answersLogoWhite

0

How much life insurance do you need?

Updated: 9/11/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Best Answer

In general, you add up all of your debts + what you would pay for your kids' college + living expenses for your spouse and family for however many years you want to provide for them after you are gone. 10 years is a good rule of thumb depending on the age of your children. Go to lifehappens.org. They have a great calculator.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Life insurance can be a difficult topic for a family. Unfortunately, getting a realistic amount of life insurance coverage is important. Many insurance salespeople will try to sell you the most insurance you can reasonably pay for, while completely disregarding what your family might actually need. There are some considerations that can make a big difference in how much life insurance you should eventually get.

Will Your Spouse Be Working?

Choosing an amount of life insurance that will adequately help your family after you're gone will depend on the help that is already there. If your spouse is working and making enough money to be financially independent, you may not need to worry about more than paying off debt and covering funeral expenses. If your spouse is staying home with children or unable to make ends meet alone, it may make sense to buy much more insurance in order to provide a consistent standard of living.

Paying Off Debt

One of the most important uses for life insurance is handling the debt that you may currently have. Consider how much debt your spouse can handle without you, and what your debt load may be once you're gone. If you are paying on a mortgage, you won't owe as much in five or ten years as you owe now. Term life insurance at rates that will cover the debt you expect at certain periods can be a good way to account for this. For example, you can get one large amount of coverage for the next few years and start lowering the covered amount as your mortgage balance drops to save money. Remember to think about all forms of debt, including unpaid credit card balances and car payments, when you consider whether your spouse can or should pay these things alone.

Many people don't have an accurate picture of how much life insurance they need to have, so sitting down with your spouse and figuring out what both of you want is an important step. With an accurate idea of how much money your family will actually need to be safe and comfortable after your gone, going to an insurance agent to figure out how to set everything up can be a much simpler process.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How much life insurance do you need?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Finance

Can one obtain life insurance coverage from Prudential?

"Yes you can obtain life insurance from Prudential. Questions you should ask yourself include how much life insurance do I need, Do I need life insurance for my family."


When getting life insurance coverage is less or more important?

When getting life insurance, it's important to get the right amount of life insurance to meet your needs. One way to find out how much life insurance you need is to use a life insurance needs calculator to help you decide. These are available online and it only takes a few minutes to find out how much coverage you need. That way, you don't pay for more life insurance than you need, but your family has the protection they need.


What factors are important when choosing life insurance?

Some important factors to consider when choosing life insurance, inlcude: How long need life insurance. How much life insurance you need. What type of life insurance to buy. The financial rating of the insurance company. The customer service of the insurance company. How much you can afford to pay for life insurance. Your goal for buying the life insurance. Who to name as beneficiary. Anyway, if you are looking for a very affordable life insurance, I recommend you check the site below to get free quotes and compare premiums between different insurance companies in the US. The website will pull up comparable premiums from the database, that would give you the best insurance quote and decide which one is best for you. http://www.goodinsurancepolicy.com


Are term life insurance companies profitable?

Term life insurance companies are very profitable. They make a profit since most people who purchase the insurance never need it, so they don't pay out nearly as much as they take in.


How much does average life insurance coast?

The average life insurance cost will vary depending on several factors including: The type of life insurance, your age, gender, amount of coverage, how long you need the life insurance, your health, your family's health history, etc. Term life insurance is the least costly type of life insurance because there is no cash value that builds up in the policy - so you only pay for the life insurance. Term life insurance offers you life insurance protection for a specific number of years, usually 10, 15, 20 or 30 years.

Related questions

How do you know what you need in life insurance?

If you are looking to get life insurance you should consider if you have any dependents and if you don't you won't need life insurance. You could get life insurance if you are a sole owner of a company and you need to decide how much money your company will need after you die.


Can one obtain life insurance coverage from Prudential?

"Yes you can obtain life insurance from Prudential. Questions you should ask yourself include how much life insurance do I need, Do I need life insurance for my family."


Do you need a will for life insurance?

You do not need a will for life insurance. I don't have a will, but I have life insurance. ;)


When getting life insurance coverage is less or more important?

When getting life insurance, it's important to get the right amount of life insurance to meet your needs. One way to find out how much life insurance you need is to use a life insurance needs calculator to help you decide. These are available online and it only takes a few minutes to find out how much coverage you need. That way, you don't pay for more life insurance than you need, but your family has the protection they need.


Comprehensive Life Insurance Analysis?

Comprehensive Life Insurance Analysis How much life insurance do you need? This comprehensive life insurance calculator includes detailed net worth analysis, budgeting and college savings to help you decide how much life insurance you might need. You can also adjust the inflation rate and your expected rate of return to see how these variables can impact your insurance needs.


Life insurance policy holder since 1965.Need to find new face amount.?

need to find out how much my life insurance policy is worth


Does homeowners insurance pay off your mortgage if one of the homeowners dies?

No. For that kind of benefit you need mortgage insurance or a life insurance policy.No. For that kind of benefit you need mortgage insurance or a life insurance policy.No. For that kind of benefit you need mortgage insurance or a life insurance policy.No. For that kind of benefit you need mortgage insurance or a life insurance policy.


Helpful Tips for Buying Life Insurance?

Here is a list of helpful tips for buying life insurance: 1. Determine your goal. 2. Decide how much life insurance you need. 3. What can you afford to pay? 4. How many years do you need life insurance? 5. Who relies on you for financial support, and how much? 6. What type of life insurance will meet your goal - term life insurance or permanent life insurance? 7. Compare rates for life insurance from several companies to find the most competitive price. 8. Review the financial rating of the life insurance company. 9. Don't buy more life insurance than you can afford. 10. Keep your life insurance policy in a safe place.


What factors are important when choosing life insurance?

Some important factors to consider when choosing life insurance, inlcude: How long need life insurance. How much life insurance you need. What type of life insurance to buy. The financial rating of the insurance company. The customer service of the insurance company. How much you can afford to pay for life insurance. Your goal for buying the life insurance. Who to name as beneficiary. Anyway, if you are looking for a very affordable life insurance, I recommend you check the site below to get free quotes and compare premiums between different insurance companies in the US. The website will pull up comparable premiums from the database, that would give you the best insurance quote and decide which one is best for you. http://www.goodinsurancepolicy.com


How much is good life insurance?

There are a lot of life insurance companies. The site http://www.life-insurance-companies.com/ will give you the top 15 sites. There is term life and whole life also and you need to decide which type you want and then go from there.


How much do orthodontists have to pay for health insurance life insurance and malpractice insurance a year?

You will need to contact an agent for this answer there are too many variables, with respect to premiums.


Does dad's sister have life insurance on him?

my sister died and I need to no if she has life insurance