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Robert, The Insurance Beast mascot

Life Insurance Needs

Three methods side by side — DIME, income replacement (PV), and human capital. Size a gap, not a product.

Free · No signup · Verified July 2026

Robert, The Insurance Beast mascot
Robert — winking
Robert says: methods disagree by a lot — DIME gap $1.5M vs income-PV $777k. The spread is the lesson: pick a philosophy, don’t average product pitches.
Headline gap

$1,530,000

Largest gap method: DIME

Existing coverage

$440,000

Group + personal combined

DIME

$1,970,000

Need before gap

Gap $1,530,000

Debt + Income years + Mortgage + Education. Simple stock-taking, no discounting.

Income replacement (PV)

$1,217,261

Need before gap

Gap $777,261

Present value of net income needed, plus final expenses and debts, minus liquid assets.

Human capital

$1,753,287

Need before gap

Gap $1,313,287

Upper-bound: PV of remaining career earnings to retirement. Rarely a purchase target by itself.

DIME breakdown

Debt (non-mortgage)
$25,000
Income block
$1,425,000
Mortgage
$420,000
Education
$100,000
DIME total
$1,970,000

Educational estimates only — not insurance, tax, or legal advice. No products sold. Figures use verified government constants where cited and your inputs/assumptions elsewhere. Confirm against your policy wording and a licensed advisor or broker. Robert is a mascot, not a licensed insurance advisor.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a product recommendation?
No. We size a coverage gap with three educational methods. We never recommend a carrier, product type to buy, or premium. Talk to a licensed advisor for personal recommendations.
Why do the three methods disagree?
DIME is a simple additive checklist. Income-replacement discounts future cash needs. Human capital values your remaining career earnings (an upper bound). The spread between methods is the lesson — not a bug.
What about group life at work?
Enter it, but treat it carefully: group life usually ends when the job ends. The tool warns when coverage is group-only so you can stress-test a layoff scenario.
Can the need legitimately be zero?
Yes. A single person with no dependents, no debts, and no mortgage may need little or no life insurance. Saying so plainly is more trustworthy than inventing a gap.
Where is my data stored?
Only in your browser — no account required.