Guides
Each guide takes one moment in a life and works through the arithmetic behind it, in plain language. None of them names a product or recommends one — they explain how the math works so you can reason about your own situation.
How much life insurance after buying a house in California?
California's median home price is near $915,000, so the national rules of thumb break here. A step-by-step walkthrough of how to size coverage after a home purchase, plus what most calculators leave out.
Read the guide →How much life insurance after having a baby?
Infant care in California runs about $22,600 a year. A first child changes the math more here than almost anywhere — and the need peaks earlier, then falls, which almost nobody tells you.
Read the guide →What is a stay-at-home parent actually worth?
The figure going around says $185,000 a year. It doesn't survive contact with real wage data. Here's how to build a number you could defend, using what replacement help actually costs.
Read the guide →