set aside a rough amount per child in current dollars. Funding it now beats adding a separate policy later.
What you have. Accumulated savings and workplace coverage through an employer. Note that workplace policies typically end when employment does, so people usually count only part of it.
Once you have a target figure, the quote tool displays what that sum costs across 10–30-year terms from all participating carriers. Buying slightly more is typical when you're young because the cost difference is minimal.