# WealthScout articles > Guides on net worth, property, shares, debt, liquidity and tax records. Source: https://wealthscout.app/updates - [Calculate net worth](https://wealthscout.app/updates/how-to-calculate-net-worth): To calculate net worth, list the assets you legally own today and subtract the liabilities you owe today. Track gross values for retirement accounts, exclude phantom assets like future pensions, and keep liquid assets separated from property equity. - [Home in net worth](https://wealthscout.app/updates/should-you-include-your-home-in-net-worth): Yes. Include the home at a supportable current value and include the mortgage as a separate liability. The difference is home equity. Keep that equity separate from cash and listed investments because using it normally requires a sale, refinance or new borrowing. - [Mortgage vs investing](https://wealthscout.app/updates/pay-down-mortgage-or-invest): If your mortgage rate is significantly lower than expected market returns, investing usually wins mathematically. If you prefer a guaranteed return and peace of mind, paying down the mortgage wins psychologically. Using an offset account offers the best of both by reducing interest while keeping cash fully liquid. - [Reinvesting dividends](https://wealthscout.app/updates/should-i-reinvest-dividends): - [Value vs cost basis](https://wealthscout.app/updates/portfolio-value-vs-cost-base): Use current market value for today's balance sheet and net worth tracking. Use cost basis purely as the acquisition and adjustment history required by tax authorities. Their difference is your unrealized gain or loss, but remember: cost basis is not a measure of your overall investment performance. - [Cash feels tight](https://wealthscout.app/updates/why-cash-feels-tight-when-net-worth-rises): Cash can fall while net worth rises because money is moving into principal repayments, investments, retirement accounts or an asset whose value increased. Track the source of the net-worth change and compare immediately available cash with near-term commitments. - [Personal balance sheet](https://wealthscout.app/updates/how-to-make-a-personal-balance-sheet): Create one row for every material asset and liability, then record its owner, current value, value date, and source. Add assets, subtract liabilities, and retain separate subtotals for cash, investments, property equity, and retirement savings. - [Personal finance dashboards](https://wealthscout.app/updates/personal-finance-dashboard): A personal finance dashboard should track your macro wealth trends - like your total assets and liabilities - rather than micro-managing every daily transaction. Relying on complex manual spreadsheets often leads to burnout, so an automated management dashboard is the most sustainable way to track your long-term net worth. - [Average net worth by age](https://wealthscout.app/updates/household-net-worth): Household net worth grows steadily with age, peaking just before retirement. While the median average provides a useful official benchmark, the average is heavily skewed by ultra-wealthy individuals. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Debt to asset ratio](https://wealthscout.app/updates/debt-to-asset-ratio): A healthy debt-to-asset ratio is typically under 40%, but the percentage matters less than the type of debt you hold. Good debt funds appreciating assets and builds wealth; bad debt funds consumption and drains your cash flow. - [Net worth percentiles](https://wealthscout.app/updates/net-worth-percentile-by-age): Net worth percentiles by age show how your wealth compares to the rest of the population. However, you must look at the 'median' rather than the 'average' to avoid being skewed by billionaires. Ultimately, comparing your wealth to percentiles is less useful than tracking your progress against your own specific retirement goals. - [Asset rich cash poor](https://wealthscout.app/updates/asset-rich-cash-poor): An asset rich cash poor household has a substantial net worth but lacks accessible cash for its commitments. Property and retirement accounts dominate household wealth, while mortgages and living costs require immediate liquid cash. - [Capital gains tax records](https://wealthscout.app/updates/capital-gains-tax-records): To minimize capital gains tax, you must track your total 'cost basis.' This includes the original purchase price, legal fees, stamp duty, agent commissions, and capital improvements. Without permanent digital records of these costs, tax authorities will assume a lower cost basis, artificially inflating your taxable profit. - [Retirement accounts](https://wealthscout.app/updates/how-retirement-accounts-fit-into-net-worth): Yes, you must include retirement accounts in your net worth because they are your legal assets. However, you should track their gross pre-tax value and categorize them separately from your liquid cash to ensure you understand your true financial readiness. - [House rich choices](https://wealthscout.app/updates/house-rich-should-you-downsize-borrow-or-keep-the-home): Forecast three complete scenarios: keep the property, sell and buy a cheaper property after all costs, and borrow against equity with repayments and interest. The best outcome depends on the actual net capital released, your lifestyle, and your risk tolerance, not just the property's gross value. - [10 signs it's time to retire](https://wealthscout.app/updates/10-signs-it-is-time-to-retire): The signs that it is time to retire are split between math and psychology. Mathematically, you are ready when your safe withdrawal rate covers your expenses, your high-interest debt is gone, and you have a cash buffer. Psychologically, you are ready when you recognize the 'One More Year' trap, prioritize your depreciating physical health over your compounding portfolio, and have a clear purpose to avoid the boredom of sudden freedom. - [Trust vs personal name](https://wealthscout.app/updates/buying-etfs-trust-vs-personal-name): Buying ETFs in your personal name is free and simple, but leaves assets exposed to personal lawsuits. Buying in a trust offers asset protection and tax flexibility, but requires high setup and annual accounting fees. You must choose the right structure before buying, as transferring assets later triggers capital gains tax. - [Handling a cash windfall](https://wealthscout.app/updates/what-to-do-with-large-cash-windfall): The first rule of a large cash windfall is to do nothing for 6 to 12 months. Park the funds in a safe account, hire a fee-only fiduciary advisor and a tax attorney, and strictly cap any gifts to family and friends. When you are ready to invest, use broad, low-cost index funds to preserve the wealth rather than speculative individual bets. - [Source of wealth](https://wealthscout.app/updates/why-banks-ask-source-of-wealth): A source of funds check asks how money for a specific transaction was obtained. A source of wealth check asks how your broader asset position was accumulated over time. Financial regulators require institutions to request this evidence as part of customer due diligence and global anti-money laundering controls. - [Net worth by age (UK)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-uk): UK household net worth grows steadily with age, peaking at £502,500 between ages 65 and 74. While the ONS median provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by property equity. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (Australia)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-australia): Australian household net worth grows steadily with age, peaking at $877,000 between ages 55 and 64. While the ABS median provides a useful official benchmark, the average is heavily skewed by property and Superannuation. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (Canada)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-canada): Canadian household net worth grows steadily with age, peaking at $873,400 between ages 55 and 64. While the StatCan median provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by housing equity. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (US)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-us): US household net worth grows steadily with age, peaking at $410,000 between ages 65 and 74. While the Federal Reserve median provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by the top 1%. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (NZ)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-nz): New Zealand individual net worth grows steadily with age, peaking at $432,000 between ages 65 and 74. While the Stats NZ median provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by housing equity. Tracking your own specific figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (Ireland)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-ireland): Irish household net worth grows steadily with age, peaking at €337,900 between ages 55 and 64. While the CSO median provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by Dublin housing equity. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (Spain)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-spain): Spanish household net worth grows steadily with age, peaking at €270,000 between ages 65 and 74. While the Banco de España median provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by inherited property. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (Estonia)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-estonia): Estonian household net worth grows steadily with age, peaking at €110,000 between ages 55 and 64. While the Eesti Pank median provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by the tech sector boom. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (Singapore)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-singapore): Singapore does not publish age-bracketed net worth data. The overall adult median net worth is roughly S$130,000. While this provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by CPF and HDB equity. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (South Africa)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-south-africa): South Africa does not publish age-bracketed net worth data. The overall adult median net worth is roughly R100,000. While this provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by extreme wealth inequality. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (Hong Kong)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-hong-kong): Hong Kong does not publish age-bracketed net worth data. The overall adult median net worth is roughly HK$1,500,000. While this provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by extreme property prices. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (UAE)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-uae): The UAE does not publish age-bracketed net worth data. The overall adult median net worth is roughly AED 450,000. While this provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by the influx of ultra-wealthy expats. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Net worth by age (Malaysia)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/average-net-worth-by-age-malaysia): Malaysia does not publish age-bracketed net worth data. The overall adult median net worth is roughly RM 40,000. While this provides a useful official benchmark, it is heavily skewed by wealth inequality. Tracking your own specific household figures is the only way to forecast your financial future. - [Outgrowing your spreadsheet](https://wealthscout.app/updates/net-worth-spreadsheet): A net worth spreadsheet is a great starting point, but it becomes a fragile burden as your wealth grows. When you start adding multiple entities, tax calculations, and long-term forecasting, you are maintaining a broken software model instead of tracking your finances. - [Outgrowing your rental spreadsheet](https://wealthscout.app/updates/rental-property-spreadsheet): A rental property spreadsheet works well for a single basic investment. But as you add properties, depreciation, and complex tax structures, maintaining the spreadsheet becomes a fragile, error-prone chore that distracts from actual decision-making. - [DIY financial planning](https://wealthscout.app/updates/diy-financial-planning-software): The best DIY financial planning software depends on your needs. Use ProjectionLab for Monte Carlo simulations, Kubera for broad account syncing, and WealthScout for tracking complex entities and forecasting extraction tax. - [The 5 Best Net Worth Trackers for Australians in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-australia): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for the UK in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-uk): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for the US in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-us): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for Canada in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-canada): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for New Zealand in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-nz): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for Ireland in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-ireland): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for South Africa in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-south-africa): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for Hong Kong in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-hong-kong): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for Singapore in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-singapore): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for the UAE in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-uae): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for Malaysia in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-malaysia): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for Spain in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-spain): - [The Best Net Worth Trackers for Estonia in 2026](https://wealthscout.app/updates/best-net-worth-trackers-estonia): - [What is Coast FIRE? (And How to Calculate Your Number)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/what-is-coast-fire): - [What is Barista FIRE? (How to Calculate Your Semi-Retirement)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/what-is-barista-fire): - [What is Fat FIRE? (How to Calculate a Luxurious Early Retirement)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/what-is-fat-fire): - [Why Most FIRE Calculators Are Broken (And What to Use Instead)](https://wealthscout.app/updates/why-fire-calculators-are-broken): - [What is a HENRY? The Financial Reality for Australian High Earners](https://wealthscout.app/updates/what-is-a-henry-australia):