Life insurance
Life Insurance Needs Calculator
The test for how much coverage you need isn't your age — it's who depends on your income. Run the DIME math here first.
Interactive tool
Life Insurance Needs Calculator
How much coverage does your family actually need? DIME method — Debt + Income + Mortgage + Education.
Estimated additional coverage needed
$1,020,000
- Income replacement
- $750,000
- Mortgage payoff
- $250,000
- Debt payoff
- $20,000
- Total gross need
- $1,020,000
Frequently asked
What is the DIME method?
DIME stands for Debt, Income, Mortgage, and Education — four buckets financial planners add up to estimate a coverage gap: what's owed on debt, how many years of income a family would need replaced, the mortgage balance to pay off, and a college-funding estimate per child. It's a widely used starting framework, not a personalized needs analysis.
How many years of income should I plan to replace?
There's no single right answer — common guidance ranges from 5 to 20 years depending on dependents' ages and other resources. A 10-year replacement is a common default; a family with young children or no other income sources often models higher.
Does ClearValue Insure sell life insurance?
No. We're an independent education and comparison publisher, not a licensed insurance agent, broker, producer, or carrier. This calculator gives you a starting number so the conversation with a licensed agent — or your term-life comparison — starts from an informed place.