Coverage needs planning
Life insurance DIME worksheet.
Build an illustrative estimate from your household's debts, income-support needs, mortgage and education costs. Subtract resources that would genuinely be available to survivors.
Debts
Expenses survivors may need to settle.
Income support
How much support, and for how long?
Income subtotal: $0
Mortgage
Optional payoff objective.
Education
Future training or education needs.
Subtract available resources
Include only appropriate existing coverage, benefit amounts and accessible assets that could realistically meet the same needs.
How DIME works
Add debts, a yearly income-support amount multiplied by years, a mortgage-payoff target and total education expenses. Subtract resources available for the same purposes. If the result is negative, show zero.
The method does not model inflation, interest, investment returns, taxes, benefit eligibility, long-term care, changes to household spending or time value of money. Double-counting a mortgage or education expenses can overstate the result.
Learn before selecting a policy
Use this result to organize questions with a qualified professional and compare actual insurer illustrations. Review affordability, underwriting, beneficiaries, exclusions, term and renewability.