Size your coverage with the DIME method
Rules of thumb like “ten times your income” are a start, not an answer. The DIME method gives you a realistic number in a few minutes by adding up what your family would actually need to cover.
DIME stands for Debt, Income, Mortgage, and Education. Add your total debts plus final expenses; the income your family would need to replace multiplied by the years they’d need it; your remaining mortgage balance; and estimated future education costs for your children.
The total is your realistic coverage target. Then subtract what you already have — savings and any existing policies, including employer group life — to find the gap you actually need to fill.
Buying far more than your DIME number wastes premium; buying too little leaves your family short. Our free calculator does the DIME math for you, and an advisor can fine-tune it for your situation.
Free licensed guidance in 5 languages — or quote yourself online.
You can, but carefully — it’s usually limited (often one to two times salary) and typically ends when you leave the job. Many people own an individual policy so their coverage isn’t tied to an employer.