Common questions answered directly.
Assets: bank accounts, investment accounts (401k, IRA, brokerage), real estate market value, vehicles (resale value), and other valuables. Liabilities: mortgage balance, car loans, student loans, credit card balances, personal loans. Use current market value for assets and current payoff balance for debts.
Yes — your 401k balance is a real asset. Note that you'll pay income tax on withdrawals (traditional 401k) or have already paid it (Roth 401k), so the after-tax value is somewhat lower than the stated balance. Most people include the pre-tax figure for simplicity.
Yes, use the estimated current market value. Subtract the mortgage balance on the liabilities side. The difference (equity) represents your net ownership stake. Be realistic about the value — use recent comparable sales, not your purchase price or hoped-for future value.
There's no universal answer, but a common benchmark is to have saved 1x your annual salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, and 8x by 60 (per Fidelity's guidelines). Median US net worth by age varies significantly — see our average-by-age page for current data.
Monthly or quarterly is typical for people actively managing finances. Annual is sufficient for others. The value is in the trend over time, not the exact number at any moment.
Use the net worth calculator — free, no email required.