Net worth = everything you own minus everything you owe. Enter your assets and liabilities below to instantly see where you stand financially — and how you compare to US averages.
Net worth is the most complete single-number summary of your financial health. It equals everything you own (assets) minus everything you owe (liabilities). A high income doesn't guarantee positive net worth — and a modest income can build substantial net worth over time through consistent saving and avoiding debt. Tracking net worth regularly is the most reliable way to measure whether you're actually making financial progress.
Unlike income, which resets every month, net worth is cumulative. It captures the result of every financial decision you've made: how much you've saved, how well your investments have grown, how much debt you've paid down, and how much you've spent beyond your means. A rising net worth is the financial equivalent of gaining ground; a flat or falling one signals that something needs to change.
Assets include everything with monetary value you own outright or have a stake in. Cash and bank accounts, brokerage and retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth IRA), the market value of real estate you own, vehicle values, business equity, and any other investments all count. Use current market values, not purchase prices. Your home is worth what it would sell for today — not what you paid for it. Retirement accounts count at their current balance, even though they can't be accessed without penalty until 59½.
Liabilities are every debt you owe. This includes your mortgage balance (not the home's value — that's an asset), car loans, student loans, credit card balances, personal loans, medical debt, and any other money owed. Be thorough here — it's easy to undercount debt. Include the outstanding balance on every account, not the monthly payment amount. Credit card balances should reflect what you owe, not your credit limit.
According to Federal Reserve data, the median net worth by age group in the U.S. is approximately: under 35: $39,000; 35–44: $135,000; 45–54: $247,000; 55–64: $365,000; 65–74: $410,000. These are medians, meaning half of Americans in each group have more and half have less. A commonly cited rule of thumb is to have a net worth equal to your annual salary by 30, three times by 40, and six times by 50 — though these are rough targets and vary significantly by income level and cost of living.
Net worth grows when your assets increase faster than your liabilities. The most reliable levers are: increasing your savings rate and investing the difference in appreciating assets; paying down high-interest debt aggressively; avoiding lifestyle inflation as your income grows; and letting time work through compounding. Real estate can build net worth through equity accumulation, but it's less liquid than financial assets. The simplest and most proven approach is maximizing retirement account contributions and investing in low-cost index funds over long periods.
A single net worth snapshot is less useful than tracking the trend over months and years. Monthly fluctuations — especially in investment accounts — are normal and don't indicate a problem. What matters is the direction over 6–12 month periods. Most people who track net worth regularly report that the act of measuring itself motivates better financial decisions. Use this calculator monthly or quarterly to stay oriented to your actual financial trajectory.