Net Worth Calculator

What net worth tells you

Net worth is everything you own minus everything you owe. It is the single best snapshot of your financial position, because income alone says nothing about how much you keep. Tracking it once or twice a year shows whether you are moving in the right direction.

Net worth = Total assets − Total liabilities

Valuing your assets

• Home: use a realistic estimate of what it would sell for, minus about 6–8% if you want to account for selling costs.
• Vehicles: use private-sale value from a pricing guide, not the purchase price. Cars lose value quickly.
• Retirement accounts: traditional 401(k) and IRA balances will be taxed on withdrawal, so some people count them at 75–85% of face value.
• Personal belongings: furniture and electronics are usually left out; they rarely sell for much.

Median net worth by age

According to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, median US household net worth rises steadily with age, from tens of thousands of dollars for households under 35 to several hundred thousand for those in their 60s. Medians are more useful than averages, which are pulled up sharply by the wealthiest households.

Growing your net worth

Pay down high-interest debt, save a consistent share of income, invest for the long term and avoid buying assets that lose value quickly with borrowed money. Net worth often grows slowly for years, then faster as investments compound.