Life needs calculator
Stop picking a round number
Ten times income is a slogan. This adds what your household would need to replace and pay off, subtracts what already exists, and shows you the gap. It runs entirely in your browser.
The method
Four additions, two subtractions
This is the same arithmetic our life specialist runs on a notepad. Nothing clever, just complete.
- Replace the income. Annual income multiplied by the years your household depends on it.
- Clear the debts. Mortgage payoff plus vehicles, student loans and guaranteed business debt.
- Fund the future. Childcare for five years plus education for each child.
- Cover the end. Funeral, settlement costs and a small cushion.
- Subtract existing coverage. Individual policies and, cautiously, group coverage.
- Subtract liquid savings. Cash and investments outside retirement accounts.
Life insurance
Life insurance questions
If your question is not here, call the office. You will reach a licensed agent in Kansas City, not a queue.
Our calculator adds income replacement, remaining mortgage and debts, childcare and education costs and final expenses, then subtracts existing coverage and liquid savings. It takes about two minutes and the result is yours to keep.
Usually not. Group coverage is typically one or two times salary, it ends when the job ends, and it is rarely portable at a good rate. Treat it as a supplement.
For most households with a mortgage and young children, term covers the largest need at the lowest cost. Whole life earns its place in estate planning, business succession and lifelong dependent care.
Often not. Several carriers offer accelerated underwriting up to substantial face amounts for healthy applicants, with a decision in days rather than weeks.
Get this number quoted
Send us the figure and a licensed agent will shop it across our life carriers. No exam is needed at several of them. Or just call (816) 555-0140.
No fee for our work. No obligation to switch. Usually a same-day written comparison.