Run the numbers — then decide with clarity
Estimate how much life insurance your family may need, and model what a career in insurance could look like. Every result is an illustration, not a guarantee.
Illustration disclaimer: All calculator results are hypothetical estimates based on your inputs. They are not coverage recommendations, income guarantees, or financial/insurance/tax advice. Individual results vary. See our disclosures for full detail.
Three calculators, three questions
One tool is for families weighing how much protection they need; two are for people exploring a career with Sahlman Insurance Group. Each isolates a different question so you can set realistic expectations before you talk to anyone.
Explore the numbers
Adjust the sliders and watch results update in real time. Use the tabs to switch calculators.
Coverage Needs Estimator (DIME Method)
Estimate how much life insurance your family might need using the DIME framework.
Your Inputs
The income your family would need to replace if you were no longer here.
Until children are grown, mortgage is paid off, or a spouse reaches retirement.
Amount remaining on your home loan.
Car loans, credit cards, student loans — debts your family would inherit.
College funds, childcare costs, or other large future expenses.
Any employer group coverage or policies already in force.
Cash, savings accounts, or liquid investments your family could access.
Estimated Results
Estimated Coverage Gap
$785,000
Educational estimate — DIME method. Not a recommendation or quote.
$850,000
Total Need (DIME)
$65,000
Existing Coverage + Savings
Educational estimate — not a recommendation, quote, or guarantee of coverage. The DIME method (Debt, Income, Mortgage, Education) is a general framework. Your actual coverage needs depend on many individual factors including health, lifestyle, existing policies, inflation, and more. This tool does not constitute financial or insurance advice.
Get a real quote from a licensed agent →Saw a coverage gap?
The estimator is a starting point. A real quote from a licensed Sahlman agent gives you actual numbers — specific to your family, your health, and your budget. It’s free and there’s no obligation.
Get a Free QuoteLike what you modeled?
The next step is a real conversation with our team — no pressure, just clarity about what a career at Sahlman actually looks like for someone in your situation.
Explore CareersFrequently asked questions
Are these calculator results guaranteed?
No. Every output is a hypothetical illustration based on the numbers you enter. They are not coverage recommendations, income guarantees, or financial advice. Your real situation depends on health, underwriting, effort, market conditions, and many other factors.
How does the Coverage Needs calculator work?
It uses the DIME method — Debt, Income, Mortgage, Education. You enter your income, the years you’d want to replace it, your mortgage, other debts, future needs, and your existing coverage and savings. It estimates the gap between what your family would need and what’s already in place. It’s an educational starting point, not a quote.
A licensed agent gave me a different number than the calculator. Why?
The calculator can only use the inputs you give it. A licensed Sahlman agent reviews your full picture — health, existing policies, budget, goals, and the products and carriers available to you — to recommend coverage that actually fits. Always rely on a real quote over an estimate.
What commission rates should I use in the Agent Income calculator?
Commission rates vary by carrier, product, and your contract level, and are set in your carrier contracts — not by Sahlman Insurance Group. That’s why the calculator lets you enter your own assumption rather than promising a specific rate — use the figures from your own carrier schedules, which are reviewed during onboarding. Any figure you enter produces a hypothetical illustration based on your inputs, not a prediction, projection, or guarantee of earnings.
Is building a team required to earn override income?
No. Building a team is completely optional. Most of our agents focus on personal production. Overrides are simply an additional layer available to those who choose to develop and mentor other agents — and they never reduce what those agents earn.
Ready to talk to a real person?
Whether you’re protecting your family or exploring a career, our Charlotte team will give you a straight, no-pressure answer.
Prefer to talk first? Call (704) 312-8212