Term Ladder Builder
Your need for life insurance falls as the mortgage shrinks and kids grow. Stack 10/20/30-year terms that track the curve — you enter the quotes.
Free · No signup · Verified July 2026
Why ladder your term coverage
Most families need a lot of life insurance for a while, not a little forever. Your need is highest when the mortgage is large and the kids are small, and it falls as both shrink. A term ladder matches that curve by stacking policies of different lengths — say 10, 20, and 30 years — so coverage steps down as the need does, instead of paying for one big level policy the whole time.
Enter quotes for each rung and for a single level alternative, and the tool shows the totals side by side. Laddering is often cheaper, but not always, and it means managing multiple renewal dates — preferring one simple policy is a perfectly valid choice.
$1,447,500
Highest year on the curve
$467,515
Coverage above need (avg)
—
Enter quotes to compare cost
Robert noticed…
- No rung faces entered — using three equal rungs (~1/3 peak need) at 30/20/10 years. Edit faces and paste your quotes.
- Enter annual premiums for each rung and the level alternative to compare total cost. Structure chart works without premiums.
Need vs ladder coverage
Declining need curve with stacked term rungs and optional level policy
Rung 1 · 30-year
$483,000
No premium entered
Rung 2 · 20-year
$483,000
No premium entered
Rung 3 · 10-year
$483,000
No premium entered
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
- What is laddering life insurance?
- Laddering means stacking several term policies of different lengths — say 10, 20, and 30 years — so your total coverage steps down as your need falls: the mortgage shrinks, the kids grow up, savings grow. You pay mainly for coverage you still need, which is often cheaper than holding one large level policy the whole time. The trade-off is managing multiple policies and renewal dates. This tool compares a ladder against a single level policy using your own quotes.
- Is laddering always cheaper?
- Often, but not always — it depends on the quotes and small-policy minimums. Enter real premiums; the tool shows structure and totals rather than assuming market prices.
- Isn’t three policies a hassle?
- A bit. You manage multiple renewal dates and possibly multiple insurers. The trade-off is paying mainly for coverage you still need. Preferring one simple policy is valid.
- What if my needs go up, not down?
- New baby, bigger mortgage, career change — re-run the ladder. Convertible term can preserve the option to add permanent coverage later without full new underwriting.
- Do you quote premiums?
- Never. Paste annual premiums from advisor or insurer quotes for each rung and for a level alternative.
- Where is my data stored?
- Only in your browser — no account required.
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