How it works
Estimate a survivor-support funding gap from explicit obligations, assets and an annual support horizon.
This is the Canada planning view, with monetary inputs and outputs in CAD. A currency label does not establish that a tax rate, construction price, coverage rule or legal limit has been verified locally. The inputs and limitations below describe the actual scope.
Input query strings and outputs
Use an input name in this page’s URL as ?name=value, and join additional inputs with &. Portable shared links may instead use the compact ?ac= state parameter.
Input query strings
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?annualSupport=Annual survivor support requiredMoney · Required · Default: 40,000
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?supportYears=Support period, yearsNumber · Required · Default: 20
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?investmentReturn=Assumed nominal return after investment costsPercentage · Required · Default: 4
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?inflation=Annual support inflationPercentage · Required · Default: 2
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?debts=Debts to repayMoney · Required · Default: 200,000
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?education=Education and other one-off needsMoney · Required · Default: 30,000
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?finalCosts=Final-expense allowanceMoney · Required · Default: 15,000
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?availableAssets=Assets actually available to survivorsMoney · Required · Default: 100,000
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?existingCover=Existing suitable life coverMoney · Required · Default: 100,000
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?annualPremium=Actual quoted annual premiumMoney · Required · Default: 0
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?annualFees=Annual policy/administration feesMoney · Required · Default: 0
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?monthlyFee=Additional installment fee per monthMoney · Required · Default: 0
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?spreadPercent=Quote sensitivity rangePercentage · Required · Default: 15
Outputs
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supportCapitalPresent value of annual supportCurrency · Currency: CAD
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grossNeedTotal modeled survivor needsCurrency · Currency: CAD
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coverageGapAdditional coverage gapCurrency · Primary output · Currency: CAD
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annualPremiumEntered annual premiumCurrency · Currency: CAD
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annualCostAnnual premium and payment feesCurrency · Currency: CAD
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monthlyEquivalentMonthly equivalent costCurrency · Currency: CAD
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lowLow quote scenarioCurrency · Currency: CAD
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highHigh quote scenarioCurrency · Currency: CAD
Formula
support capital = present value of inflation-adjusted annual support; gap = maximum(0, support capital + one-off needs − available assets − existing cover).
Calculations retain numeric precision internally. Displayed values are rounded for readability. Quantities that must be purchased as whole units are rounded up only where the formula explicitly requires it.
Read the inputs before calculating
- Annual survivor support required: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Support period, years: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Assumed nominal return after investment costs: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Annual support inflation: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Debts to repay: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Education and other one-off needs: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Final-expense allowance: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Assets actually available to survivors: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Existing suitable life cover: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Actual quoted annual premium: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Annual policy/administration fees: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Additional installment fee per month: Enter the quantity described by the label.
- Quote sensitivity range: Enter the quantity described by the label.
Reproducible worked example
The following is a fictional arithmetic example, not a local quote, a verified claimant or a market forecast. Its values are included so the formula can be checked. The form does not automatically confirm any verification checkbox.
| Input | Example value |
|---|---|
| Annual survivor support required | 40,000 |
| Support period, years | 20 |
| Assumed nominal return after investment costs | 4 |
| Annual support inflation | 2 |
| Debts to repay | 200,000 |
| Education and other one-off needs | 30,000 |
| Final-expense allowance | 15,000 |
| Assets actually available to survivors | 100,000 |
| Existing suitable life cover | 100,000 |
| Actual quoted annual premium | 0 |
| Annual policy/administration fees | 0 |
| Additional installment fee per month | 0 |
| Quote sensitivity range | 15 |
| Output | Calculated result |
|---|---|
| Present value of annual support | CAD 643,666.0115 |
| Total modeled survivor needs | CAD 888,666.0115 |
| Additional coverage gap | CAD 688,666.0115 |
| Entered annual premium | CAD 0 |
| Annual premium and payment fees | CAD 0 |
| Monthly equivalent cost | CAD 0 |
| Low quote scenario | CAD 0 |
| High quote scenario | CAD 0 |
Interpreting a changed assumption
Start with one complete scenario and change only one input when diagnosing a difference. Recheck units, the period of every rate, whether an amount is recurring or one-off, and whether a cost is already included elsewhere. A larger calculated benefit is not evidence that an assumption is more likely to occur.
Limitations
- Use actual policy wording, quotes and jurisdiction-specific requirements. This is a planning worksheet, not a coverage recommendation, insurer quote or determination of a payable claim.
- No insurer premium has been entered. The policy is unpriced, not free.
- Low/high figures vary the entered quote; they are not researched market premiums or underwriting predictions.
- Support cash flows occur at each year end; immediate expenses belong in one-off needs. Do not count unavailable pension assets or the family home as spendable survivor cash without a specific plan.
Frequently asked questions
What does this Life Insurance Needs result represent?
Estimate a survivor-support funding gap from explicit obligations, assets and an annual support horizon. It applies the displayed formula to your inputs; it does not infer omitted facts.
Are the starting amounts verified Canada prices or legal rules?
No. Numeric defaults are illustrative unless an input or dated reference explicitly identifies a researched component. Currency is CAD; local quotes, eligibility and unsupported rules must be entered and verified separately.
What must I check before relying on the result?
Use actual policy wording, quotes and jurisdiction-specific requirements. This is a planning worksheet, not a coverage recommendation, insurer quote or determination of a payable claim.
Can I compare or share different assumptions?
Change one assumption at a time and use the browser-local project or share controls. A shared URL contains the encoded input values; do not include information you do not wish to disclose.
Sources and reference scope
- NAIC consumer insurance resources — retrieved 2026-09-24. US coverage education. Not a quote, underwriting table or a substitute for another country’s regulator.
- NAIC insurance glossary — retrieved 2026-09-24. Terminology only; policy wording and local law govern actual coverage.
These references support only their stated scope. They are not evidence that every local rule or price needed by the master expansion has been loaded.