What is net worth?
Net worth is everything you own minus everything you owe. Add up your assets (cash, investments, home, vehicles, and anything else of value) and subtract your liabilities (mortgage, loans, credit card balances, and other debts). The result is your net worth, the single clearest number for how you're doing financially.
How do I calculate my net worth?
List the current market value of everything you own, then list the current balance of every debt. Total the assets, total the debts, and subtract debts from assets. This calculator does the arithmetic for you: fill in the rows that apply, leave the rest blank, and it totals each side and shows the difference.
What counts as an asset versus a liability?
An asset is anything you own that has value: bank balances, TFSA, RRSP and non-registered investments, your home and other real estate, vehicles, and valuables. A liability is anything you owe: your mortgage, car and student loans, credit card balances, and lines of credit. Use current values, not what you originally paid or borrowed.
Should I include my home in my net worth?
Yes. Include your home's current market value as an asset and your remaining mortgage as a liability. The difference is your home equity, which is part of your net worth. Some people also track a separate net worth that excludes their home, since home equity is harder to spend, but the standard figure includes it.
Is a negative net worth bad?
Not necessarily. A negative net worth just means your debts currently outweigh your assets, which is common early on, especially with student loans or a new mortgage. What matters is the trend over time. Tracking your net worth month to month shows whether it's climbing, which is the real signal of financial progress.
How often should I calculate my net worth?
Once a month is plenty for most people. Net worth moves slowly, so monthly snapshots are enough to see the trend without obsessing over daily market swings. The hard part is gathering every balance each time, which is why a tool that pulls them together automatically makes the habit stick.