Calculating Your Net Worth: Five Common Questions | The Milford Bank (2024)

by Mark Attanasio

Even if you never actually see your paycheck and it is automatically transferred to your bank account each week, you may still know how much you’re making—maybe even down to the penny. Most people are fully aware of their income. But when it comes to net worth, the story is entirely different.

This is problematic because, unlike your income, net worth encompasses all your assets and debts. Calculating your net worth can provide you with a true measure of your financial well being, as well as providing you the information you need to improve your fiscal standing.

To help you figure out what you need to know about net worth, here are some of the questions others are asking too.

What, exactly, is net worth?

There is a simple formula that easily defines net worth. Add up all your assets—income, savings, investments and property. Then subtract all your existing debts. The total is your net worth.

When will I need to know my net worth?

While you won’t need to keep track of your net worth on a day to day basis, there are critical moments when it’s a good idea to have a firm grasp of your true value. You may want to understand the long-term trends for your net worth (how quickly you’re making or losing value) when planning your retirement or your estate. You may need it when looking to secure a mortgage or apply for student loans on behalf of your children.

I can’t touch my retirement accounts for 30 years. Do they count?

Your liquid assets are only one part of the net worth equation. Even if you don’t receive a distribution from your 401(k) or IRA accounts now, they’re still considered a part of your net worth.

Do I have the same net worth as my spouse?

Depending on how you and your spouse manage your household finances, your net worth may be identical or it could be drastically different. If you’re both listed as co-owners of your home, share a credit card or car, those assets will be attributed to both of you. If you both purchased vehicles separately, only the vehicle to your name will be considered for your calculation. However, if you add your partner’s net worth to yours, you’ll know your household net worth, which itself is important to track.

How do you account for outstanding car loans and mortgage payments?

When incorporating existing loans into your net worth calculation, you cannot truly consider houses or vehicles as assets until they’ve been paid for in full. So if you took out a $100,000 mortgage and have paid off $99,000, your home is still considered a $1,000 liability. But once you’ve made your last payment your home becomes a $100,000 asset.

Now that you have a better grasp on your net worth, stop by any office of The Milford Bank to see how you can continue to improve your financial standing today. You can also learn more at our online Learning Center or check out more financial calculators here.

Calculating Your Net Worth: Five Common Questions | The Milford Bank (2024)

FAQs

How do you answer net worth questions? ›

Net Worth Calculation

Once you have an inventory of all your assets and liabilities, you can calculate your net worth. To do this, simply subtract the total amount of liabilities from the total amount of assets. This dollar number is your net worth and can be used to compare to past or future years' net worth.

What is the formula for calculating your net worth? ›

Your net worth is your assets minus your liabilities.

How do you calculate a bank's net worth? ›

Bank's net worth is calculated as its total assets minus its total liabilities. The difference between a bank's assets and liabilities is the bank's capital and it represents the net worth of the bank.

How do I find my net worth statement? ›

Start with what you own: cash, retirement accounts, investment accounts, cars, real estate and anything else that you could sell for cash. Then subtract what you owe: credit card debt, student loans, mortgages, auto loans and anything else you owe money on. Then boom—you've got your net worth.

Does your house count as net worth? ›

Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).

Do you include cars in net worth? ›

Should Your Net Worth Calculation Include Your Car? When calculating your net worth, subtract your liabilities from your assets. Since your car is considered a depreciating asset, it should be included in the calculation using its current market value.

What is my net worth by age? ›

Average net worth by age
Age by decadeAverage net worthMedian net worth
40s$713,796$126,881
50s$1,310,775$292,085
60s$1,634,724$454,489
70s$1,588,886$378,018
4 more rows

What net worth is considered rich? ›

While having a net worth of about $2.2 million is seen as the benchmark for being rich in America, it's essential to remember that wealth is a subjective concept. Healthy financial habits and personal perspectives on money are crucial in defining and achieving wealth.

What is considered a good net worth? ›

Net worth is the difference between the values of your assets and liabilities. The average American net worth is $1,063,700, as of 2022. Net worth averages increase with age from $183,500 for those 35 and under to $1,794,600 for those 65 to 74. Net worth, however, tends to drop for those 75 and older.

Does bank account count as net worth? ›

These play a major role in determining your net worth. Net worth is a way of stating how much wealth you have, and it does so by comparing your assets (your investments, money in bank accounts, home, car) to your liabilities (your student loan, car loan, mortgage, credit card debt).

What is an example of a net worth statement? ›

Net worth is the dollar amount you would have if all your assets were sold today for their current market value and all your debts were paid in full. For example, if your assets total $208,000 and you currently owe $8,000 on credit card balances, loans, and other debts, your net worth today would be $200,000.

What are the steps for calculating net worth in the correct order? ›

How to set up a personal net worth statement.
  1. List your assets (what you own), estimate the value of each, and add up the total. Include items such as: ...
  2. List your liabilities (what you owe) and add up the outstanding balances. ...
  3. Subtract your liabilities from your assets to determine your personal net worth.

What does a net worth statement list? ›

A simple listing of the property you own and the debts you owe can provide valuable insights. Such a listing is called a net worth statement, or sometimes a financial statement, or balance sheet.

What is a good amount of net worth? ›

Average Net Worth by Age

The average net worth of someone younger than 35 years old is $183,500, as of 2022. From there, average net worth steadily rises within each age bracket. Between 35 to 44, the average net worth is $549,600, while between 45 and 54, that number increases to $975,800.

Does 401k count as net worth? ›

Yes. The value of your 401(k) account is a part of your net worth and should be included in your net worth. Like anything else of financial value, the vested balance of your 401(k) account — or any retirement account, for that matter — is considered an asset.

What is included in net worth? ›

To figure out your net worth add up your assets (the cash you've got in bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, etc. as well as the value of any properties you own) and then subtract any liabilities (debt, including student loans, credit card, your mortgage, etc.) that you owe.

What is the average net worth by age? ›

Average net worth by age
Age by decadeAverage net worthMedian net worth
40s$713,796$126,881
50s$1,310,775$292,085
60s$1,634,724$454,489
70s$1,588,886$378,018
4 more rows

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