What is my net worth and how does it impact my retirement?

Put simply, your net worth is the total value of your assets minus the value of your debt. Knowing your net worth can help you figure out where you are on your road to debt-free retirement, and how much further you have to go.

How do I calculate my net worth?

It's fairly easy. Add up the values of all your assets, like your house and investments. Then subtract the total value of your liabilities. Your liabilities are your debts, and usually include things like loans and credit cards. Cars might be considered assets or liabilities, so ask your financial adviser's opinion before factoring your vehicles into your calculation. Your net worth calculation might look something like this:

Is one calculation enough?

Your net worth is going to change over time. As you get older, you'll hopefully be lowering your liabilities while growing your assets by regularly contributing to investments like your retirement fund. (Read more about how to balance safe and riskier assets when saving for retirement.)

That means the calculations you do now probably won't be accurate in ten or even five years' time.

The assets you've accumulated over the course of your life could help fund your monthly expenses once you retire. But that's only if they outweigh your liabilities. By working out your net worth regularly, you'll be able to see how you're progressing towards your retirement goal. It will also leave you with enough time to make whatever adjustments you need so that you can retire with peace of mind.

Why keep track of my net worth?

Ideally, as you age, you want your debts paid off and your assets generating income, so that your net worth keeps increasing. But if you are taking on more debt over time and saving or investing less, your net worth could also flatline or decrease. It's also important to know for estate-planning purposes.

By tracking your net worth on a regular basis, you'll have enough time to identify when things are going wrong and to do something about it to change your path.

Calculating your net worth is just one of the sums that come into play when planning for retirement. Rules of thumb can also help you figure out where your finances need to be. Don't let the idea of maths put you off; rather let it encourage you with concrete goals. Savvy sums like these will help put you on the path to a debt-free, restful retirement.