Patrimonio neto
How to Use This Net Worth Calculator
Our net worth calculator gives you a single clear number that captures your complete financial picture by subtracting everything you owe from everything you own. Enter your assets such as cash, investments, and property, along with your liabilities such as loans and credit card balances, to see where you stand. Click Ask AI for a personalized assessment of your net worth relative to your age and practical steps to grow it.
Assets vs Liabilities Explained
Net worth is calculated with a simple formula: total assets minus total liabilities. Assets are everything you own that has value, including cash in checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs, brokerage investments, the market value of your home and cars, and valuable personal property. Liabilities are everything you owe, including your mortgage balance, car loans, student loans, credit card debt, and any personal or medical debt. If you own a $400,000 home with a $250,000 mortgage, that property contributes $150,000 of equity to your net worth. It is entirely normal, especially early in adulthood, to have a negative net worth when student loans or a new mortgage exceed your assets. What matters is the trajectory: a net worth that climbs year over year signals that you are building wealth, regardless of the starting point.
Average and Median Net Worth by Age
Comparing your net worth to national benchmarks helps you gauge your progress, though everyone starts from different circumstances. According to the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, median net worth in America climbs steadily with age as people pay down debt and accumulate assets. Households under 35 have a median net worth of roughly $39,000, those aged 35 to 44 around $135,000, those 45 to 54 about $247,000, and those 55 to 64 approximately $364,000. Median figures are far more useful than averages here, because averages are skewed dramatically upward by a small number of extremely wealthy households. Use these numbers as a rough guidepost rather than a strict target, since factors like living in a high-cost city, carrying student debt for an advanced degree, or starting a career later all shift the reasonable range for any individual.
Why Net Worth Matters More Than Income
Income measures how much money flows in, but net worth measures how much you actually keep, and the two are surprisingly independent. A person earning $250,000 who spends every dollar and finances a luxury lifestyle can have a lower net worth than someone earning $70,000 who saves diligently and invests consistently. This is why high earners sometimes retire with little wealth while modest earners build substantial nest eggs. Net worth is the truest measure of financial health because it reflects the accumulated result of every spending and saving decision over your lifetime. To grow it systematically, focus on the levers you control: increase the gap between what you earn and what you spend, direct that surplus into appreciating assets like index funds and retirement accounts, aggressively pay down high-interest debt, and let compounding work over time. Tracking your net worth once or twice a year keeps you accountable and reveals whether your daily choices are moving you in the right direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good net worth at 40?
By age 40, a reasonable target often cited is to have a net worth equal to about two to three times your annual salary, though benchmarks vary. Federal Reserve data shows the median net worth for households aged 35 to 44 is roughly $135,000. Because circumstances differ widely, focus less on hitting an exact figure and more on whether your net worth is consistently rising year over year.
Does home equity count toward net worth?
Yes. Home equity, which is your home market value minus your remaining mortgage balance, is a genuine asset and counts fully toward your net worth. If your home is worth $400,000 and you owe $250,000, the $150,000 in equity is part of your net worth. Note that home equity is illiquid, meaning it is not easily spendable without selling or borrowing against the property.
How often should I calculate my net worth?
Calculating your net worth once or twice a year is sufficient for most people to track meaningful progress without obsessing over short-term market swings. Some prefer a quarterly check-in. The key is consistency: measuring at the same intervals lets you see the trend clearly, which is far more important than any single snapshot, since building wealth is a long-term process.