Your net worth is more than just the balance in your bank account. It’s a measure of your financial health. To get the answer to “What is my net worth?” subtract your total liabilities from your total assets.
If you’re trying to figure out which assets are the most valuable or will otherwise give your net worth a boost, here’s a rundown of 15 critical assets. Learn how you can start making lucrative investments toward your future.
1. Owning Your Primary Residence
Homeownership ranks among the most common ways people gain a substantial increase in net worth. Instead of choosing the traditional 30-year mortgage, opt for a 15- or 20-year term, so you can pay it off more quickly, resulting in a significant asset and savings on interest. And if you decide to sell after you pay your home off, capital gains are tax-free up to $500,000, as long as your status is married and filing jointly.
Renting might make more financial sense than owning in some high-priced urban areas, depending on whether the cost of ownership is reasonable for total living expenses.
2. Second Home
Second homes are a savvy way to earn passive income via short-term rental platforms like HomeAway, VRBO, or Airbnb. At first, you can use the extra income to help pay off your mortgage more quickly. Then, once you pay off the mortgage, you’ll own a significant asset while still benefitting from the passive income of renting it out if you choose — both can result in a nice gain in your net worth.
3. Retirement Savings
Retirement might be decades later, but saving now can enhance your net worth. You can start saving for retirement now, and tax-deferred accounts, such as a 401(k) or a traditional IRA, can help your savings balance grow more quickly. Make it a goal to maximize your retirement contributions by contributing a set amount each paycheck, especially if there’s a company match. You’ll consistently put money away by treating your savings contributions as a budget item, allowing it to grow and increase your net worth.
4. Education
You might not have thought of it this way, but your educational credentials are among your greatest assets. Investing in your education to qualify for a better job or gain a promotion can help you reap significant financial gain over time. And your education doesn’t have to end when you receive your bachelor’s degree. To help pay for continuing education classes or certifications, you could take out a student loan from a credit union if it has in-school student loan options and parent loan options through Sallie Mae Bank or a lender partner.
If you’re still not convinced, consider this: With a savings account paying 2% interest, you would have to save $300,000 before you would see $6,000 in additional income — an amount that can come much more quickly from a promotion or annual raise that you earn as a result of further education.
5. Rental Real Estate
You’re effectively building your net worth when you use the bank’s money to acquire rental properties. Once you start renting out the properties, use the income to pay off the mortgages instead of dipping into your bank account. Your parcels will gain equity; their market value should increase over time.
Suppose you’re not ready to acquire properties alone but have real estate savvy. In that case, you can get a group of investors to come up with the down payment with the understanding that you’ll have a percentage of ownership in the property. And once you’ve successfully financed the rental property, you can negotiate a fee from the investors for its management.
6. Health
Having good health is a critical asset to building your net worth. It allows you to work more hours and be more productive without spending a bundle on medical appointments, treatments, or surgeries. Invest in good health by eating well, exercising, and visiting your doctor for regular checkups.
7. College Savings
Many parents assume ownership of a 529 college savings plan for their children, which increases their net worth until it’s time to use the money for school. Five hundred twenty-nine projects grow tax-free, and distributions are tax-free as long as they are used for qualifying educational expenses. The funds can also be transferred between beneficiaries without penalties or taxes. For example, funds could be divided between multiple siblings.
8. Maintain Your Home
Because your home is likely one of your most significant assets, it makes sense to invest in maintaining it. Replacing your roof, keeping your gutters, and regularly servicing your HVAC system can get you a better return when it comes time to sell. On the other hand, paying attention to your home can give potential buyers opportunities to use the lack of maintenance to negotiate a lower price, leaving you with less money.
9. Investments
Investing can be a good income strategy, but it’s not a sure thing. Take the time to research investments before you commit. You’ll also need to understand when to buy and sell stocks. If you’re inexperienced in the stock market, you don’t have to go it alone. Seek advice from an investment advisor who helps you pick the best stocks for your portfolio based on the type of risk you’re comfortable assuming and the return you would like to earn.
10. Household Items
You might not consider a new refrigerator or laptop a way to boost your net worth but consider the big picture. Like when buying a vehicle, it pays to buy the best quality, longest-lasting products you can afford while also considering the rate at which these items depreciate. Constantly paying repair bills and replacing appliances can be costly, but buying quality items boosts your net worth because it leaves more money in the bank. To determine which brands and models are the best investment, read reviews, compare products and find the best deals.
11. Private Lending
Being someone else’s bank allows you to generate a passive income that can boost your net worth. Private loans, notes, and trust deeds are investments where you loan money to private individuals or entities in exchange for interest. With these types of investments, you’ll still receive a consistent rate of return regardless of whether the value of the underlying asset goes up or down — which translates into funds you can choose to reinvest and gain more wealth.
To protect your interests, make sure you understand a potential investment’s ins and outs by consulting with a professional with extensive experience for advice, such as a broker, entity, or regulated and adequately licensed partner.
12. Collectibles
Collectibles can be more than just a hobby. They can boost your net worth — especially if you become an expert in a particular area. Consider investing in fine art, antiques, or rare wine. But just because a collectible item was lucrative in the past — think Elvis memorabilia and general World War II items — doesn’t mean it’s still a good investment.
That’s why it’s essential to educate yourself. Visit a reputable pawn shop, gallery owners, and other experts in the field to gain the knowledge you need to invest in collectibles that will add to your bottom line.
13. Permanent Life Insurance
Most people assume they can’t access their life insurance unless something happens to them, but that isn’t always true. If you have a permanent life insurance policy — such as whole life, universal life, or variable life policy — the premiums you pay will grow tax-deferred. Once the procedure has reached a specific cash value, you can access the funds tax-free. The accumulated cash, and fewer fees, counts as an asset that can increase your net worth.
14. Vehicle
The car you drive can put a significant dent in your residual income. Flashy sports cars and luxury automobiles are nice, but along with hefty monthly payments, they’re also the most expensive to insure, according to Insure.com. Get the most from your investment in a car by researching factors like reliability, safety features, maintenance expenses over time, and the cost of insurance before making a purchase. If you’re unsure where to start, you can use a car-buying service to make the process easier.
Buying a dependable vehicle that will hold its value for years after you pay it off can keep you from the expense of having to purchase a new car every few years, which can decrease your net worth.
15. Income From an Extra Job
Choosing to take on a side hustle can earn you some extra cash. And as long as you save or invest the money, you’ll increase your net worth. Consider doing jobs that pay enough to make them worth your time, such as finding and reselling items for a profit, house sitting, driving for Uber or Lyft, becoming a virtual assistant, or writing resumes.