It's never a pleasant thing to think about how your death will affect your family, but it's a necessary step in making sure they are provided for if the worst were to happen. One of the decisions that you need to make is the size of your life insurance policy. How do you know how much insurance you need? It's a bit complicated and there isn't one answer that is right for everybody, but here are some things to consider. 

If you have significant savings, no children and a spouse that also works, you may not need as much coverage as someone with young children. Use your independent insurance agent as a resource when deciding on your coverage limits and keep the following points in mind. 

• Do you have debt? You may want to add enough to cover all your debt so that won't be a burden on your family. 
• Are you the sole income earner for the family? If your family has no other source of income, it's a good idea to make sure they can continue their current lifestyle without making any changes for at least a while, especially if children are young. 
• Do you have children that will be attending college in the future? Life insurance is a way to ensure that their education is taken care of, even if you're not around to see them graduate. 
• Do you have any retirement savings or a pension fund that a spouse will have access to? If not, then you may need to bump up your life insurance to provide for your family. 

There are many factors to consider when deciding on life insurance, but don't let it overwhelm you to the point where you do nothing. Contact your insurance agent to talk it over and decide on a policy that is right for you and your family.