When it comes to shopping for life insurance, one of the most important questions that need to be answered is how much life insurance do I need? Unfortunately, there’s no one size fits all answer because our needs and expenses vary from one person to the next. However, while there may not be a dollar amount that works for every person, there is an easy to utilize a formula to figure it out. As a general rule of thumb, you want enough life insurance to cover your obligations such as a mortgage, college for your children, and any other outstanding debts after you have died. To get a rough approximation of how much life insurance coverage you need, start by multiplying your income by 10. Next, if you have any children add $100,000 per child to cover their college costs. Finally, you can use what’s called the DIME method in the financial industry which stands for debt, income, mortgage, and education. By adding up the aforementioned obligations, you’ll get a big picture view of how much money you should get a life insurance policy for.
While it may be a morbid process, always make sure to involve your spouse or partner in these discussions to make sure that their input is included. This is particularly important if you are the sole earner or make significantly more money than your partner because your life insurance policy will need to provide a substantial windfall to address those shortcomings.
At Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers in Broomfield, CO, we understand that shopping for life insurance can be complicated and that’s why we try to make the process as simple as possible. Give us a call today to learn about your options and we’ll help prepare a customized life insurance plan that will provide peace of mind and comfort to both you and those you provide for.
