Net worth is the single most important number in personal finance. It is the sum of everything you own minus everything you owe. A rising net worth means you are building wealth. A flat or falling net worth means something needs to change. ZhanPlan's Net Worth page tracks this number and shows you whether it is moving in the right direction.
Why Net Worth Matters More Than Income
Two people can earn the same income and have completely different financial situations — one with growing wealth, one with growing debt. Income tells you what comes in. Net worth tells you what you are building.
Tracking net worth monthly turns it from an abstraction into a feedback mechanism. When you pay extra on a loan, your net worth goes up. When you add to savings, your net worth goes up. You can see the results of your financial decisions in real time.
Assets: What to Add
On the Net Worth page, click Add Asset to log what you own. ZhanPlan supports these asset categories:
- Cash & Savings — checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, CDs
- Investments — brokerage accounts, mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks
- Retirement — 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, pension, 403(b)
- Real Estate — your home's current estimated value, rental property, land
- Vehicles — car, truck, motorcycle, boat (current market value)
- Other Assets — jewelry, collectibles, business equity, anything else of value
For each asset, enter the name, category, and current value. Update these values monthly or whenever there is a significant change — a car depreciating, an investment account growing, a home value estimate changing.
Liabilities: What to Add
Click Add Liability to log what you owe. ZhanPlan supports these liability categories:
- Mortgage — your remaining home loan balance
- Auto Loans — car loan balance
- Student Loans — federal or private student loan balances
- Credit Cards — current credit card balances (what you owe, not your limit)
- Personal Loans — personal loan balances, lines of credit
- Medical Debt — outstanding medical bills
- Other Liabilities — tax debt, IRS payment plans, any other obligation
For each liability, enter the name, category, and current balance. Update balances as you make payments — watching the liability column shrink is one of the most motivating things in personal finance.
Your net worth number will be negative if your debts exceed your assets. That is common, especially early in your financial journey. The number you care about is the direction — is it going up every month?
The Net Worth Summary
The top of the Net Worth page shows:
- Total Assets — sum of all your asset values
- Total Liabilities — sum of all your debt balances
- Net Worth — assets minus liabilities
- Month-over-month change — how much your net worth increased or decreased from last month
Updating Your Net Worth Monthly
Net worth is most useful when you update it regularly. At the start of each month:
- 1Update your investment and retirement account values to current balances
- 2Update your home estimate if it has changed significantly
- 3Reduce each debt balance by the payments you made last month
- 4Look at the month-over-month change
- 5Celebrate a positive number; investigate a negative one
The Net Worth page shows a chart of your net worth over all months you have data for. Over time, this chart is the most powerful visual in your entire financial picture.
How Net Worth Connects to Other Features
- Health Score — your net worth growth dimension is scored based on how your net worth is trending
- Goals — your savings goals and investment targets directly affect your asset values
- Debt Payoff — as you pay down debts, your liability balances decrease and net worth rises
- Investments — the investment portfolio features sync with your net worth asset values
Do I need to add every single account?
Add the accounts that matter to your picture. Your main checking, savings, biggest investment accounts, retirement accounts, your home, your car, and your significant debts. You do not need to list every small item — focus on assets and liabilities that meaningfully affect your total.
Should I include my car as an asset?
Yes, include it at current market value (Kelley Blue Book is a good source). But also include the car loan as a liability if you have one. The net value of a car you are still paying off is often lower than people expect.
How often should I update my home value?
Once a quarter is usually enough unless there are significant market changes in your area. Use Zillow's Zestimate or a comparable sales estimate from your local market.