Your net worth is the single clearest number for where you stand financially: everything you own minus everything you owe. It is a snapshot — not your income, not your savings rate, not your investment returns, but the actual value left over once all debts are settled.
The formula could not be simpler: Net worth = Total assets − Total liabilities. This article walks through how to gather the numbers, a worked example, and the few things people most often get wrong.
What is net worth?
Net worth is what you would have left if you sold everything you own today and paid off every debt you owe. It is the standard metric for measuring financial progress because it does not get fooled by a high income or a big investment account — both can coexist with heavy debt.
It is also the number that matters most for long-term goals like retirement. Your account balance is only part of the picture; your retirement planning really needs to build on a realistic view of total net worth.
The net worth formula
The formula is intentionally simple:
Net worth = Total assets − Total liabilities
That is it. The challenge is not the math — it is being complete and honest about what counts as an asset and what counts as a liability.
Step 1 — Add up your assets
Assets are anything you own that has cash value. For most people, the list looks like:
- Cash and bank accounts — checking, savings, and emergency funds.
- Investments — stocks, ETFs, index funds, brokerage accounts.
- Retirement accounts — 401(k), IRA, pension value.
- Real estate — the market value of your home and any other property (not the mortgage — that is a liability).
- Other assets — vehicles, valuables, and anything else you could realistically sell.
Use current market values, not what you paid. A car bought for $30,000 may be worth $18,000 today, and your home should reflect what it could sell for now.
Step 2 — Subtract your liabilities
Liabilities are everything you owe:
- Mortgage — the remaining balance, not the monthly payment.
- Credit card debt — any carried balance.
- Student and car loans — the outstanding principal.
- Other debt — personal loans, medical bills, anything owed.
The most common mistake is double-counting. If you count the full value of your home as an asset, you must subtract the full remaining mortgage as a liability — the equity is the difference.
A worked example
Imagine your numbers look like this:
- Assets: $8,000 cash + $45,000 investments + $120,000 retirement + $350,000 home = $523,000
- Liabilities: $210,000 mortgage + $6,000 credit card + $14,000 car loan = $230,000
Net worth = $523,000 − $230,000 = $293,000
That $293,000 is your net worth. Run your own numbers in seconds with the free Net Worth Calculator — it adds the categories up for you.
What is a “good” net worth?
There is no universal target, and comparing yourself to averages is usually more stressful than useful. What matters is the direction: your net worth should grow over time as you pay down debt and build assets.
Two useful checks: (1) net worth rising year over year, and (2) debt shrinking while assets grow. If liabilities are falling and assets are rising, you are compounding in the right direction.
How to improve your net worth
Net worth moves in only two ways — increase assets or decrease liabilities:
- Pay off high-interest debt first — credit card interest usually dwarfs any return your savings could earn.
- Automate savings and investing — consistent contributions compound over time (see how with the Compound Interest Calculator).
- Set a specific goal — the Savings Goal Calculator turns a target net worth into a monthly number.
- Protect against inflation — cash loses purchasing power; check the Inflation Calculator to see what your money is really worth in the future.
Frequently asked questions
Does net worth include your home?
Yes — at current market value, but net of the mortgage. Home equity counts; counting the full value without subtracting the loan would overstate your position.
Should I include retirement accounts?
Yes. Even though you cannot touch them until retirement, they are still assets you own and a large part of most people’s net worth.
What’s the difference between net worth and income?
Income is what you earn each year; net worth is what you have accumulated. You can have a high income and a low — or negative — net worth if spending outpaces saving.
How often should I calculate net worth?
Once or twice a year is plenty for most people. More frequent tracking rarely changes the picture and adds noise.