Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
A simple calculator and the logic behind it: years of earnings, major debts, education funding, and what you already have saved.
The most straightforward approach: total what your income would replace plus what your family would need for major expenses, then subtract existing savings and any employer coverage. This isn't an exact science, and it doesn't have to be; coverage comes in round-number amounts, and the goal is enough to keep your household stable during the years that count most.
Coverage estimate
Estimate = income × years + major bills + schooling − savings and coverage you have, rounded to $5,000. Use this as a starting point, not as final guidance.
Why those inputs
Years of coverage: advisors typically suggest 10 to 20 years of income replacement, with the duration determined by how long dependents require help. Petaluma families with young children tend to lean toward the longer timeframe because childcare expenses, housing payments, and school costs all overlap during those critical years.
Debts. For most households, a mortgage is the biggest financial obligation. Insurance that covers this debt lets your family choose their future without money forcing the decision.
Schooling. A modest amount per child in current dollars; it's easier to include it now than to buy a second policy down the road.
Current savings and group plans. Savings you could use immediately, plus workplace coverage. Since group policies end when employment ends, most people count only a portion of it.
Once you know the amount, the quote tool displays what that sum costs from each carrier across 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year options. Buying extra coverage is common because the monthly cost is often small when you're younger.