Monthly Snapshots
The wealth tracker lets you record your financial position over time. By taking regular snapshots, you can see:
- How your net worth changes month to month
- Which accounts are growing (or shrinking)
- Your progress toward financial goals
- Long-term trends that matter
What to Track
A snapshot records the assets and liabilities you enter at that point in time:
Assets
- Cash - Bank accounts, emergency funds
- Investments - Brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds, ETFs
- Retirement - Pension accounts, super, 401(k), IRAs
- Property - Home equity, investment properties
- Other - Vehicles, valuables, business interests
Liabilities
- Mortgages - Home loans, investment property loans
- Other debt - Car loans, student loans, credit cards
Net Worth
Your net worth is simply: Assets - Liabilities
Tracking this number over time shows how the recorded total changes between snapshots.
How Often to Update
The tracker is designed for monthly snapshots, for example:
- Around your pay cycle
- At the same time each month (for consistency)
- After any major financial events
Different update intervals produce different levels of detail. Use a consistent interval when you want snapshots to be easier to compare.
Using Snapshots with Scenarios
Your current finances from the wealth tracker can be used as the starting point for scenarios. This lets you:
- Start with your real numbers (not guesses)
- Model different paths from where you actually are
- Update scenarios as your situation changes
Click “Start New Scenario” from the wealth tracker to create a projection based on your latest snapshot.
For related numerical concepts, continue in Financial Independence is a Number or Coast FIRE.