Empower Net Worth Calculator
Step 1:
Get a quick estimate of your net worth with this online calculator.
Step 2:
Use our free and secure net worth tool to see your true net worth in real time. Just download, then link your bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts and more to know where you really stand.
What is your net worth and why is it important?
Your net worth is one of the most important numbers in your financial picture. It’s the difference between everything you owe and everything you own. In other words, all of your liabilities are subtracted from all of your assets. It’s a simple way to measure your financial health at any given time. Monitoring your net worth is an effective way to see if your finances are moving in the right direction.
How to calculate net worth
The first step in calculating your net worth is adding up your assets and liabilities. Your assets include anything of value that you own, while your liabilities include anything you owe. Once you’ve added both of those, just follow this basic formula:
Assets - Liabilities = Net worth
The simplest way to calculate your net worth is using our net worth calculator. Sign up for free, link all of your financial accounts and see your current net worth at any time.
What are assets and liabilities?
You might notice that some of your possessions fall under the categories of both assets and liabilities. For example, most people can’t afford to buy a home with cash, so they finance it. Your home is an asset, while the money you still owe on your mortgage is a liability.
Assets
An asset is something you own that has financial value. Assets are either cash or can be converted to cash. Common assets you’ll count toward your net worth include checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, your home, vehicles and anything else of financial value.
Liability
A liability is a debt or outstanding financial obligation. This includes mortgages, car loans, student loans, credit card debt, etc. Liabilities don’t include your monthly bills like rent and utilities unless you aren’t up to date with your payments. In that case, the past due amount would be considered a liability.
Should your 401(k) be included in your 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.
When you start your career, your 401(k) is likely to account for just a small portion of your net worth. But as you contribute and your balance continues to grow and compound, it will make up a greater portion of your net worth.
Next steps to improve your net worth
You may find that when you calculate your net worth for the first time the number is lower than you’d like. Many people even have a negative net worth, especially given the percentage of students graduating with student loan debt.
The most important factor to pay attention to isn’t what your net worth is today — it’s how it progresses over time. If it consistently increases, then you’re moving in the right direction.
1. Pay off debt
One of the simplest ways to increase your net worth is to reduce your liabilities, meaning to pay off debt. When you sign up to use the free Empower Personal DashboardTM, you can see all of your debts in one place and come up with a plan to pay them off.
2. Increase your savings
Consistently saving is one of the best ways to increase your net worth. Start by building your emergency fund with 3-6 months worth of expenses. Then you can start saving for financial goals. Our savings planner will track your savings and tell you if you have enough to fund 3-6 months of budgeted expenses.
3. Minimize your risk of compromise
Investing is like the secret weapon of net worth building. Your account balance doesn’t just grow when you transfer money in. Instead, it should continue to grow and compound over time. The Empower Personal DashboardTM can help you track your investment holdings and portfolio performance. The tools also uncover hidden fees. And if you want a trustworthy professional to manage your investments for you, we also offers wealth management services.
