Is this real survey data?

No. The medians and 90th anchors are simplified and illustrative. For decisions, reference current survey data like the Fed’s SCF.

Does geography or household size matter?

Yes in reality, but this tool does not adjust for them. It’s a broad, national-style illustration.

Should I include home equity?

Use a consistent definition of net worth (assets minus liabilities). Many benchmarks include home equity; choose what aligns with your tracking and apply it consistently.

Does this consider income?

No. It’s purely net worth vs age-band anchors. Income-based benchmarks (like age × income formulas) are separate tools.

How often should I check this?

Periodically, especially after major market moves or balance sheet changes (new debt, asset sales, bonuses).

Why cap near ~90 instead of 100?

Above the 90th anchor, real distributions get sparse. This tool stops near 90 to avoid implying precision in the tail.

Does this include pension present value?

Not explicitly. If you want to include it, estimate the present value and add it to net worth—but be consistent when comparing over time.

How should I treat unvested equity or options?

Typically exclude unvested equity for a conservative view. This tool can’t model vesting risk—use your own judgment.

Can I compare households of different sizes?

This tool does not normalize for household size. Two households with the same net worth but different sizes aren’t directly comparable here.

Does debt type matter?

Not in this simplified model. High-interest or unsecured debt can be more problematic than a mortgage, but the tool only looks at total net worth.

How often should I refresh the benchmarks?

At least when new survey data is released or annually. Inflation and market moves can shift real distributions; this tool uses static illustrative anchors.

finance calculator

Wealth Percentile Score

Estimate a rough wealth percentile score by age band using simplified median and 90th-percentile net worth benchmarks.

Results

Wealth percentile (approx): 9000.00%

How to use this calculator

Enter age and net worth.
We place you in an age band and estimate a percentile score against the band’s simplified median and 90th-percentile anchors.
Compare your result to the band anchors to see how far you are from median or 90th-percentile levels.
Adjust net worth to see how changes in assets or debt payoff might shift your percentile.

Inputs explained

Age: Used to place you in a broad age band with an illustrative benchmark.
Net worth: Assets minus liabilities. Benchmarks are illustrative, not current survey data.

How it works

We map your age to a broad band with a simplified median and 90th-percentile net worth anchor.

If net worth is at/below the band’s median, percentile scales linearly up to ~50.

Between median and the 90th-percentile anchor, percentile scales linearly toward ~90.

Above the 90th anchor, we cap near the high end (illustrative only).

Formula

Determine age band → get band median (M) and 90th-percentile anchor (P90). If netWorth ≤ M, percentile ≈ 50 × (netWorth ÷ M). If netWorth between M and P90, percentile scales from ~50 to ~90 across that range. Above P90, cap near upper bound (illustrative only).

When to use it

Quick net worth percentile estimate by age band for a directional check.
Illustrating how net worth compares to peers in a rough way for coaching or personal finance education.
Setting a ballpark target to move from around-median toward higher percentiles over time.
Explaining to family or clients how wealth distribution varies by age without pulling full survey tables.
Motivating savings or debt payoff by showing how changes might shift percentile position.
Contextualizing FIRE (financial independence) goals against rough peer benchmarks.
Creating a lightweight dashboard indicator for personal finance apps without pulling full survey datasets.
Offering a starting point for advisory conversations before diving into detailed planning.
Benchmarking couples by aggregating household net worth and using an age band as a proxy; keep the approach consistent over time.
Demonstrating how a one-time event (inheritance, home sale, business exit) could move percentile placement.
Providing a simple directional check before building a full plan or diving into survey microdata.

Tips & cautions

Benchmarks are simplified and lag reality; use for illustration only.
For precision, consult up-to-date survey data (e.g., Federal Reserve SCF) and household-specific details.
Household size and geography matter; this tool does not adjust for them.
Net worth snapshots can swing with markets—revisit periodically.
Use consistent net worth definitions (include/exclude home equity, vested equity) when tracking over time.
If you’re very young (under 25) or older than 75, band anchors are especially coarse; treat outputs cautiously.
Inflation erodes comparability over time; current-year dollars differ from older survey anchors.
Consider liability mix (student loans vs mortgage) when interpreting percentile—this tool doesn’t distinguish debt quality.
If you track over years, adjust benchmarks for inflation or refresh with current survey anchors to avoid overestimating progress.
Convert all amounts to the same currency; mixing currencies without conversion will distort the percentile.
Illustrative only; not current survey data and not inflation-adjusted.
No household size, geography, or income considered.
Does not separate liquid vs illiquid assets or debt quality.
Does not project growth; snapshot only.
Broad age bands may mask big differences between early vs late years in a decade.
Tail percentiles (very high or very low) are not modeled realistically; capped near 90 on the high end.
Assumes static anchors; real wealth distributions shift over time with markets and policy.
Does not handle deeply negative net worth beyond linear scaling below median.

Worked examples

Around median for the band

Age 40 band median (illustrative): $300k. 90th percentile anchor: $1.2M.
Net worth $320k.
Percentile ≈ just above 50, showing slightly above median for the band.

Between median and 90th percentile

Age 35 band median: $150k. 90th: $600k.
Net worth $400k sits between anchors; percentile lands roughly in the 70s–80s (illustrative scaling).

Near the top of the band

Age 50 band median: $500k. 90th: $2.0M.
Net worth $2.1M pushes near the upper cap (~90+).

Below median

Age 45 band median: $400k. 90th: $1.6M.
Net worth $200k → roughly ~25th percentile by linear scaling to median.

Early-career scenario

Age 28 band median: $40k. 90th: $200k (illustrative).
Net worth $60k → percentile roughly ~60–65, showing above-median progress early on.

Near-retirement snapshot

Age 60 band median: $750k. 90th: $3.0M (illustrative).
Net worth $1.6M → somewhere in the 70s–80s by scaling between anchors.

Large windfall impact

Age 50 band median: $500k. 90th: $2.0M.
Net worth before windfall: $450k (~below median). After $400k inheritance: $850k.
Percentile jumps from below median to between median and 90th, illustrating how lump sums move placement.

Deep dive

Estimate a rough wealth percentile score by age band using simplified median and 90th-percentile net worth benchmarks.

Enter age and net worth for an illustrative wealth percentile estimate.

Use this to benchmark net worth growth goals against broad age-band anchors.

Revisit periodically as markets and your balance sheet change to see your directional progress.

Show clients or family how net worth stacks up without pulling complex survey tables.

Model how paying off debt or receiving a windfall could change your percentile placement.

Use this as a light-touch KPI inside a budgeting or planning workflow, then validate with real data later.

Normalize rough comparisons across age bands before investing time in a full financial plan or survey lookup.

Explain the difference between median and top-decile targets using simple age-band anchors.

Track directional movement over time to see if savings or investing habits are shifting you toward higher percentiles.

FAQs

Is this real survey data?: No. The medians and 90th anchors are simplified and illustrative. For decisions, reference current survey data like the Fed’s SCF.
Does geography or household size matter?: Yes in reality, but this tool does not adjust for them. It’s a broad, national-style illustration.
Should I include home equity?: Use a consistent definition of net worth (assets minus liabilities). Many benchmarks include home equity; choose what aligns with your tracking and apply it consistently.
Does this consider income?: No. It’s purely net worth vs age-band anchors. Income-based benchmarks (like age × income formulas) are separate tools.
How often should I check this?: Periodically, especially after major market moves or balance sheet changes (new debt, asset sales, bonuses).
Why cap near ~90 instead of 100?: Above the 90th anchor, real distributions get sparse. This tool stops near 90 to avoid implying precision in the tail.
Does this include pension present value?: Not explicitly. If you want to include it, estimate the present value and add it to net worth—but be consistent when comparing over time.
How should I treat unvested equity or options?: Typically exclude unvested equity for a conservative view. This tool can’t model vesting risk—use your own judgment.
Can I compare households of different sizes?: This tool does not normalize for household size. Two households with the same net worth but different sizes aren’t directly comparable here.
Does debt type matter?: Not in this simplified model. High-interest or unsecured debt can be more problematic than a mortgage, but the tool only looks at total net worth.
How often should I refresh the benchmarks?: At least when new survey data is released or annually. Inflation and market moves can shift real distributions; this tool uses static illustrative anchors.

Related calculators

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Wealth Calculator (Millionaire Next Door)

Benchmark your net worth using the classic Millionaire Next Door expected wealth formula (age × income ÷ 10) and see your gap.

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Savings Comparison (2025 Benchmark)

Compare your savings to an age-based 2025 benchmark using income multiples to see your gap or lead.

Illustrative percentile estimate only. Benchmarks are simplified age-band medians and 90th-percentile anchors—not current survey data, inflation-adjusted values, or geographic/household-specific figures. Not financial advice; confirm with reputable, current data before making decisions.