Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
An interactive tool with the logic behind it: number of income-earning years, total obligations, schooling costs, and resources you currently have.
A straightforward approach: list what your income would support financially, then subtract existing resources. This isn't a precise calculation—term policies sell in round numbers anyway—but the result gives you a realistic figure to keep your family stable through the critical years.
Coverage estimate
Amount = (annual income × years of coverage needed) + total debts + education costs − existing insurance, rounded up to the nearest $5,000. Use as reference, not as guidance.
Why those inputs
Income coverage years. Most experts suggest 10 to 20 years of earnings; your situation determines the right span. El Monte families with younger children often lean toward the longer duration since childcare costs, housing, and school fees all happen at the same time.
Outstanding loans. Your mortgage typically represents the biggest debt. Setting coverage at the loan balance gives your family the option to stay in your home if they choose.
Education funding. Plan for a ballpark amount per child in today's dollars. Building this in now prevents the need to buy additional coverage down the road.
Current resources. Bank balances, investment accounts, and work-provided insurance all count. Many plans include workplace coverage that ends when you leave the job, so people typically count only a fraction of it.
Once you settle on an amount, our quoting tool displays the monthly cost across 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year periods for each carrier. Many people find they can afford a bit more coverage since the cost difference per month is often minimal at younger ages.