📈 Assets
$0
Cash & Savings
Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts
Emergency Fund
Cash on Hand
Investments
401(k) / IRA Balance
Brokerage Account
Stocks / ETFs / Mutual Funds
Crypto / Alternative Investments
Real Estate
Primary Home (Market Value)
Rental / Investment Property
Land / Other Real Estate
Personal Property
Vehicles (Market Value)
Jewelry / Collectibles / Art
Other Valuables
Business & Other
Business Ownership Value
Money Owed to You
Other Assets
📉 Liabilities
$0
Mortgage & Real Estate Debt
Primary Mortgage Balance
Home Equity Loan / HELOC
Investment Property Mortgage
Vehicle & Auto Loans
Car Loan Balance
Other Vehicle Loans
Credit Cards & Personal Debt
Credit Card Balances
Personal Loan Balance
Lines of Credit
Education Debt
Federal Student Loans
Private Student Loans
Other Liabilities
Medical Bills
Taxes Owed
Other Debt / Obligations
Net Worth Breakdown
| Category | Assets | Liabilities | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | — | — | — |
Assets allocation—
AssetsLiabilities
Total Assets
$0
everything you own
Net Worth
$0
assets minus liabilities
Total Liabilities
$0
everything you owe
Ad · 728×90
📊
Track your net worth automatically — connect all your accounts in one place
Empower · Free · Bank-level security · Updates daily
Sponsored — we may earn a commission if you sign up through this link, at no cost to you.
What Is Net Worth and Why Does It Matter?
Your net worth is the single most important number in personal finance. It's calculated as Total Assets minus Total Liabilities — everything you own minus everything you owe. Unlike income, net worth measures your actual financial position and progress over time.
A high salary doesn't guarantee a high net worth — someone earning $200,000/year but carrying $300,000 in debt and no savings can have a negative net worth. Conversely, consistent saving and investing over decades can build significant net worth at any income level.
Average US Net Worth by Age
Under 35: ~$76,000 median. Ages 35–44: ~$136,000. Ages 45–54: ~$248,000. Ages 55–64: ~$364,000. Ages 65–74: ~$410,000. Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances 2022 (latest available).
What's Considered a Good Net Worth?
A common benchmark: net worth should equal your age multiplied by your gross annual income divided by 10. At 40 with $80,000 income, target would be $320,000. More importantly, track your own progress year over year.
Liquid vs Illiquid Assets
Not all assets are equal. Cash and investments are liquid — quickly converted to spending power. Real estate and vehicles are illiquid — they take time and cost money to sell. Your liquid net worth is often more useful for financial planning.
How to Grow Net Worth
Three levers: (1) Earn more — career growth, side income; (2) Spend less — reduce liabilities, avoid high-interest debt; (3) Invest consistently — compound growth over time. Small consistent actions compound dramatically over decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my net worth?+
Net worth = Total Assets minus Total Liabilities. Add up everything you own that has monetary value (cash, investments, property, vehicles), then subtract everything you owe (mortgages, car loans, credit card balances, student loans). The result can be positive or negative. Many people are surprised to find they have a negative net worth — especially early in their careers when student loans and mortgages outweigh savings.
What is the average net worth by age in the US?+
According to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, median net worth by age group: Under 35: $39,000 median / $183,000 mean. 35–44: $136,000 median / $549,000 mean. 45–54: $247,000 median / $975,000 mean. 55–64: $364,000 median / $1.57M mean. 65–74: $410,000 median / $1.79M mean. The mean is much higher than the median because wealth is concentrated at the top. Median is the more representative figure for most people.
Should I include my home in my net worth?+
Yes — include your home's current market value as an asset and your mortgage balance as a liability. The difference is your home equity, which counts toward your net worth. However, home equity is illiquid — you can't spend it without selling or borrowing against it. It's useful to track both your total net worth (including home equity) and your liquid net worth (excluding primary residence) separately to understand your actual financial flexibility.
What is a good net worth at 30, 40, and 50?+
Common benchmarks: By age 30 — 1x your annual salary saved. By age 40 — 3x your annual salary. By age 50 — 6x your annual salary. By age 60 — 8x your annual salary (Fidelity's retirement guidelines). These are guidelines, not rules. What matters most is consistent progress — your net worth growing year over year. Starting late doesn't mean you've failed; it means your plan needs to be more aggressive.
What is a negative net worth and is it normal?+
A negative net worth means your liabilities exceed your assets — you owe more than you own. It's extremely common among young adults, especially those with student loans or recent mortgages. Approximately 20% of American households have zero or negative net worth. If you're young and just starting out, a negative net worth is a starting point, not a life sentence. Consistent debt payoff, saving, and investing will move it in the right direction over time.
How often should I calculate my net worth?+
Most financial advisors recommend tracking net worth quarterly or annually — frequently enough to see progress, not so often that short-term market fluctuations cause panic. Annual tracking on the same date each year (e.g., January 1) gives a clean year-over-year comparison. The trend over multiple years matters far more than any single snapshot. Apps like Empower (formerly Personal Capital) and Mint allow automatic tracking by connecting your accounts.
What's the difference between net worth and income?+
Income is a flow — money coming in each month or year. Net worth is a stock — the accumulated result of all past income, spending, and investment decisions. You can earn a high income and have low net worth (by spending it all), or have modest income and high net worth (by consistently saving and investing). Net worth is the better measure of long-term financial health; income shows your current earning power but not your financial foundation.
How do I increase my net worth quickly?+
Fastest levers: (1) Pay off high-interest debt — every dollar of credit card debt eliminated at 22% APR is equivalent to a 22% investment return; (2) Increase income — a raise, promotion, or side income directly grows the asset side; (3) Cut major expenses — housing and transportation make up 50%+ of most budgets; (4) Maximize retirement accounts — tax advantages accelerate growth; (5) Avoid lifestyle inflation — keeping expenses flat as income rises is the most powerful wealth-building habit.
Should I include retirement accounts in my net worth?+
Yes — include the full balance of 401(k), IRA, and other retirement accounts as assets. Some people discount them by 20–30% to account for future taxes (especially traditional pre-tax accounts), but most financial calculators include the gross balance. If precision matters, calculate both: gross balance and after-tax estimated value. Roth accounts (already taxed) can be counted at full value; traditional pre-tax accounts will be taxed on withdrawal, so true after-tax value is somewhat lower.
What is a high net worth individual?+
Financial industry definitions: High Net Worth Individual (HNWI) — investable assets of $1 million or more (excluding primary residence). Very High Net Worth — $5 million+. Ultra High Net Worth (UHNWI) — $30 million+. The Federal Reserve reports approximately 12 million American households (about 9%) had a net worth of $1 million or more as of 2022. The $1 million threshold, while significant, is increasingly achievable for middle-class households that invest consistently over a 30–40 year career.