$192,700
Median US household net worth (2022 Fed survey)
$1.06M
Mean US household net worth (skewed by wealthy)
~$0
Average net worth at age 25 — normal starting point
Annual
Recommended tracking frequency
Assets: what counts
- Cash and bank accounts (checking, savings, money market)
- Investment accounts: brokerage, 401(k), IRA, RRSP (use current market value)
- Real estate: current market value of your home and any investment properties
- Vehicles: current resale value (Kelley Blue Book, not purchase price)
- Business interests: estimated value if privately held
- Other valuable assets: jewelry, collectibles, life insurance cash value
Liabilities: what counts
- Mortgage balance (not monthly payment — the outstanding principal)
- Auto loan balances
- Student loan balances
- Credit card balances
- Personal loans and home equity lines of credit (current drawn balance)
- Medical debt, tax liens, or other formal obligations
How to use the net worth calculator
- List every asset and its current market value — use actual account statements, not estimates
- List every liability with its current outstanding balance
- The calculator subtracts total liabilities from total assets
- Review the breakdown chart to see your asset allocation at a glance
- Note the date and save or screenshot the result
- Repeat annually (or after major financial events) to track your trajectory
ℹ️ Direction matters more than the number
A negative net worth at 28 is unremarkable — student loans and a new car make it common. What matters is whether it's improving. Tracking net worth over time shows whether your overall financial decisions are building wealth, regardless of your income level.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using vehicle purchase price instead of current resale value — cars depreciate fast
- Omitting retirement accounts because they feel abstract — they're real, liquid assets
- Forgetting liabilities — an honest net worth picture includes all debts
- Checking net worth daily and overreacting to market swings in investment accounts
- Comparing your net worth to others' — age, career, and geography make raw comparisons meaningless
Related calculators
The Compound Interest Calculator shows how your investment assets will grow over time. The 401(k)/RRSP Planner projects your retirement asset growth to a future date. And if you're considering buying vs. renting, the Rent vs. Buy Calculator shows how homeownership affects your net worth through equity accumulation.