Veteran Forward HQ Resources
Net Worth Tracker
A quarterly snapshot of your total financial position to track long-term mission progress.
Section 1 — Assets Inventory (What You Own)
Assets are the resources you control that have economic value. For a veteran, this often includes specialized accounts like the TSP, along with home equity and savings.
List the current market value of everything you own. Be realistic — if you sold it today, what would you actually get?
| Asset Category | Current Value ($) | Notes (Institution, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash (Checking/Savings) | ||
| Emergency Fund (HYSA/CDs) | ||
| Retirement Accounts (TSP/401k/IRA) | ||
| Taxable Investments (Brokerage) | ||
| Real Estate (Primary Home) | ||
| Real Estate (Investment Property) | ||
| Vehicles (Current Resale Value) | ||
| Other Assets (Business/Valuables) | ||
| Total Assets | Sum of all above |
Section 2 — Liabilities Inventory (What You Owe)
Liabilities are your financial obligations. To get an accurate net worth, we must subtract these from your assets.
Include all outstanding balances, even small ones. This is about total clarity.
| Liability Category | Current Balance ($) | Notes (Interest Rate, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage (Primary) | ||
| Mortgage (Investment) | ||
| Auto Loans | ||
| Student Loans | ||
| Credit Card Debt | ||
| Personal Loans | ||
| VA Benefit Overpayments | ||
| Other Liabilities | ||
| Total Liabilities | Sum of all above |
Section 3 — Net Worth Summary
Your Net Worth = Total Assets - Total Liabilities. This single number is the truest measure of your financial health.
Don't obsess over the starting number. Focus on the trend. If your net worth is growing each quarter, your mission is succeeding.
Section 4 — The Marine's Quarter-by-Quarter Discovery
Staff Sergeant Elias, a Marine veteran, started tracking his net worth shortly after transitioning. In his first quarter, he was shocked to see a negative net worth of -$12,000, despite a decent civilian salary.
By tracking quarterly, Elias discovered a pattern: his net worth dipped every December and July due to unplanned vacation spending. This 'reconnaissance' allowed him to adjust his budget ahead of time.
Within two years of consistent tracking, Elias turned that -$12K into +$45K. 'The spreadsheet didn't make the money for me,' he says, 'but it gave me the map. I finally knew where my money was leaking and where I was actually gaining ground.'
- •Update this tracker on the 1st of January, April, July, and October.
- •Ignore short-term market fluctuations in your retirement accounts; focus on the multi-year trend.
- •Use your net worth as a compass, not a scorecard for your value as a person.