Your net worth is the single best measure of your financial health. Here’s how to calculate, track, and grow it.
Net Worth Worksheet
Assets (What You Own)
| Asset Category | Description | Your Value |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid Assets | ||
| Checking accounts | All checking account balances | $ _______ |
| Savings accounts | HYSA, money market, regular savings | $ _______ |
| Cash on hand | Physical cash | $ _______ |
| Investments | ||
| Taxable brokerage | Individual stocks, ETFs, mutual funds | $ _______ |
| Roth IRA | Current balance | $ _______ |
| Traditional IRA | Current balance | $ _______ |
| 401(k) / 403(b) | Current balance (all employers) | $ _______ |
| HSA (invested portion) | Health savings account balance | $ _______ |
| 529 Plans | Education savings | $ _______ |
| I Bonds / Treasury | Government savings bonds | $ _______ |
| Cryptocurrency | Current market value | $ _______ |
| Property | ||
| Primary home | Current market value (Zillow estimate or recent appraisal) | $ _______ |
| Other real estate | Investment properties, land | $ _______ |
| Vehicles | ||
| Car(s) | Kelly Blue Book private party value | $ _______ |
| Other vehicles | Motorcycles, boats, RVs | $ _______ |
| Other Assets | ||
| Business ownership | Value of business interest | $ _______ |
| Cash value life insurance | Cash surrender value only | $ _______ |
| Collectibles/jewelry | Conservative estimate | $ _______ |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ _______ |
Liabilities (What You Owe)
| Liability Category | Description | Your Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| Mortgage (primary) | Remaining balance | $ _______ |
| Mortgage (other property) | Remaining balance | $ _______ |
| HELOC | Outstanding balance | $ _______ |
| Education | ||
| Federal student loans | All federal loan balances | $ _______ |
| Private student loans | All private loan balances | $ _______ |
| Vehicle | ||
| Auto loan(s) | Remaining balance | $ _______ |
| Credit | ||
| Credit card balances | Total across all cards | $ _______ |
| Personal loans | Remaining balance | $ _______ |
| Other | ||
| Medical debt | Outstanding balances | $ _______ |
| 401(k) loans | Outstanding balance | $ _______ |
| Other debt | Any other obligations | $ _______ |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | $ _______ |
Your Net Worth
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $ _______ |
| − Total Liabilities | $ _______ |
| = NET WORTH | $ _______ |
Net Worth Benchmarks by Age
| Age | Bottom 25th Percentile | Median (50th) | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | -$20,000 | $10,400 | $45,000 | $120,000 |
| 30 | -$5,000 | $50,000 | $160,000 | $350,000 |
| 35 | $15,000 | $120,000 | $340,000 | $700,000 |
| 40 | $35,000 | $200,000 | $520,000 | $1,100,000 |
| 45 | $50,000 | $300,000 | $720,000 | $1,500,000 |
| 50 | $65,000 | $400,000 | $950,000 | $2,000,000 |
| 55 | $75,000 | $500,000 | $1,200,000 | $2,800,000 |
| 60 | $80,000 | $600,000 | $1,500,000 | $3,500,000 |
| 65 | $85,000 | $700,000 | $1,800,000 | $4,000,000 |
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.
Growth Example: $0 to $500K
Net Worth Growth on $60K Salary, 15% Savings Rate
| Year | Age | Annual Savings | Investment Gains | Cumulative Net Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | $9,000 | $360 | $9,360 |
| 2 | 26 | $9,000 | $1,094 | $19,454 |
| 3 | 27 | $9,000 | $1,878 | $30,332 |
| 5 | 29 | $9,000 | $3,588 | $54,397 |
| 10 | 34 | $9,000 | $8,560 | $127,791 |
| 15 | 39 | $9,000 | $15,094 | $222,870 |
| 20 | 44 | $9,000 | $23,506 | $345,782 |
| 23 | 47 | $9,000 | $29,460 | $428,920 |
| 25 | 49 | $9,000 | $34,296 | $503,467 |
Assumes 8% average annual return, no salary increases. With 3%/year raises, $500K is reached ~3 years sooner.
Tracking Tools Comparison
| Tool | Cost | Auto-Sync | Manual Entry | Investments | Property | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empower (Personal Capital) | Free | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Zillow | Investment-heavy portfolios |
| Mint (Credit Karma) | Free | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Basic | ✅ | Budget + net worth combo |
| Monarch Money | $9.99/month | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Good | ✅ | Couples, detailed tracking |
| YNAB | $14.99/month | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Basic | ✅ | Budgeters who also want NW tracking |
| Spreadsheet (manual) | Free | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ Manual | ✅ Manual | Full control, privacy |
| Kubera | $150/year | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Excellent | ✅ | High NW, multiple accounts |
What to Include (and Not Include)
| Include in Net Worth | Don’t Include |
|---|---|
| ✅ All bank accounts | ❌ Future Social Security benefits |
| ✅ All investment/retirement accounts | ❌ Future inheritance |
| ✅ Home market value (conservative) | ❌ Household items/furniture |
| ✅ Vehicle KBB value | ❌ Potential future earnings |
| ✅ All debts (even 0% interest) | ❌ Small personal items |
| ✅ Business equity (if saleable) | ❌ Non-transferable benefits |
| ✅ Cash value of life insurance | ❌ Death benefit of life insurance |
| ✅ Vested stock options/RSUs | ❌ Unvested stock options |
Net Worth Milestones
| Milestone | What It Means | Typical Age (Median Path) |
|---|---|---|
| $0 (break even) | Assets = Liabilities | 25-28 |
| $10,000 | First meaningful savings | 26-30 |
| $50,000 | Solid financial foundation | 28-32 |
| $100,000 | “Hardest milestone” — growth accelerates after | 30-35 |
| $250,000 | Quarter-millionaire | 35-40 |
| $500,000 | Half-millionaire | 40-48 |
| $1,000,000 | Millionaire (top ~12% of Americans) | 48-58 |
| $2,000,000 | Double-millionaire — comfortable retirement | 55-65 |
| $5,000,000+ | Top 2% of Americans by net worth | Varies |
The $100K Milestone: Why It Matters
| Milestone | Years to Reach (8% Returns) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| $0 → $100K | ~8 years | All savings, minimal compounding |
| $100K → $200K | ~5 years | Compounding kicks in |
| $200K → $400K | ~5 years | Compounding accelerates |
| $400K → $800K | ~5 years | Growth outpaces contributions |
| $800K → $1M+ | ~2 years | Compounding does the heavy lifting |
Charlie Munger: “The first $100,000 is a bitch, but you gotta do it.”
Quarterly Check-In Template
| Question | Your Answer |
|---|---|
| Total assets this quarter | $ _______ |
| Total liabilities this quarter | $ _______ |
| Net worth this quarter | $ _______ |
| Change from last quarter | $ _______ (+/- %) |
| Savings rate this quarter | _______% |
| Highest-interest debt remaining | _______ at _______% |
| On track for annual goals? | Yes / No / Adjusting |
| One thing to improve next quarter | _______ |
Related: Average Savings by Age | Net Worth Percentile Calculator | How Much to Retire | 50/30/20 Rule | Emergency Fund Guide | Compound Interest Calculator