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How net worth is calculated

“How does Beyond Payday calculate my net worth?”

Explainer
3 min
Verified · Sep 23, 2026

Your net worth is the total value of your assets minus the total balance of your debts. Beyond Payday adds up the current value of every asset you track, subtracts every debt, and skips a few kinds of accounts that would distort the number.

How it works

  1. Add up your assets. Every enabled asset counts at its current value — bank accounts, investment and retirement accounts, real estate, vehicles, and everything else on the Assets (opens in a new tab) page.
  2. Leave out a few asset types:
    • Term Life and Whole Life insurance policies are always excluded.
    • A 529 College Account counts only if it's owned by you or your spouse. Unowned 529s and 529s owned by a child are excluded.
    • Assets and debts that belong directly to a business are excluded. If you own a business, its value reaches your net worth through its business equity asset.
  3. Subtract your debts. Every enabled debt on the Debts (opens in a new tab) page is subtracted at its current balance.
  4. The result is your net worth. It can be negative if you owe more than you own.

An HSA counts when it's owned by you, your spouse, or the household as a whole.

An example with real numbers

ItemValueCounted?
Checking account$6,000Yes
401(k)$85,000Yes
Home$350,000Yes
Term life policy$500,000No
Child's 529$12,000No
Mortgage−$240,000Yes
Car loan−$15,000Yes

Net worth = $6,000 + $85,000 + $350,000 − $240,000 − $15,000 = $186,000.

Assumptions and limits

  • Values are only as current as what you enter. Beyond Payday uses each asset's current value and each debt's current balance — it doesn't estimate market changes on its own.
  • A disabled asset or debt is left out entirely.
  • The dashboard's Breakdown selector doesn't change net worth. It always shows today's total.
  • Net worth history over time comes from Snapshots, not from the assets themselves.

FAQ

Does life insurance count toward my net worth? No. Term Life and Whole Life policies are always left out of your main net worth.

Do business assets count? Assets and debts that belong directly to a business are left out. Your ownership stake shows up through the business equity asset instead.

Why doesn't a 529 account show up in my net worth? A 529 only counts when it's owned by you or your spouse. Unowned 529s and 529s owned by a child are left out.

FAQ

Does life insurance count toward my net worth?

No. Term Life and Whole Life policies are always left out of your main net worth.

Do business assets count?

Assets and debts that belong directly to a business are left out. Your ownership stake shows up through the business equity asset instead.

Why doesn't a 529 account show up in my net worth?

A 529 only counts when it's owned by you or your spouse. Unowned 529s and 529s owned by a child are left out.

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Beyond Payday is a planning tool, not a financial advisor. Help articles are educational — projections and examples are estimates based on the numbers you enter, not financial, tax, or investment advice.