The DIME Method Your Life Insurance Needs Analysis

Step 1 · About Your Family

Who Are We Protecting?

Start with the people and responsibilities that depend on your income.

Your first name

Your age

Annual household income

Spouse / partner annual income

Number of children or dependents

Youngest child's age

Desired years to replace your income

Slide to set the number of years

For many families, income replacement is considered through the years children remain financially dependent — but your family may choose a longer or shorter period.

Your income does more than pay bills. It supports your family's lifestyle, routines, goals, and future choices.

Step 2 · Debt & Mortgage

Protect the Home & Ease Financial Pressure

If something happened to you, would your family want the option to pay off major debts or keep making payments?

Credit card debt

Auto loans

Personal loans

Student loans

Business debt personally guaranteed

Other debt

Remaining mortgage balance

Include mortgage payoff in the protection estimateWhen on, the remaining mortgage is added to the estimate. When off, it's shown for reference only.

Total debt & mortgage$0

Step 3 · Income Protection

Replace the Income Your Family Depends On

Estimate how much income your family would need if you were no longer here.

Annual income to replace

Pre-filled from your household income. Adjust it to fit your family's plan.

Percentage of income to replace

Most families choose 70–90%80%

Years of income replacement

Carries over from Step 1

Estimated income replacement need$0

This is a simple planning estimate. A fuller strategy can account for taxes, survivor income, employer benefits, and changes in expenses over time.

Step 4 · Education Goals

Protect Their Future Opportunities

Include the education or future-support goals you want to help fund. Add one card per dependent.

Estimated education funding need$0

Other Future Support Goals (optional)

Special-needs planning

Care for a parent or loved one

Future wedding / milestone fund

Other planned support

Step 5 · Savings & Existing Coverage

What Resources Are Already in Place?

Now subtract the resources your family could reasonably use if something happened to you.

Cash savings available for the family

Non-retirement investment accounts

Existing individual life insurance

Employer-provided life insurance

Other death benefits or assets available to survivors

Only include assets your family would realistically want to use for ongoing living expenses, debt payoff, or future goals. Retirement accounts may have tax consequences and may not be intended for this purpose.

Include retirement savings in the calculationOff by default. Turn on only if your family would use these funds for this purpose.

Include spouse / partner income in the planning conversationKept as a discussion point — it does not automatically reduce your estimate.

Step 6 · Your Protection Estimate

Your Estimate Is Ready

Your full protection estimate, DIME breakdown, and planning range are shown below. Use the levers there to explore different scenarios.

View my estimate ↓

Your Life Insurance Needs Analysis

Who Are We Protecting?

Protect the Home & Ease Financial Pressure

Replace the Income Your Family Depends On

Protect Their Future Opportunities

Other Future Support Goals (optional)

What Resources Are Already in Place?

Your Estimate Is Ready

How the Need Divides

What This Could Help Protect

Ways to Adjust the Estimate