First Cherokee State Bank

Personal Insurance

How much life insurance is enough? The answer depends largely on two variables in the event of a death: 1) the amount necessary to meet immediate obligations so that beneficiaries are not burdened, and 2) the amount of income needed to sustain a household. Obviously there is no "value" that can replace an individual; however, in addition to the two areas previously mentioned, life insurance proceeds can provide funds to:

  • Establish a college education fund
  • Cover financial emergencies or fund for special needs
  • Aid charitable causes

There are several "rules of thumb" that are used to estimate the amount of insurance that is needed. One rough guide is to multiply one's annual income by 8 to 10 times to approximate what is needed. According to the simple formula, for example, an individual earning $50,000 should have between $400,000 and $500,000 of life insurance coverage. There are additional life insurance calculation methods, such as Income Replacement and a Capital Needs Analysis, that are designed to provide a more precise answer that is truly dependent on a particular client's set of circumstances. We believe that regardless of the method and product chosen, life insurance is an area which needs to be reviewed every few years.

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