Assets vs Liabilities: What Counts Toward Your Net Worth
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Before you can track your net worth, you need to know what counts. Here's how to tell the difference between assets and liabilities, and what to include in your personal balance sheet.
What Are Assets?
An asset is anything you own that has monetary value. When you add up all your assets, you get one half of the net worth equation. Assets can range from cash in your bank account to the home you live in.
Liquid Assets
Cash and anything you can quickly convert to cash without losing value.
- Checking accounts
- Savings accounts
- Money market accounts
- Certificates of deposit (CDs)
- Cash on hand
Investments
Financial assets that can fluctuate in value but are generally liquid or semi-liquid.
- Brokerage accounts (stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds)
- Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth IRA, 403b)
- Pension values
- Cryptocurrency
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
Real Property
Physical real estate you own. Use the current market value, not what you paid for it.
- Primary residence
- Rental or investment properties
- Vacation homes
- Land
Personal Property
Tangible items with resale value. Be conservative with estimates here — use what you could realistically sell them for, not what you paid.
- Vehicles (cars, motorcycles, boats)
- Jewelry and watches
- Art and collectibles
- Business equity or ownership stakes
What Are Liabilities?
A liability is anything you owe. It's a financial obligation — money that will eventually leave your pocket to pay off a debt. Liabilities reduce your net worth, so tracking them is just as important as tracking your assets.
Secured Debt
Loans backed by collateral. If you stop paying, the lender can take the asset tied to the loan.
- Mortgage balance
- Home equity loans or HELOCs
- Auto loans
- Boat or RV loans
Unsecured Debt
Debt not tied to a specific asset. These often carry higher interest rates.
- Credit card balances
- Student loans
- Personal loans
- Medical debt
- Tax debt owed
Assets vs Liabilities: The Key Difference
The distinction is straightforward. Assets are things that add to your wealth. Liabilities are things that subtract from it. Your net worth is simply the difference between the two.
Net Worth = Total Assets − Total Liabilities
If you own $300,000 in assets and owe $150,000 in liabilities, your net worth is $150,000.
A positive net worth means you own more than you owe. A negative net worth means your debts outweigh your assets — which is common early in life, especially with student loans or a new mortgage. The goal isn't perfection; it's progress. For a step-by-step walkthrough of the full calculation, see our guide to tracking your net worth.
What to Include (and What to Skip)
Not everything needs to go on your balance sheet. The goal is to capture a meaningful, honest picture of your finances without getting bogged down in every small item.
Always Include
- All bank and savings accounts
- Investment and retirement accounts
- Real estate (at current market value)
- All outstanding loan balances (mortgage, auto, student, personal)
- Credit card balances you carry month to month
Often Forgotten
- HSA or FSA balances
- Cash value of life insurance policies
- Money owed to you (if you're confident it'll be repaid)
- Vested stock options or RSUs
- Business equity if you own part of a company
Usually Skip
- Everyday personal items (clothing, furniture, electronics) — unless they have significant resale value
- Future income or expected bonuses
- Social Security benefits (not yet received)
- Subscriptions or recurring bills (these are expenses, not liabilities)
How Categories Help You Track Smarter
Grouping your assets and liabilities into categories makes it easier to spot trends. For example, you might notice your liquid assets are growing but your investment accounts are flat — a sign you could put more cash to work. Or you might see that secured debt is dropping steadily while unsecured debt is creeping up.
Categories also make updates faster. Instead of scrolling through a single long list, you can focus on one group at a time: update your bank balances this week, check your investment accounts next week.
Curious how your numbers compare to others in your age group? Check out our net worth by age benchmarks to see where you stand.
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