Is WealthWise a replacement for QuickBooks Self-Employed?

No. QuickBooks does bookkeeping (P&L, balance sheets, invoicing, mileage logs in GAAP-style ledgers). WealthWise does planning, advisory, and personal-finance integration — the layer that sits above your books and ties business and personal money to your long-term wealth goals. Most self-employed people use both: QuickBooks for the books, WealthWise for the strategy.

Can WealthWise file my taxes?

No. WealthWise calculates and tracks your estimated quarterly taxes, organizes your deductions and 1099s, and exports a CPA-ready package to your tax preparer or filing software (TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA). We get you to filing-ready in a fraction of the time — but we do not file. Filing is a regulated activity we deliberately stay out of.

How does the AI Advisor work? Is it just ChatGPT?

It runs on Google Gemini 3, which is in the same league as Claude and ChatGPT. The difference: it sees your real numbers (when you connect your bank). It knows you are self-employed. It remembers your goals, prior decisions, and tax situation across sessions. ChatGPT does none of that — every chat starts from zero, and it cannot see a single one of your accounts.

Is my financial data safe?

Yes. Bank connections happen through Teller (rolling out Q3 2026), which uses bank-certified direct integrations and never shares your password with us. Data at rest is encrypted (AES-256). We are GLBA-compliant and follow industry-standard security practices. We do not sell or share your data — ever. Your data is yours; export or delete it anytime.

What banks does WealthWise connect to?

Once Teller integration ships in Q3 2026: 7,000+ US institutions including all major banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Citi, US Bank), all major brokerages (Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard, Robinhood, E*Trade), and most regional banks and credit unions. Until then, you can import via CSV or enter manually — and the AI advisor still works.

What if I have an LLC, S-corp, or sole proprietorship?

All three work. Tell us your business structure during onboarding and the AI advisor and quarterly tax math adjust accordingly — pass-through SE-tax math for sole props and single-member LLCs, payroll + distribution math for S-corps, partnership splits for multi-member LLCs. The Studio plan handles multiple businesses simultaneously.

Can my CPA see my data?

Yes. Generate a CPA Export Package any time — a clean zip of your YTD income, deductions categorized to IRS schema, 1099s, mileage logs, and prior-year comparisons. Most CPAs will tell you it is the most organized year-end package they have ever received. Your CPA does not need a WealthWise login.

Why does WealthWise cost $99 a year?

Because the moment we monetize through ads or data, we stop being on your side. $99/year is what it costs to deliver this value sustainably. We are not subsidizing through ads, data sales, lead generation, or pushing you toward financial products. You pay for the tool. We build the tool. Simple.

What if I am not self-employed?

WealthWise still works as a general AI financial OS — budget, debt, investments, FIRE, advisor, vault. We just will not be the best tool for you specifically. If you have a single W-2 income with a normal household structure, try Monarch Money or Copilot Money — they are optimized for that life. We are optimized for yours.

Can I export my data if I leave?

Always. Full CSV and JSON export for everything you have ever entered or imported. No export wall, no friction, no 'sorry we couldn't make this work' surveys. Your data is yours — that is a foundational principle, not a marketing line.

Guide·Updated February 8, 2026

Net Worth: The Single Number That Shows Your Financial Health

Income tells you how much flows in. Net worth tells you how much you've actually kept. Here's how to track and grow it.

What Is Net Worth?

Net worth is simply your total assets minus your total liabilities. Assets include cash, investments, retirement accounts, real estate equity, and valuable property. Liabilities include mortgages, student loans, car loans, credit card balances, and any other debts. The result can be positive or negative—many young adults start with a negative net worth due to student debt.

Why Track Net Worth?

Income and expenses are snapshots of a single month. Net worth is the cumulative score. You might earn a high income but carry so much debt that your net worth is low. Conversely, moderate earners who save consistently can build impressive net worth over time. Tracking it monthly reveals whether your financial decisions are actually moving you forward.

How to Calculate Your Net Worth

List every asset with its current market value: checking and savings accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts (401k, IRA), home equity (estimated value minus mortgage balance), vehicle value, and other valuables. Then list every liability: remaining mortgage, student loans, car loans, credit cards, personal loans. Subtract total liabilities from total assets.

Net Worth Benchmarks by Age

A common benchmark: by age 30, aim for a net worth equal to your annual salary. By 40, three times your salary. By 50, six times. By 60, eight times. These are rough guidelines from financial research—your actual target depends on lifestyle goals, location, and when you want to retire. The most useful comparison is with your own past: are you growing month over month?

Strategies to Grow Net Worth

There are only three levers: increase assets (save and invest more), decrease liabilities (pay down debt faster), or both. Maximize tax-advantaged accounts first (401k match, Roth IRA). Avoid lifestyle inflation when you get a raise. Pay off high-interest debt aggressively. Over time, compound growth on your invested assets does most of the heavy lifting.

Put This Into Practice

Apply what you've learned using the WealthWise tool built for this exact purpose.

Try the Net Worth Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

Is net worth the same as income?

No. Income is what you earn in a period. Net worth is the total value of everything you own minus everything you owe. High income with high spending can result in low net worth.

Should I include my home in net worth?

Yes, but only the equity (market value minus remaining mortgage). Some people track two numbers: total net worth (including home equity) and investable net worth (excluding home equity).

How often should I check my net worth?

Monthly is ideal. It's frequent enough to spot trends but not so frequent that market fluctuations cause anxiety. Update your numbers on the same day each month for consistency.