Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about calculating your net worth and using our calculator.
General Questions
What is net worth?
Net worth is the difference between all your assets (what you own) and all your liabilities (what you owe). It's a financial snapshot that gives you a clear picture of your overall financial health at a specific point in time.
Formula: Net Worth = Total Assets - Total Liabilities
Why should I calculate my net worth?
Calculating your net worth provides several benefits:
- Gives you a clear picture of your overall financial health
- Helps you track your financial progress over time
- Identifies areas where you can improve your finances
- Assists in setting realistic financial goals
- Provides motivation as you see your net worth grow
- Helps with retirement planning and other long-term financial decisions
How often should I calculate my net worth?
For most people, calculating net worth quarterly (every 3 months) provides a good balance. This gives you enough data points to track trends without becoming too time-consuming.
However, if you're actively working to increase your net worth or going through major financial changes (like buying a house, starting a business, or paying off significant debt), monthly calculations can be beneficial to track your progress more closely.
Is a negative net worth bad?
A negative net worth isn't necessarily bad—it's common for young adults with student loans or new homeowners with large mortgages. What's important is the trend over time.
If your net worth is becoming less negative each time you calculate it, you're making progress. Many successful people started with negative net worth in their early career stages but built substantial wealth over time.
Focus on reducing high-interest debt, increasing your income, and building assets gradually.
Using the Calculator
Do I need to create an account to use the calculator?
No, you can use the calculator without creating an account. However, creating a free account allows you to:
- Save your calculations for future reference
- Track changes in your net worth over time
- View visual charts and graphs of your financial progress
- Access your data from any device
What assets should I include in my calculation?
You should include all significant assets that have monetary value:
- Cash & Accounts: Checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), cash on hand
- Investments: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, retirement accounts (401(k), IRA), cryptocurrency
- Real Estate: Primary residence, vacation homes, rental properties, land
- Vehicles: Cars, boats, motorcycles, RVs
- Valuable Personal Property: Jewelry, art, collectibles, antiques (only if significant value)
- Business Interests: Value of businesses you own or have shares in
For everyday items like furniture, electronics, and clothing, it's generally best to exclude them unless they're valuable collectibles or antiques.
What liabilities should I include?
Include all debts and financial obligations:
- Mortgage: Remaining balance on home loans
- Auto Loans: Remaining balance on vehicle loans
- Student Loans: All education-related debt
- Credit Card Debt: Total balances on all credit cards
- Personal Loans: Bank loans, family loans, etc.
- Medical Debt: Outstanding medical bills
- Tax Debt: Unpaid taxes
- Other Obligations: Any other money you owe
Remember to include the entire remaining balance of each debt, not just your monthly payments.
How do I value my assets accurately?
Use these guidelines for valuing different types of assets:
- Cash & Accounts: Use the current balance
- Investments: Use the current market value (check your latest statements or online accounts)
- Real Estate: Use current market value, not purchase price or tax assessment (check real estate websites, recent comparable sales, or get a professional appraisal)
- Vehicles: Use current market value, not what you paid (check Kelley Blue Book or similar services)
- Collectibles & Valuables: Use conservative estimates based on recent sales of similar items or professional appraisals
- Business Interests: This can be complex—use recent valuations, revenue multiples, or consult with a financial advisor
Be realistic and conservative in your valuations. It's better to slightly underestimate than overestimate your assets.
Account & Data
Is my financial data secure?
Yes, we take security seriously. Your financial data is encrypted and stored securely. We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:
- Secure data encryption for all stored information
- Secure HTTPS connections for all data transfers
- Regular security audits and updates
- Strict access controls to user data
We never share your personal financial information with third parties without your explicit consent.
Can I delete my account and data?
Yes, you can delete your account and all associated data at any time. We respect your right to privacy and data control.
To delete your account, go to your account settings and select the "Delete Account" option. This will permanently remove all your personal information and financial data from our systems.
What happens when I share my results?
When you use the "Share Results" feature, we create a special link that shows only your final net worth calculation—not the detailed breakdown of your assets and liabilities.
The shared link contains no personally identifiable information and doesn't require the recipient to create an account to view it. You can share this link with financial advisors, family members, or anyone else you choose.
You can revoke access to shared links at any time from your account settings.
How do I update my saved information?
To update your saved financial information:
- Log in to your account
- Enter your updated asset and liability values in the calculator
- Click the "Save Data" button
Each time you save new data, we create a new entry in your history, allowing you to track changes over time. Your previous entries remain accessible in your history section.
Financial Questions
How can I increase my net worth?
There are two main strategies to increase your net worth:
-
Increase your assets:
- Save more money consistently
- Invest in assets that appreciate over time (stocks, real estate, etc.)
- Maximize retirement contributions
- Increase your income through career advancement, side hustles, or passive income streams
-
Decrease your liabilities:
- Pay down high-interest debt first (credit cards, personal loans)
- Avoid taking on new debt unnecessarily
- Refinance existing debt to lower interest rates when possible
- Create and stick to a budget to prevent overspending
The most effective approach combines both strategies—increasing assets while simultaneously reducing liabilities.
What's a good net worth for my age?
Net worth varies widely based on individual circumstances, income, location, and life choices. However, some financial experts suggest these general benchmarks:
- By age 30: Half your annual salary saved
- By age 40: Twice your annual salary saved
- By age 50: Four times your annual salary saved
- By age 60: Six times your annual salary saved
- By retirement: Eight to ten times your annual salary saved
Remember, these are just guidelines. Your personal financial journey is unique, and comparing yourself to others can be counterproductive. Focus on improving your own financial situation over time rather than meeting arbitrary benchmarks.
Should I include my primary residence in my net worth?
Yes, you should include your primary residence in your net worth calculation, but be sure to:
- Use the current market value of your home as an asset
- Include your remaining mortgage balance as a liability
Some financial advisors distinguish between your "total net worth" (including your home) and your "liquid net worth" (excluding your home) since your primary residence isn't easily converted to cash. Both metrics can be useful for different financial planning purposes.
How does debt affect my net worth?
Debt directly reduces your net worth as a liability. However, not all debt impacts your financial health the same way:
- "Good" debt is used to purchase appreciating assets or increase your earning potential. Examples include mortgages for homes that may appreciate, student loans that increase your earning potential, or business loans that generate income. While these still reduce your net worth in the short term, they may contribute positively long-term.
- "Bad" debt is used for consumption or purchases that depreciate quickly. Examples include credit card debt, auto loans, or personal loans for vacations or consumer goods. These debts typically have higher interest rates and don't contribute to wealth building.
Focus on eliminating high-interest "bad" debt first while making minimum payments on lower-interest "good" debt. This strategy will improve your net worth most efficiently over time.
Still Have Questions?
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