- Income and assets: The amount of income and assets a client has can help determine how much insurance coverage they need to protect their financial future in the event of an unexpected event.
- Debt and expenses: The amount of debt a client has, as well as their monthly expenses, can help determine the amount of insurance coverage they need to ensure their debts are paid and expenses are covered if they become unable to work due to illness or injury.
- Age and health: The client's age and health can help determine the type and amount of insurance coverage they need. Younger and healthier clients may need less coverage than older or less healthy clients who are more likely to face health-related issues.
- Dependents: If the client has dependents, such as children or elderly parents, the amount of insurance coverage needed may be higher to ensure their care and well-being in the event of the client's disability or death.
- Occupation and risk tolerance: Clients in high-risk occupations may need more insurance coverage to protect against the risks associated with their work. Similarly, clients with a low tolerance for risk may prefer to have more insurance coverage as a safety net.
Overall, a reasonable basis for INA recommendations should be based on a comprehensive assessment of the client's financial situation and individual needs, taking into account all relevant factors.
Let's say a client named John is 35 years old, married with two children, and earns an annual income of $75,000. He has a mortgage of $300,000, car loan of $20,000, and monthly expenses of $5,000. John has a life insurance policy of $100,000 but no other insurance coverage.
Step 1: Calculate John's income replacement needs
- Recommended income replacement rate is 70% to 80%
- Income replacement needs = (70% to 80%) x ($75,000) x (number of years until retirement)
- Assuming John plans to retire at 65 and a replacement rate of 70%, his income replacement needs would be:= 0.7 x $75,000 x (65-35) = $1,050,000
Step 2: Calculate John's debt coverage needs
- Debt coverage needs = outstanding mortgage + car loan
- John's debt coverage needs would be: $300,000 + $20,000 = $320,000
Step 3: Calculate John's family's ongoing expenses coverage needs
- Ongoing expenses coverage needs = monthly expenses x 12 months x (number of years until youngest child turns 18)
- Assuming John's youngest child is 5 years old and he plans to cover expenses until the child turns 18, his ongoing expenses coverage needs would be:= $5,000 x 12 x (18-5) = $780,000
Step 4: Calculate John's total insurance needs
- Total insurance needs = income replacement needs + debt coverage needs + ongoing expenses coverage needs - current life insurance policy
- John's total insurance needs would be: $1,050,000 + $320,000 + $780,000 - $100,000 = $2,050,000
Based on this calculation, a reasonable recommendation for John would be to purchase an additional life insurance policy to cover his total insurance needs of $2,050,000. This recommendation would provide him and his family with financial security in the event of his disability or death.