Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money (the "benefits") upon the death of the insured person. The advantage for the policy owner is "peace of mind", in knowing that the death of the insured person will not result in financial hardship for loved ones and lenders.

This calculator will help you to determine your total life insurance needs. The main objective is to calculate the amount that your family would need to maintain its current standard of living in your absence. You should repeat this calculation whenever your life changes significantly.

Enter the likely values for Expenses and Income
Leave the box set at 0 if a particular question is not relevant to your situation
Click once on the "Calculate" button to calculate your result

OTHER INFORMATION
EXPENSES

Living expenses
Using the Budget Calculator determine how much money your family will need per month to maintain its current standard of living. Adjust this number up or down to account for things such as diminished expenses in your absence, additional child care expenses in your absence, health care coverage that will disappear should you die, etc.	$

Funeral expenses
Funeral and other expenses run between $4,000 and $10,000.	$

Estate administration expenses
Your spouse will be charged perhaps 5% of your family's asset value to handle the estate. Use the Net Worth Calculator to determine your asset value (not the net worth - the asset value). Multiply by 5% to determine administration expenses.	$

Taxes
Your spouse may have to pay capital gains and other taxes. You will want to see an estate lawyer to minimise this expense, but account for it here.	$

Mortgage and other loan payouts
It would make life much easier for your family if all loans were paid out.	$

Education expenses
If you plan to send your children to private schools or university enter an amount to cover these costs. Be sure to multiply by the number of children.	$

Other expenses
Enter any other expenses you may wish to cover, such as emergencies, cars for the kids, etc., in today's dollars.	$

INCOME

Spouse's Income
Enter your spouse's annual income after taxes. You may want your spouse to be able to stop working in the event of your death, and if that is the case enter zero here.	$

Social Security Income
Enter the amount of money your spouse will receive from Social Security. If you have children and want to enter a rough but fairly accurate number use $20,000. If you do not have children enter 0.	$

Other Income
Enter the total annual income your spouse will receive from any other sources.	$


Years of social security
Enter the number of years until your youngest child reaches age 18. If you have no children enter 0 here.

Spouse's age
Enter your spouse's age.

Existing Life Insurance
Enter the value of any existing life insurance policies you have.	$

Click this button to calculate the suggested amount of life insurance you need.

SUGGESTED, TOTAL LIFE INSURANCE

NOTES

If the Total Life Insurance figure is negative, then you do not need additional insurance otherwise, you should discuss your needs with a licensed insurance specialist

ASSUMPTIONS

It is assumed that all life insurance benefits will be invested in low-risk investments if you die and that rates of return, after taking taxes and inflation into account, will be zero
Your current assets such as superannuation, home equity, etc. are not considered in order to simplify the calculation. You should seek advice from a Financial Adviser if you have significant assets
It is assumed that your spouse has no additional superannuation, will retire at age 65 and will live to age 95. During retirement, your spouse's living expenses are assumed to be 80% of the expenses entered in the Living Expenses field
"Spouse's income" and "Other income" are assumed to end at age 65