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Life insurance is an important part of planning for the future. In your absence, life insurance can help protect your family’s finances, allow your small business to live on and give you something to leave behind for your loved ones or a favorite charity.

Many people understand the importance of life insurance. According to LIMRA, 80% of consumers believe that most people need life insurance and as many as 132 million Americans rely on life insurance to protect their financial security. But when it comes to actually purchasing a policy, the confusion sinks in and one big question often comes to mind: how much life insurance coverage do I need?

A life insurance policy isn’t “one-size-fits-all.” Everyone has a unique financial situation, so coverage needs are just as unique. To answer this question, you’ll need to get your own personal estimate. Although meeting with your life insurance agent will give you the most accurate results, there are a few different methods you can use to get started.

One way to determine the costs you’ll leave behind is through the “DIME” method. DIME stands for:

D – Outstanding Debts
I – Income Replacement
M – Mortality
E – Education

To get an estimate of how much coverage you will need, take some time to list out all of your expenses that fall under these four categories.

Debt

Outstanding debt can be anything from outstanding student loans, to money you owe on a credit card. You also want to be sure your family can keep their home and stay there for years to come, so be sure to factor in your mortgage into your life insurance estimate. Regardless of how the debt was accumulated, you don’t want these expenses falling on the shoulders of your loved ones.

Income

How will your absence affect your family’s finances? Income replacement calculates just that—the amount of coverage your loved ones would need to continue living a similar lifestyle. Consider day-to-day living costs, as well as other types of spending, like childcare. And keep in mind that inflation will likely cause costs to increase. Don’t forget to factor in income that comes from any investments, in addition to the income that comes from your job.

Mortality

The mortality portion of “DIME” covers all final expenses, including funeral costs and other expenditures associated with end-of-life. When estimating final expenses, you may want to leave a little wiggle room for costs that you may not anticipate or be able to determine an exact number for, such as unpaid medical bills. There are also many costs and taxes that come along with settling your estate, so keep that in mind as well.

Education

If you have children who are in or are planning on going to college, or even a spouse who may want to go back to school, consider the costs of their education when estimating your life insurance policy.

Once you add up all of these expenses, you may end up with a pretty big amount. However, there are a few items that you can subtract from this number, such as the amount of coverage on a group life insurance policy, funds from your retirement plan or any other savings you’ve accumulated. 

This content is for information purposes only. For specific coverage details, always refer to your policy.

Insurance is a necessary yet very expensive part of life. When insured, you’re given peace of mind in case of an emergency or accident. But, that piece of mind comes at a high price. Here are a few simple ways you can reduce the amount of money you spend on your insurance.

Shop around

It’s important to shop for insurance plans before buying a new premium. Compare prices as they often vary from company to company. You could call companies for quotes or just look online, but try to the find the ones that will get you the most bang for your buck. Some companies include great discounts, so compare those too! 

Try to get all of your insurance needs from a single company for big savings

When shopping around, check out the company that’s already insuring your car. Sometimes companies will give you a reduce price if you have multiple plans. Other companies let you pay less if you own multiple plans that are insured by the same company.

Try  paying higher deductibles
Before your insurance policy begins, you pay deductibles. If you opt to pay a higher deductible, then you will significantly lower your other costs. Paying $300 more in deductibles can cover you 15 to 30 percent more in  coverage.

Keep your credit in good standing
By paying your bills on time and keeping your balance as low as possible, you will maintain good credit. Studies show people with good credit often have fewer claims, which allows insurers to cut your cost.

Car accidents can be scary. In those moments right after a crash, you’re jumbled and can barely think straight. But, these moments are crucial, and not following these steps could be detrimental to getting your car up and running in working order as quickly as possible. So, follow these easy steps to ensure minimal problems after a crash.

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At The Scene

Check for injuries
The most important part is to check if anyone’s injured. Immediately check yourself and assess your body for any pain or blood. If you are in a car with others, ask them if they’re hurt. Once your car is secure, you need to check on the other car as well. Assess their injuries and make sure they haven’t been badly hurt. If there are serious injuries, call for emergency assistance.

Exchange Info
If no one is hurt, exchange all information with the other driver. This isn’t the time to be shy! Give them your name, address, and phone number, but most importantly give each other’s car insurance information. Don’t forget to jot down the other car’s license number, make, and model.

File a Report
If needed call the police to the scene, so they can file a report. You could also go to the police station and file the report yourself. Either way, you need to try and obtain a copy of the report or at least the report number.

Take Photos
When everything is calm, take pictures of your car with your phone or other camera. Show the car in its entirety and the specific damage up close. These will help with your claim at the insurance company.

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At Home
Schedule an Inspection

Once home, it’s time to let your insurance company know that you’ve been in accident. It’s better to report any damage as soon as possible. You will need to schedule an appointment with an inspector who will assess the damage.

Speak with an Adjuster
At your insurance company, the adjuster will take in all the information from the accident and determine who was at fault. From this, they will provide a cost estimate.  

Make Your Car Drivable Again
Once the claim is filed and processed (you can often check the status online), you need to choose a body shop. You have to pay the deductible, while the insurer pays for the covered damage. Finally, you will have your car back in perfect driving order