Workshop Tools
D.I.M.E. Method, Rule of 100 & Long-Term Care Guide
These tools give workshop guests a rough starting point for life insurance protection, secure-account conversations, and care-cost planning. They are not financial, tax, legal, or Social Security advice.
D.I.M.E. Method
Estimate how much life insurance protection may be needed.
D.I.M.E. stands for Debt, Income, Mortgage, and Education. The result is a rough estimate of life insurance protection needed, then it subtracts current coverage to show a possible gap.
What is this really for?
If you passed away unexpectedly, your family may lose more than a paycheck. They may lose the income that pays the mortgage, car payment, bills, education goals, and everyday lifestyle. The D.I.M.E. method helps estimate the protection needed so a spouse or family may not be forced to drain retirement savings or make rushed financial decisions during an already painful time. Term and permanent life insurance can both be reviewed as strategies to help cover those gaps.
Estimated life insurance gap
$0This is the estimated protection need minus current life insurance coverage.
Estimated protection need
$0Formula: debt + 10 years of income + mortgage + $150,000 per child for education.
- Debt$0
- Income x 10$0
- Mortgage$0
- Education$0
- Current coverage$0
Rule of 100
Use age as a starting point for secure-account positioning.
This educational tool helps explain what the Rule of 100 means. It uses age as a simple example for how much may fit in a secure account, with the remaining percentage used to understand market-risk exposure.
Rule of 100 estimate
0% secureEducational example only. The remaining percentage up to 100 is shown only to help explain the Rule of 100 concept.
- Secure account amount$0
- Market-risk strategy amount$0
Long-Term Care Planning
Prepare for the care costs that can affect a retirement plan.
Long-term care planning helps estimate how care at home, assisted living, or nursing care could affect retirement income, family savings, and spouse protection.
Why this matters
LongTermCare.gov says someone turning 65 has almost a 70% chance of needing long-term care services later in life. Average care needs can last about 3 years overall, and some people need support for more than 5 years. The goal is to review how much monthly care could cost, how long it might last, and what strategy may help protect income, retirement funds, and family choices.
National Average Care Costs
LongTermCare.gov lists these national average costs for long-term care. Actual costs vary by state, city, provider, type of care, and length of care.
- Assisted living$3,628/mo
- Nursing home semi-private room$6,844/mo
- Nursing home private room$7,698/mo
- Health aide$20.50/hr
- Homemaker services$20/hr
Source: National long-term care cost information validated by LongTermCare.gov, Costs of Care .
What could be needed?
A simple planning conversation may look at monthly care cost multiplied by the number of years care may be needed.
- 3 years assisted living$130,608
- 3 years semi-private nursing care$246,384
- 3 years private nursing care$277,128
- 5 years private nursing care$461,880
This is not a quote. It is a planning estimate to help decide whether long-term care, life insurance with care benefits, or other protection strategies should be reviewed.
Financial House
Build the foundation before planning the roof.
A strong financial foundation starts with protection. Life insurance can help protect the family, income, mortgage, debts, car payments, insurance, bills, monthly expenses, and education goals. Once the foundation is reviewed, Social Security, pensions, and annuities may be discussed as part of the roof designed to help support retirement income.
Schedule a ReviewStrategy Conversation
How life insurance products may help support protection, secure-account, income, and care-planning goals.
The right approach depends on health, age, budget, time horizon, product availability, state rules, and underwriting approval.
Protection First
Term life or permanent life insurance may help provide a death benefit designed to protect income, mortgage needs, debt, monthly expenses, and family education goals.
- Use the D.I.M.E. estimate as a starting point.
- Review current coverage and any workplace benefits.
- Match coverage length and amount to family needs.
Secure Account Positioning
Some life insurance and annuity-style products may offer options designed to reduce downside market exposure while still allowing growth potential based on product terms.
- Discuss indexed product options where appropriate.
- Review guarantees, caps, participation, fees, and limits.
- Keep access, timing, and liquidity needs in mind.
Retirement Income Planning
Secure-account strategies may be discussed alongside Social Security timing, retirement income goals, and protection needs.
- Estimate monthly retirement income needs.
- Review where existing money is currently positioned.
- Coordinate protection, income, and risk comfort.
Long-Term Care Planning
Care-cost planning helps review how future home care, assisted living, or nursing care may affect income, retirement funds, and family choices.
- Review national average care-cost starting points.
- Discuss how long care may be needed.
- Consider protection strategies with care benefits.
These tools provide rough educational estimates only. Product availability, guarantees, features, fees, surrender charges, underwriting, and suitability requirements vary by product, carrier, state, and individual situation.