Take a household with a $900,000 home, $250,000 in Super, and $80,000 in shares and cash. Total assets come to $1,230,000. Against that they owe a $500,000 mortgage and $25,000 of HECS-HELP and other debt, so total liabilities are $525,000. Net worth is simply assets minus liabilities, which is $705,000. Note that the $250,000 of Super is counted here because it is genuinely theirs, even though it is preserved until retirement. If they wanted a liquid net worth figure for early financial independence planning, they would strip out the Super and the home equity and look only at what they could access today.
Item
Amount
How it is calculated
Net worth is one of the simplest figures in personal finance: add up everything you own and subtract everything you owe. The calculator totals your assets, which here include the home, Super, and shares plus cash, then totals your liabilities, which include the mortgage, HECS-HELP, and any other debt. The difference is your net worth, and it can be negative early in life when study debt and a fresh mortgage outweigh assets. Super is included because it is part of your wealth, but remember it is locked away until you meet a condition of release. Tracking this figure a few times a year shows whether your wealth is genuinely building, since it captures both saving and debt repayment in a single number.
Frequently asked questions
Include Super?
Yes for total net worth, but note Super is preserved until retirement. Track "liquid net worth" (excluding Super + home) separately for early-FI planning.
Should I include my HECS-HELP debt as a liability?
Yes. HECS-HELP is a real liability on your balance sheet even though repayments are income-contingent. The ATO indexes the balance each June using CPI, so the debt grows in real terms until it is fully repaid. Including it gives a more accurate picture of your net position.
How often should I update my net worth?
Most financial planners recommend tracking it quarterly. Property values and super balances shift slowly, so monthly updates add little signal. A quarterly snapshot captures meaningful changes from debt repayments, market movements, and savings without becoming noise.
Can net worth be negative?
Yes, and it is common early in life. A recent graduate with a HECS-HELP balance and no significant assets will typically show a negative net worth. The goal is a clear upward trend over time as debts shrink and assets accumulate, not a positive number at any particular age.