### What is Net Worth?
You’ve probably heard people mention net worth, but what exactly does it mean? And do you know your own net worth? When people talk about net worth, they’re usually referring to how much money they have, but it’s more than just the cash in your bank account. Net worth is calculated based on your assets and your debts.
Understanding your net worth is a key part of knowing your financial health. It’s similar to knowing your credit score; being aware of your net worth helps you make informed decisions to improve your financial situation.
While it’s common to hear wealthy individuals discuss their net worth, it’s a concept everyone should understand, whether your net worth is positive or negative. Luckily, figuring out your net worth is pretty straightforward.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the simple steps to calculate and track your net worth. Think of it as another tool to measure your financial health and progress.
Many people don’t know how much debt they have, how much they’ve saved, or the value of their assets. While you don’t need to know the exact numbers, having a general idea is wise. Understanding net worth and its impact on you is crucial.
If you’ve never calculated your net worth, it might be lower or even negative, but knowing it is the first step to improving your financial situation.
### What is Net Worth?
Your personal net worth is the value of your assets (what you own) minus your debts (what you owe).
### Why Should You Know Your Net Worth?
Being aware of your net worth has many benefits. It can help you manage your money better because you’ll be more mindful of your spending and financial decisions. For example, knowing your net worth might motivate you to set financial goals, pay off debt faster, find a side job, or cut expenses.
Net worth is closely related to your debt. Some people focus only on their assets and think they’re doing well, but debt plays a big role. For instance, someone might have a car worth $30,000 and a house worth $300,000, but if they owe $250,000 in loans, their net worth is $80,000. Debt can significantly impact your net worth.
Knowing your net worth can also prevent financial infidelity, which occurs when someone in a relationship hides money issues. Being aware of your net worth helps you catch these issues early.
Tracking your net worth helps you reach financial goals by showing areas for improvement. Whether your net worth is positive or negative, the point is to understand where you stand financially.
### How Do You Calculate Your Net Worth?
Calculating your net worth involves two steps:
**Step 1:** Add up all your assets, such as:
– Market value of your home and other real estate
– Value of your car, RV, and other vehicles
– Investments like retirement accounts, stocks, and bonds
– Cash in checking and savings accounts
– Value of your jewelry and collectibles
– Cash value of life insurance
– Any other personal property
**Step 2:** Subtract all your debts (liabilities) from the total value of your assets. Debts include:
– Mortgage
– Car loans
– Credit card balances
– Student loans
– Medical debt
– Personal loans
– Other financial obligations
The formula is: Total Assets – Total Liabilities = Net Worth.
For example, if you have $100,000 in assets and $100,000 in liabilities, your net worth is $0. If you have $10,000 in assets and $40,000 in liabilities, your net worth is -$30,000. It’s common to have a negative or low net worth when you’re younger or have significant debt like student loans or a mortgage.
### What is Liquid Net Worth?
Liquid net worth is the amount of cash you can quickly access. It’s your cash and cash equivalents minus your liquid liabilities. This includes money in checking/savings accounts and brokerage accounts but typically excludes real estate and retirement savings due to the time and penalties involved in converting them to cash.
### How Often Should You Calculate Your Net Worth?
Checking your net worth once a quarter is a good starting point. Some people check it annually or monthly. Reviewing your budget and net worth together can help identify areas for improvement. Your net worth gives a big-picture view, while your budget shows daily spending adjustments.
While your net worth may fluctuate, especially with market changes, it’s still a good measure of personal wealth. Using a personal finance tool like Empower (formerly Personal Capital) can make tracking easier.
### What is the Average Net Worth by Age?
According to the Federal Reserve, the average net worth by age in 2019 was:
– Under 35: $76,300
– 35-44: $436,200
– 45-54: $833,200
– 55-64: $1,175,900
– 65-74: $1,217,700
– 75 and older: $977,600
If your net worth is different from the average, don’t be discouraged. There are ways to improve your financial situation, and net worth is just one measure of financial health.
### Who Has the Highest Net Worth? What Net Worth is Considered Rich?
The highest net worths belong to individuals like Bernard Arnault & family, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates, each with billions. Generally, a net worth of $5 million to $10 million is considered high compared to the average person.
### How Can I Improve My Net Worth?
To improve your net worth, you can increase your assets and decrease your debt. This might involve finding ways to earn more, paying off debt, cutting expenses, and saving more money.
### Summary
Whether your net worth is low, average, or high, tracking its progress over time is essential. Is it increasing, decreasing, or staying the same? By monitoring your net worth, you can identify areas to work on. Remember, your net worth is just a metric for financial health and doesn’t define your worth as a person.
So, do you know your net worth? Why or why not?