Not sure how much life insurance you need?

Some people think of life insurance as something extra, something you don’t need. You and your family might actually get a lot out of life insurance coverage. It may help to take care of many of the costs you might leave behind after you die.

A life insurance policy is a contract with an insurance company. In exchange for premium payments, the insurance company provides a lump-sum payment (known as a death benefit) to beneficiaries—a designated person or group that receives the benefit—upon the insured person’s death.

Purchasing life insurance can be one of the greatest things you can do to help ensure your loved ones are taken care of when you pass away. But deciding how much you need is often difficult. Here are six items you might consider when looking into life insurance.