← Back to Toolkit
Team Cocco Financial Planning Phase 3 · Protection

Capital Needs Analysis (CNA)

Formal CFP-textbook life insurance needs analysis — Need = PV of Needs − Existing Resources

1. Immediate Cash Needs

Funeral, burial, probate
Auto loans, credit cards, student loans
Typical: 3–6 months

2. Income Replacement

After-tax need for survivors
Until youngest child independent or spouse retires
Default 4% real (return minus inflation)

3. Education Funding

Tuition + room/board, today's dollars
Typically 4
Average across all children
College inflates faster — default 5%

4. Special Needs / Legacy

Business buyout, estate tax, etc.

5. Existing Resources

Existing Life Insurance

Term + permanent + group

Liquid Assets

Retirement Assets

Reduce 20% for income tax on distributions

Survivor Income

After-tax annual
Per SSA estimate
Typically matches income replacement years
Total Insurance Need (Capital Need)
$0
PV of Needs
$0
Existing Resources
$0
Gap / Surplus
$0

Needs & Resources Breakdown

CategoryAmount

PV of Needs — by Category

Needs vs. Resources vs. Gap

Spouse — Capital Need

In joint mode, the calculator assumes a mirror analysis where the spouse's death triggers the same need structure. Both should typically be insured.

Spouse PV of Needs
$0
Spouse Resources
$0
Spouse Gap
$0
Methodology — Capital Needs Analysis (CNA):
Insurance Need = (PV of Needs) − (Existing Assets + Existing Insurance)

Immediate Cash Needs — funeral, mortgage payoff, other debts, emergency fund (months × monthly expense). Stated in today's dollars (no discounting).
Income Replacement — Present value of annuity: PV = PMT × [1 − (1+r)−n] / r at real discount rate r.
Education Funding — Per child: today's cost inflated by education-inflation to college year, summed over years of school, then discounted back to today at the real discount rate. Multiplied by # of children.
Survivor Income (offset) — Spouse salary + Social Security survivor benefit treated as an annuity offset, PV'd at the same discount rate.
Retirement Asset Tax Drag — Pre-tax retirement balances optionally reduced by 20%–30% to reflect income tax on distributions.
Capital Needs Analysis prepared by Nate Cocco, ChFC · Series 65/7/6, in accordance with CFP Board Standards of Conduct. This analysis assumes constant inflation and discount rates; reasonable assumptions should be reviewed annually. Results are estimates only and do not constitute a specific product recommendation. Actual insurance needs may differ based on changes in income, family status, health, tax law, market conditions, and product features.

Acknowledgement & Signatures

By signing below, the client acknowledges receipt of this Capital Needs Analysis and that the assumptions herein were reviewed and approved.

Client Signature / Date
Spouse Signature / Date
Nate Cocco, ChFC — Advisor / Date
Analysis Date