Net worth increase 2022 (i.e. the 'present' you give yourself)

[tesuzuki2002]

FY 2014 Ended  $436K
Estimated FY 2015  Ending  $520K

[boarder42]

2013: ~153k
2014: ~253k
House value not included.
Found mmm in January. Was a pretty damn good year.

2015 expected - 343k

[tummyrubbingjesus]

Hi all,


I'd like to know how you guys did this.
I attended another thread to get some insight into how somebody hit up to 300k in 4 years. A very impressive feat.

Some peoples' numbers here are also very impressive. I'd love to get some insight for everyone on how they managed to really get some awesome %s like that.


As an example:

"
In my case,
2013 =  38k
2014 ~ 121k
"

I mean even being able to save 80k tin a year.. that's a good % you're getting on any investment fund you're hitting.

It'd be really great if people could also give some of the funds/investments - or at least types of investment if they're shy about details - that they're taking to get some of these awesome number.



Inspired by the community here and Mr Mustache I started my first index fund account today, dropped some money into it and have set up a monthly contribution. Provided some advice from others on this site, plus a bit of research into the statistical past I took out the USA total market index one (the vanguard ) to get some of those percentages right now. The rate at the moment is relatively low ~6-7% but has a good history the past ocuple of years, and likely to keep growing over the next few years.

As i contribute further i'll be adding in some other markets too to make sure i get a bit of a range of funds.


One question I have is whether you guys in the US get taxed on this stuff? in the UK we have something called an 'ISA' which allows you to deposit £15,500(ish) per year that generates tax free interest. Once you start pushing above that you need another fund that can be taxed. How does it work for you Yanks?

TRJ

[marty998]

Some of us live in property markets that have experienced quite rapid growth. My 2 units have increased in value by about 11% this year (~$100,000). This is not taxable until I sell, and for one of them, will be tax free when sold.

Another $50,000 from cash savings and another $20,000 from retirement savings brings me up to $170,000 gain for the year.

Of course, property markets don't go up every year, so I don't count on that growth being repeatable all the time.

[FIreDrill]

Hi all,


I'd like to know how you guys did this.
I attended another thread to get some insight into how somebody hit up to 300k in 4 years. A very impressive feat.

Some peoples' numbers here are also very impressive. I'd love to get some insight for everyone on how they managed to really get some awesome %s like that.


As an example:

"
In my case,
2013 =  38k
2014 ~ 121k
"

I mean even being able to save 80k tin a year.. that's a good % you're getting on any investment fund you're hitting.

It'd be really great if people could also give some of the funds/investments - or at least types of investment if they're shy about details - that they're taking to get some of these awesome number.



Inspired by the community here and Mr Mustache I started my first index fund account today, dropped some money into it and have set up a monthly contribution. Provided some advice from others on this site, plus a bit of research into the statistical past I took out the USA total market index one (the vanguard ) to get some of those percentages right now. The rate at the moment is relatively low ~6-7% but has a good history the past ocuple of years, and likely to keep growing over the next few years.

As i contribute further i'll be adding in some other markets too to make sure i get a bit of a range of funds.


One question I have is whether you guys in the US get taxed on this stuff? in the UK we have something called an 'ISA' which allows you to deposit £15,500(ish) per year that generates tax free interest. Once you start pushing above that you need another fund that can be taxed. How does it work for you Yanks?

TRJ

I'll give you a breakdown of our projected increase this year and some details behind it.

Start of 2015 = 106k
Start of 2016 = 200k


Tax Deferred Investment Contributions...

Wife 401k = 18,000
Wife 401k Match = 1,500
Wife IRA = 5,500
Husband 401k = 18,000
Husband 401k Match = 6,500
Husband IRA = 5,500

Total tax deferred investments = 55,000

Other added "Investments"

Home value increase + principle pay down = 20,000
Taxable investments = 10,000
Cash = 10,000

Combined for a total estimated increase of 95,000 in 2015.  The market was pretty flat this year so I really didn't get any help from that.


As for what I'm invested in.... Low cost total market index funds such as VTSMX or FSTMX with a Asset allocation of roughly 20% bonds and 80% stocks.  Basic breakdown would be 20% in Vanguard VBMFX and 80% in VTSMX or similar funds.

[tummyrubbingjesus]

Ah, great.


That makes a lot of sense. I wasn't really thinking about property investments. I've just bought my first house now and so i guess that will be a contributing factor.  I don't really have a wife, i guess if two people are putting into matched retirement funds and saving cash ... well that helps a lot.


I'm unhindered by marraige or kids but can save a pretty decent sum per year. I'm hoping to get some great advances like that as I move along in the world.

Thanks for the breakdown - and anyone else please feel free to break down your gains - give back with words of wisdom.

TRJ

[Bracken_Joy]

I don't really have a wife,

Couldn't resist.

[faramund]

This is the sort of comment that many people will disagree with, because ... I have a margin loan with my shares.

So, if I had 10 dollars, in equity, I'd take out a $10 margin loan. For me, my margin loan is 7% interest, which because I'm in a 38% tax bracket, means its really about 4%. So this year, my shares grew 8.5%. So 20 dollars would become 21.70 then minus the interest of 0.40 becomes 21.30, so 1.30 gain on $10, so 13% growth in net assets.

I'm in Australia and the stock market here is still well down on 2008, and currently has a dividend yield of 5% (so the dividend pays the interest on my margin loan). Hence I think the chance of a major downturn is low. I'm also very widely diversified (50 stocks - none more than 6% of my portfolio)

I would NOT do this in a booming market. In a booming market you can make a good return without leverage, and after most booms, comes a bust, which is very painful if you're leveraged. 

Given, how high PE rations are in the USA - its an example, of somewhere where I would NOT use this strategy now.

[SwordGuy]

We're packing up to move and some of the papers aren't available, so I'll just include some approximations.  Plus, my mom died and left us some assets but I won't be including those as they had nothing to do with any actions we took:


401k for wife and I:    46,000
401k match          :~    4,000
Vanguard purchase:    12,500
Rental #1:                 35,000    Appreciation from repairs made.
Rental #2:                 30,000    Ditto
New House                 97,000    Difference between purchase and appraised price.
===================
                              $224,500


Have no idea on what the stock market gains or losses were.

Our income should go also go up by $9,600 from the two rentals (Net profit, after current and projected expenses).

[mastrr]

just started tracking

11/1 - $105,409
12/1 - $112,227 (few hours early)

some favorable market gains this month

[K-Dogg]

My networth is January was around -15k. But as of today it's +45k! So I'm pretty happy about that.

[AcftW]

End of 2014 Net Worth: 2k
End of 2015 Net Worth: 40k now, expected 44k by the end of this month.

[PharmaStache]

About 100k.  350-450k.  Pretty awesome!

[mastrr]

calculating net worth question:

Is debt (mortgage) on a rental property counted against net worth?  Currently I am not adding this debt because I consider my rental an asset.

[RWD]

calculating net worth question:

Is debt (mortgage) on a rental property counted against net worth?  Currently I am not adding this debt because I consider my rental an asset.

Yes. You should count the approximate value of the rental towards your net worth and subtract the mortgage. Your positive equity is what remains.

[mastrr]

calculating net worth question:

Is debt (mortgage) on a rental property counted against net worth?  Currently I am not adding this debt because I consider my rental an asset.

Yes. You should count the approximate value of the rental towards your net worth and subtract the mortgage. Your positive equity is what remains.

ugh okay, I'll have to re-calculate

[mastrr]

just started tracking

11/1 - $105,409
12/1 - $112,227 (few hours early)

some favorable market gains this month

New NW factoring in debt from mortgage on rental:

11/1/15 - +16,353
12/1/15 - +23,425

[adam]

I started tracking just cash accounts, no cars, no boat, no house.  But I don't have history, so...

including car values (negative), boat value (positive), and timeshare value (positive?)
We went from ~$80k to ~$127k

I think I'm going to prefer the non-equity accounting because that $127k is after I updated my vehicle values, which obviously went down.  I also need to start tracking the wife's retirement account. Not a lot goes in there right now but I think she's got like $30k.

[boarder42]

I started tracking just cash accounts, no cars, no boat, no house.  But I don't have history, so...

including car values (negative), boat value (positive), and timeshare value (positive?)
We went from ~$80k to ~$127k

I think I'm going to prefer the non-equity accounting because that $127k is after I updated my vehicle values, which obviously went down.  I also need to start tracking the wife's retirement account. Not a lot goes in there right now but I think she's got like $30k.

a timeshare is negative equity its a money pit

[Kiwi Mustache]

Start of year-

61k cash/bank deposits
19k superannuation
80k total

Now (3rd December)-
750k investment property
630k property loan
120k equity in property
14k share portfolio
25k superannuation
159k total

So basically doubled my money in one year :)

[adam]

I started tracking just cash accounts, no cars, no boat, no house.  But I don't have history, so...

including car values (negative), boat value (positive), and timeshare value (positive?)
We went from ~$80k to ~$127k

I think I'm going to prefer the non-equity accounting because that $127k is after I updated my vehicle values, which obviously went down.  I also need to start tracking the wife's retirement account. Not a lot goes in there right now but I think she's got like $30k.

a timeshare is negative equity its a money pit

Yeah it incurs a cost, but I don't  owe anything on the mortgage and theoretically I could sell it now.  Most people just end up giving them away though so at worst its probably a wash. (after the sunk cost)

[FireLane]

As of January 1 of this year, my NW was $573K. I did the math this week and realized that between 401K contributions (hit the max contribution amount, plus a 50% company match), taxable contributions to Vanguard and Lending Club, and increased home equity from paying down my mortgage, my NW has increased by just over $100K, even with a flat stock market.

That's a lot better than I had expected. I'm really looking forward to next year, when I'm hoping the economy will do better and we'll see some real stock market growth.

[MilesTeg]

Total: $85k

Target was $100k, but stock markets did not cooperate this year. Yay for diversification though, as I could have missed the target much worse if not for house and liquid savings.

More importantly, my outstanding debt was reduced by almost $20k

[2Birds1Stone]

As of January 1 of this year, my NW was $573K. I did the math this week and realized that between 401K contributions (hit the max contribution amount, plus a 50% company match), taxable contributions to Vanguard and Lending Club, and increased home equity from paying down my mortgage, my NW has increased by just over $100K, even with a flat stock market.

That's a lot better than I had expected. I'm really looking forward to next year, when I'm hoping the economy will do better and we'll see some real stock market growth.

Or a real correction -_-

[Pooperman]

As of January 1 of this year, my NW was $573K. I did the math this week and realized that between 401K contributions (hit the max contribution amount, plus a 50% company match), taxable contributions to Vanguard and Lending Club, and increased home equity from paying down my mortgage, my NW has increased by just over $100K, even with a flat stock market.

That's a lot better than I had expected. I'm really looking forward to next year, when I'm hoping the economy will do better and we'll see some real stock market growth.

Or a real correction -_-

Or maybe it just does nothing for 20 years...

[11ducks]

My net worth (excluding retirement funds - around $53k)

Jan 1 2014  -$33,600 owed (student loans)
1 Jan 2015  -$21,000 owed
12 Dec 2015 -$2,242 owed  - so close to free!!!!

Have increased my NW by $18,758 this year! (around 40% of my net income). I would have broken even by now (NW$0) if it weren't for $5k of unexpected dental bills (on top of $5k budgeted for dental bills) in 2015. By the end of Feb 2016, i'll be free of student loans.  It can feel so hard to make a significant difference, scrimping and saving on a single parent income - but looking back now, I'm so very glad I found MMM!!!!!

[sol]

Or maybe it just does nothing for 20 years...

That would also be fine with me.  My annual savings still far exceed my average annual market returns, and a flat market for 20 years means I'm guaranteed a flat 5% SWR for that period.  Win! 

Of course it's even better than that, since there has never been a 20 year period in US market history where the market wasn't positive.  I guess there's a first time for everything?  If you're the type that honestly believes that the next 20 years are going to be worse than the great depression, two world wars, and the rise of OPEC during stagflation and the much ballyhood "death of equities" period, then you probably should be living somewhere else.

[Pooperman]

Or maybe it just does nothing for 20 years...

That would also be fine with me.  My annual savings still far exceed my average annual market returns, and a flat market for 20 years means I'm guaranteed a flat 5% SWR for that period.  Win! 

Of course it's even better than that, since there has never been a 20 year period in US market history where the market wasn't positive.  I guess there's a first time for everything?  If you're the type that honestly believes that the next 20 years are going to be worse than the great depression, two world wars, and the rise of OPEC during stagflation and the much ballyhood "death of equities" period, then you probably should be living somewhere else.

1973-1985 wasn't a good time. I think it was negative slightly after inflation, but basically flat. Not a good time for stocks.

[sol]

1973-1985 wasn't a good time. I think it was negative slightly after inflation, but basically flat. Not a good time for stocks.

Yep, there have been several periods of 10-12 years where the market dropped back down to previous highs, so it looks "flat" from the perspective of straight up index price if you ignore dividends.  But extend that time period to 15 or 20 years?  Suddenly we're back in wildly positive territory again because each of those 10-12 year "flat" periods is bracketed by growth periods.

Seriously people, get a grip.  There's been WAY too much doom and gloom around these parts recently.  Of course the market will crash again in the future, as it always has.  Then it will rise again.  On average it will do something between 5 and 10% per year, depending on which parts of it you are invested in.

[Pooperman]

1973-1985 wasn't a good time. I think it was negative slightly after inflation, but basically flat. Not a good time for stocks.

Yep, there have been several periods of 10-12 years where the market dropped back down to previous highs, so it looks "flat" from the perspective of straight up index price if you ignore dividends.  But extend that time period to 15 or 20 years?  Suddenly we're back in wildly positive territory again because each of those 10-12 year "flat" periods is bracketed by growth periods.

Seriously people, get a grip.  There's been WAY too much doom and gloom around these parts recently.  Of course the market will crash again in the future, as it always has.  Then it will rise again.  On average it will do something between 5 and 10% per year, depending on which parts of it you are invested in.

The bands of flat are bigger. The two major ones: 1928-1950 (22 years) and 1965 - 1982 (17 years). This is with inflation and dividend reinvestment. The gains are 10-20 year periods like 1950-1965 (15 years) and 1982-2000 (18 years). 2000-2014 (14 years) was a pretty flat time as well, maybe you count this year and make it 15 years. You're right about the trend, but it's bigger.

I don't really care though. Money goes in, it grows eventually.

[pancakes]

My husband and I started 2014 with $123 000 and finished up with $150 000

I'm very happy with our $27k increase which was almost exclusively from savings but I believe that we are capable of saving over $40k/year.

Interesting to look back on this. We made it to the end of November up $37k, looking to just scape a $40k increase by the end of the year. We've taken a couple of holidays and moved house but also both increased our earnings. Overall I'm pleased.

Our small share portfolio (managed fund) is currently down around 5% from where it started in January which seems to be similar to what the major Australian indexes have done. I'm still chicken on the investing front and plenty of people probably have done well in the Australian market this year, but at least I don't feel like I've missed out a year of great growth?

[dragoncar]

I don't want to talk about it :-(

[marty998]

My husband and I started 2014 with $123 000 and finished up with $150 000

I'm very happy with our $27k increase which was almost exclusively from savings but I believe that we are capable of saving over $40k/year.

Interesting to look back on this. We made it to the end of November up $37k, looking to just scape a $40k increase by the end of the year. We've taken a couple of holidays and moved house but also both increased our earnings. Overall I'm pleased.

Our small share portfolio (managed fund) is currently down around 5% from where it started in January which seems to be similar to what the major Australian indexes have done. I'm still chicken on the investing front and plenty of people probably have done well in the Australian market this year, but at least I don't feel like I've missed out a year of great growth?

I think you'd struggle to find anyone who has had a year of great growth, unless your portfolio consisted of Blackmores, A2 Milk, Capilano Honey and Bellamy's.

Big Banks, BHP, Woolies and Woodside are all down, dragging the index with them. Market mood is so pessimistic right now, good opportunity to be able to accumulate over a long period of time.

[dude]

Hmmm, last NW calculation was before Friday's big market drop, on Nov. 24th.  I have a 1/9/15 calculation to compare it to.  Over that period, net worth increased 26% by my math. 

In addition, an $8K pay raise this year will affect my pension when I collect it a few years from now, going forward until I die, to the tune of @$3250/year minimum (assuming a 30-year retirement, that's an additional $97,500 in today's dollars).  I count that as something of a net worth increase!

[manonfire1007]

Went from -520k (professional loans for 2 plus house) to -460k while adding a paid for 20k car and 27k 401k (after match) and 5k deferred comp. I read that as a 113k positive move. It does not count appreciation of what is in the 401k this year.
460k in debt to go. I pay 9250 a month at it and it will be gone by sept 2020.

[G-dog]

About 52K, and I retired at the beginning of July so no income since then.
It was better, but the market took some back.

[marty998]

Went from -520k (professional loans for 2 plus house) to -460k while adding a paid for 20k car and 27k 401k (after match) and 5k deferred comp. I read that as a 113k positive move. It does not count appreciation of what is in the 401k this year.
460k in debt to go. I pay 9250 a month at it and it will be gone by sept 2020.

Your houses have value.... why exclude the value of your house but include the loans?

[WerKater]

My net worth is up from 105k€ to ~130k€ (23.8%)
(assuming equity prices remain constant until end of the year and I get my one additional savings rate in as planned)
I have no debt and no house. Value of unproductive assets (car and such) not included.

Most of the increase is from additional savings. My funds went up/down by the following percentages over the course of 2015:

Europe LC	Europe SC	N. America LC	N. America SC	Em. Markets	Commodities
7,8%	20,7%	9,76%	4,0%	-10,8%	-25,2%

Weighted average: 3.3%. Diversification is an awesome thing.

[eyePod]

Up 50k so far. Hopefully a little more by the end of the December (we get an extra paycheck this month).

[Jon_Snow]

I would guess around 100k-ish...investments have been a bit flat this year, though they continue to spin off dividends and distributions like always.

B.C. (and to a lesser degree, Mexico) real estate though...a freight train that cannot be stopped (yet)...is a large factor in us being 100k "richer" on paper.

[dandarc]

Dec 2013 - $210K
Dec 2014 - $327K

And we're at $422K as of Dec. 2015.  With the markets more or less flat, and no home sale / purchase to record a gain on this year, I'll take it.

[FLBiker]

Come on guys and gals, spill the beans. How well did you do this year.

I started at around $419k and will end at about $534k. An increase of ~115k to the bucket.

Pretty good year :D though I actually had a bigger 2013 due to some higher shares and property value gains.

2012 - $295k
2013 - $419k
2014 - $534k

Wow, we're virtually identical.

2014 - $407K
2015 - $527K

Gain of $120K.  Next year will be less because my wife is going to be a SAHM until Jan 2017 (or possibly Aug 2017).

[charis]

This is the first year that I've tracked our net worth.

Jan. 2015 = $7,777 NW

Dec. 2015 = $52,000 NW (projected to add another $2K by end of the month)

That's nice.

[FIPurpose]

2014 end: 53k
2015 end: ~131k

I guess gotta see how the end of year stocks play out, but about a 80k gain. This year I saw about a 10% raise in pay, and modest bonuses. My wife had fantastic bonus earnings and an 11% increase in pay. Hoping the market adds at least 10k, and I hope we can add about 90k for 2016.

[manonfire1007]

Went from -520k (professional loans for 2 plus house) to -460k while adding a paid for 20k car and 27k 401k (after match) and 5k deferred comp. I read that as a 113k positive move. It does not count appreciation of what is in the 401k this year.
460k in debt to go. I pay 9250 a month at it and it will be gone by sept 2020.

Your houses have value.... why exclude the value of your house but include the loans?

That's a good point. I wasn't consistent. I counted the car but not the house. My focus is really on killing debt, so I try to just look at the debt and not the net worth. Once the debt is gone the net worth will be a nice new goal to focus on. It should be around 500k when debt is done

[Malaysia41]

I would guess around 100k-ish...investments have been a bit flat this year, though they continue to spin off dividends and distributions like always.

B.C. (and to a lesser degree, Mexico) real estate though...a freight train that cannot be stopped (yet)...is a large factor in us being 100k "richer" on paper.

Similar situation here -- we're up about $150k at the moment, but about $90k of that is on our Beijing apartment.  Things have bounced around a lot, though -- lowest point was around -20k compared to last year's final total (in early February) and highest point was +240k in late November (before I noticed I needed to adjust the exchange rate on the property value).

Not bad considering my income stopped in July, we're still paying high school fees for the kids, and we're paying two sets of household expenses.

Similar, 2/3 of our NW increase is due to our CA house valuation: +$170k on that house alone (eye pop). 

And money is flying out window between tuition and ... well ... tuition... and now, w DD2 starting college,... more tuition.

[Crystal1588]

2009: $38k
2010: $60k
2011: $83k
2012: $107k
2013: $176k
2014: $182k
2015: Looking to be around $222k

Hoping to hit 300k at end of 2016
I'm 27, husband 29

[freebeer]

Come on guys and gals, spill the beans. How well did you do this year...

-55% MOL

(divorce, sigh)

[Travis]

JAN 2014 - $364k (owned a truck, a garage full of "stuff," investments were fairly conservative and spread across 30 high fee funds. And half that $364k was cash!
DEC 2014 - $458k (sold truck, sold stuff, started Roth IRA for DW, got into Vanguard with a much more aggressive AA, deployed and came close to maxing the extended TSP limit)

DEC 2015 - $525k give or take what happens next week.  This year was fairly straightforward as far as AA and contributions go so my NW increase was pretty much what I put in to it since I had zero growth.

[dandarc]

Down another 10k yesterday.  I expect things will bounce around a bit more before the end of the year.  Just hoping I can manage to initiate DH's small Roth conversion when things are up, and then have them drop over the next few days.  Yes, I am a dirty market timer....

I hope this lasts at least till my check clears in January.  Into Feb. would be even better - wife's 457 contributions will start back up again in late January / Early Febrary.  Front-loading can be exciting!