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Where is your net worth?
Most people have no clue what their net worth is, let alone where it is.
Your net worth is the total of what you own minus what you owe.
Your split is the shape of that number. How much is in your Freedom Fund? How much is in your home or other valuable liabilities? How much is in cash and planned spending? How much is debt?
We created this quick visual tool to help you sketch your split and get a rough first look at your money picture.
Sketch your split
This tool is a rough sketch, not a replacement for doing your detailed net worth.
The goal is not precision. The goal is to notice where your net worth is and ask…
“Hmmmm… fascinating. What do I notice?”
If you want to work out your detailed net worth, use our detailed net worth tracker and guide.
Let’s sketch your split…
How big is your Freedom Fund?
Best guesses and round numbers are perfect. Please use whole numbers, no pennies or cents.
This is just for you. We do not collect, store, or see any of your numbers.
Here is a simple description of each element to help you know what to put where:
What gets measured gets improved
One of the critical ideas from Rebel Finance School is that what gets measured gets improved. We implement this by tracking the following monthly:
- spending – where all the money goes
- the size of our gap
- how much we can put into investments
- net worth
Want help working out how to track your net worth? Read this article and then you can download Katie’s handy net worth tracker here.
How much are you investing?
The point of this split tool is to show you what you have invested versus how much you have in valuable liabilities like your house. People get lulled into a false sense of security seeing a good headline net worth number but they still might be in trouble for their retirement as that money is locked in the bricks they live in and not working for them.
To read more on that here is the full article that goes with the tool, If you do what everyone else does…
What do you think?
What do you think of the split tool? What would you change? What would you improve? What realisations did you have whilst using it?
Sending you love, peace and pineapples,
Alan and Katie
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Feel quite comfortable
Michael! YAY. That is awesome. Thanks for commenting
I haven’t done my net worth in years. Freedom fund is okish. But I see that my cash fund is way too large. Am looking forward to the investing courses.
Love it Sarah, that is fantastic to know that! Sending happiness. Alan
Pleasantly surprised…but can see we need to move on
Pedro that is awesome. We have direction now! YAY!
Too much in valuable liabilities ! But just don’t know what to do to change that
Miranda, we will do that in weeks 6-8 and help you figure all that out! It is coming! Alan
Very useful and I have a healthy 50% freedom fund but too much (I’m lucky I know) in cash funds. That’s my fear of investing.
Better than I thought
hat is awesome Frederique! YAY. Let’s keep working on it
Pleasantly surprised, but…
Asset good
Cash poor
Hey Nicky, good to know where you are! Let’s work to improve it! Alan
Exciting!
Thanks for replying
As expected. Valuable liabilities and a chunk of cash but tiny freedom fund. I need to switch that up
Rachel, that is good to know! Love that you have discovvered that! Alan
This is exciting and making me feel like I’m in a happy place, I feel like I’m starting at the beginning and can improve money and work towards my Freedom!!
Love this Virginia, What a great starting point. Let’s make it happen!
I live off my cash after losing my husband and having to take early retirement but want to know how to invest even though I’m 64.
My freedom fund is not looking good!!
Mandy that makes sense. Let’s help you build a freedom fund and get that cash invested for you and working. We will work on that in week 6 and onwards. Thanks for commenting. Alan
This is combined for husband and I so I’m not sure if that is very good but it’s a start. We are 56 & 59 so won’t be retiring early.
Tea it doesn’t matter about retiring early. The key is you know where you are and you can set yourself up for the future. Good work doing this! Alan
OK BIG eye opener .Completely wrong balance, far too much wasted on valuable liabilities, cash all over the bloody place and in potentially the wrong places and freedom fund is not going to cut it.
Where would you put cash you have saved in your business for your retirement or would you not include that in your tracker at all? and again where is the best place to put that cash ?
Feeling pretty comfortable – I am deffo going to downsize house – stuck in NZ for 6 mths per year for pension/tax etc… at 65! Have ten years until then and fully intend to have money elsewhere (outside of pension which I can use before 65) – so hopefully 3 years until semi-retirement! Maybe I continue working for three years and do some big travel whilst have an income???
Too much house! Looking forward to doing it again with the actual numbers
Hey Heather, that is where most people end up! Good job you saw and excited for you to see with the real numbers from the net-worth tracker!
We are saving up for Permanent Residency in the Caribbean which has made our “Cash” and planned spending too big! But we know this is ‘forced’ and have a plan for after. Really interesting graphic. Thank you!
Catherine that is an amazing goal. WOW. I can’t wait to hear how you get on and what happens and as long as it is for a reason and purpose and you know what the plan is afterwards then it serves its purpose! Alan
I tried it with & without our defined benefit pensions (x 25). Adding these made a huge difference to our “Freedom Fund” but either way we probably have too much in cash savings. Great session. Great graphic.
I think it would be even better if you added % to the elements. I worked mine out
Lorraine that is a great idea and development for the future with the percentages. Love it. I am so glad it made you see your split in different ways! YAY. That was the whole purpose. Sending you happiness.
No valuable liabilities or debt which is good I guess. I have about 55:45 Cash to freedom fund which I am fine with overall as I will not invest more until I get some clarity on future life plans which I should know in the next few months.
I wouldn’t fully subscribe to the emphasis that you talked about in W2 video, which I am watching now, that Cash should be moved to freedom fund as soon as possible. It doesn’t always get eaten up by inflation. It can do but for example right now I am getting about 2% difference (in the positive) between the interest rate I’m getting and the overall inflation rate. I would add the inflation rate can be less individually if you switch products etc.
The other point is investing only makes sense over 3-5 year Plus horizon. I’m sure this will be covered in weeks to come but if I needed money in the next 2 years (which I may do hence the 55:45 ratio) investing it would be a bad idea.
Nonetheless interesting food for thought
Pleasantly surprised, I have more in my Freedom Fund than I thought – thank you! :) (Just a very small note: I am not sure the Net Worth in the visual representation is calculating correctly? I think it may be adding my debt because it’s different to the chart Net Worth)
Way too much in cash! We had kept it there to pay off mortgage next year but after watching week 2 I’m starting to think differently…
Can I please check how to account for DB pension in the ‘workplace pension section’? Is it current or projected pension x25? Thanks!
If you are planning on stopping earlier then you won’t get that amount so use the current amount and you can increase it each year you continue to work. We would use the amount now as that is what we would get if we stopped working now (at the retirement date!) Does that make sense? current value x25
Hi are you the Kavita whom I worked with at St Thomas’?
Crazy how I prioritized getting a big house! I’m focusing now on freedom fund building! So excited!
Vicky, that is what the world does, big house first, that is what the whole world is focused on. So glad you are onto freedom now! SO exciting. Alan
Hello, can I just check that this information is correct because our house is worth £1.5m and we have a 155k mortgage. For my half (for this calcuation) the equity should be 750k less my half of the mortgate, which is £672,500. But in your calculator this is shown as a valuable liability, which isn’t correct? (unless I have totallly misunderstood what I’m reading?)
IGNORE ME, I hit this page out of sequence and have read the definition, so all good!
Not sure how I work out what is in my pensions, I have defined benefit ones and I thought it was just monthly benefit rates on retirement and not a set figure- lost!
Hey Leah, you can see from your statements what you will get in retirement monthly and annually. This gives you an income in retirement. For an estimation of the value of those pots in retirement you can multiple the annual figure by 25x. This gives you an idea of the value of that pot.
Your statement says you will get 1000 a month. Which is 12,000 a year. So 12,000 x 25 300,000 total value of the pot.
Why 25 x? it is based on the 4% rule. https://rebeldonegans.com/finance/fire/how-much-does-it-take-to-retire/
Does that help? Alan
hi, I have a DB pension which I am now drawing on. I assume that I do the annual amount x 25 to help populate my freedom fund, which is more healthy when combined with my small SIPP and investments. Then I’ve just read Leah’s message and Alans response – so I am reassured so thankyou!
love it that I have my very own split!
looking forward to joining you (with friends) on the live 2026 RFS.
Amanda, that is 100% the way we would do it yes. The x25 is to fill out the net-worth tracker and show your split. It needs to be represented there as you worked for that DB pension! Sending happiness. Alan
Pleasantly surprised! Estimated but not what I expected. Never done anything like this before. Totally fascinated and keen to learn more.
Andrea that is AWESOME. Love that you are getting into this. I remember doing my first net-worth statement, it was eye opening! sending you happiness. Alan
Pleasantly surprised in the change in just a year! Freedom Work definitely works.
Jill this is AMAZING> I am so happy for you. And that is the power of tracking too! congratulations! Alan
I’m looking forward to know how to invest my freedom fund!
Cannot wait!
Any clues now?!.. I’m eager 😃
Hey Julie, lol! well the session is on Monday to get going. Can you wait till then? if not the investing page will give you ideas: https://rebeldonegans.com/finance/investing/ Sending happiness.. Alan
Feel quite good with our results although most of our net worth is tied up in property.
We will.be interested in growing the Freedom Fund
Love it Danny! nice work seeing that! can’t wait to share weeks 6-8 with you! Alan
Honestly, I can’t thank you both enough. I’ve never invested as it wasn’t for the likes of me (except for my DC pension) I found the confidence to invest in a S&S ISA and GIA, I’m building up to moving over to a SIPP. You’ve changed my life since I sold my house and invested most of the money, I took a deep breath and jumped in, your course gave me the confidence to just do it! I don’t want what I’ve always had, I want a brighter future where I have the funds to live a happy peaceful life and can afford to treat my family to a holiday or just a nice meal out from time to time.
I have to much in my emergency fund which I’ll be addressing, even though the market has been volatile since my first investment October 25 I’ve every confidence in what I’m doing all thanks to you, thanks a million, here’s to a brighter future 🥂
This is such a nice visual. My Barclays app has a diagram but seeing the freedom fund is more important.
Where should we add a Cash LISA?
It’s cash so not investment, but it’s making the £1000 extra (gov bonus) plus the interest. And it can be used at retirement if not used for a house deposit.
Hey Oana, we would put it under cash and planned spending. is this for retirement or to buy a house? If for a house it is planned spending and if for retirement it might be worth moving it to a stocks and shares version for long term growth (then you can put it into freedom fund!) Alan
It has been so cool doing this thank you! So I already have a healthy freedom fund, yah! I know I have way too much in cash savings (dying to get to wk 6 to press go on investing) but my real challenge is that my partner is self employed and has zero savings/pension so the real driver for doing this is to give us both choice and financial freedom. We’re in our late 50s so time to crack on! Also looking forward to wk5!
This is interesting thank you. I wasn’t sure how to add my Defined Benefit pension but guesstimated it.
Hey Honor, for a DB pension we normally put 25x the annual income. Then add the lump sum as is on a second line… Does that help? Alan
Oh I saw Alan’s previous comment to x 25 your DB annual income so that makes a huge difference and I underestimated my freedom fund! Although I’m 47 so I’m working on what I can access at 57 plus my partner’s pension by then and our stocks by then.
Just repliedto your other comment without reading this one! oops! Alan
I am pleased with my freedom fund. However, I know I have too much in cash vs. Investments but can’t seem to put some of it into my S&S and I really don’t know why!!!
Hey Kat, tell us more. What is blocking you from investing it? Do you know what you want to invest in? Alan
I need some guidance on what figure to enter for my retirement account (NZ-based). Should I use my current KiwiSaver balance, or the projected amount at retirement? Also, should I include NZ Super? I’m not sure how to fill out this section properly—any help would be appreciated
hey Sojb, for the kiwi saver use the current balance. That makes it easy. For super that is cash flow you will have at a certain retirement so you will take that off your target income to give you a lower target for retirement. We will be covering all this on the NZ special in a couple of weeks with the amazing Ruth the Happy Saver! Sending you happiness. Alan
Can you possibly mention the situation for retired people a little more so that we know where we fit in to all the future planning?
I am retired.
My Freedom fund is zero but that is because I have already “bought” my freedom with my pension funds.
My main aim is to maintain that freedom and not to run out of the money required to do this.
I am heavily unbalanced in cash holdings and valuable liabilities (our mortgage free home). My cash is adding to my income through substantial interest (mostly at 4%) but this gives a slightly false picture for the future as inflation is also eating away at its value.
Hi Michael, if you have already bought your freedom with pensions then your freedom fund isn’t zero. There must be something in there that you are living off?
makes sense about the cash. I thinks week 6 and beyond are where you are going to get real value from the course in optimising investments and then in 9 and 10 about how to make money last in retirement… We have LOTS more coming on this! Thank you for writing. Alan
Should I include car lease as a debt or is this just an outgoing.
Also o have an armed forces DB pension that will be index linked from aged 55 (currently 47). Should I include the value I expect it to be at 55 or what I currently get?
hey Dan, I think a car lease is a payment you are making so an expense? or is it a loan you are paying off?
On the DB pension we would do it at the current value and then increase it each year as you get closer as that gives you a clear picture of what you have right now! Does that help? Alan
Live in the Isle of Man – our tax rules are different to UK. We have no CGT, we have no IHT, we have no requirement for ISA’s, we don’t pay tax on investments or savings. We have top tier 20% tax. So i feel as if our rules are so different i am not sure what i can get out of the course.
Hey Sharon, good money mindset works the world over. Do you know how to invest and what to invest in? If you don’t know that then that is the thing to learn and then you just have to figure out what platform and account to use on the IOW. What triggered you to think it is irrelevant to people on the IOW? Alan
Hi Alan – Isle of Man not isle of white. Isle of Man is part of the British isles – we have our own government and our own rules but we are part of UK. Some UK banks have withdrawn their credit cards for Isle of Man – as they cannot enforce debt recovery. My bank is HSBC Jersey / Channel Islands not UK. We are not considered ‘mainland uk’ as our addresses are not UK – this causes problems with credit and also our children going to UK universities – they wont accept our Isle of Man address for student accommodation debt recovery, so some investment platforms may not accept our application. I don’t know what to invest in or how to invest so am looking forward to the course. Thank you for your reply.
Hey Sharon, Sorry I did know you meant isle of man and typed the wrong thing! my fault. SORRY! Do you know what platforms are available for you to invest with on the isle of Man!? Sending happiness. Alan
No problem Alan – no i don’t think we have any platforms in the Isle of Man for investing.
Don’t worry just AI’d it ! There are some i can use so will wait rest of course thank you Alan !
YAY! that is awesome. I am so glad! Can you give me a list of the options? I am intrigued! And yes let’s do the investing weeks and then make progress! I know it is possilbe on the Isle of Man!
Also can I say i am not sure what investment platforms even take IOM residents.
That can be a challenge. I know there are some. We need to do some resaerch! Alan
Thanks Alan I’d appreciate that.
I’ve been worrying about my situation as my income has been very limited in the past year due to divorce and my savings taking a hit to pay the lawyers. I’ve cut my spending pretty well, and looking at this i feel more calm knowing that I have a lot already invested in my pensions and home so now want to focus on increasing my income again to invest more.
Ann, divorce and lawyer bills can absolutely knock the stuffing out of your finances.
But this is the key bit: you’ve cut your spending, you’ve looked at your split, and now you’ve got a clearer blue dot on the map. That is progress.
Tiny Donegan distinction: the home you live in is a valuable liability in our framework. It has value and gives security, but it doesn’t buy your freedom unless you sell it or rent part of it out. Your pensions are part of your freedom fund. That’s the bit that can produce future income.
So yes, rebuilding income and getting more into your freedom fund sounds like the next direction of travel.
Question for you: What is one thing you could do this month to increase the gap again? Increase income…
Thanks for commenting.
Peace and pineapples.
Katie and Alan
Guidance on how to guesstimate pension. I pay into a pool of money to the state and don’t know exactly how much is in my account. I just know when I retire, I will receive 80 percent of my last three years average income. This makes all the calculators difficult for me. Any suggestions?
Amanda, you’re not alone — defined benefit pensions are a different beast.
Ignore the “pot” and focus on the income. If you know you’ll get 80% of your last three years’ average income, use that as your retirement income in our retirement calculator. You could use the last three year’s you have now to get a guestimate…
For planning, just enter your expected annual pension as “income from DB pension” and the age you’ll start receiving it.
If you want to estimate your total pension value, multiply your annual pension by 25 (the “4% rule” in reverse). But for planning, just use the income.
Retirement calculator: https://rebeldonegans.com/finance/fire/retirement-calculator/ – we have a new version coming for week 9 of the course this year…
Peace and pineapples.
Katie and Alan
I’m doing the current course (wk 5 completed this week, but I missed wk 2 hence doing today). Gosh I have just completed the above split, and have 37% freedom fund, valuable liabilities 20%, cash/ps 43% and no debt. 5 years ago I would have had a much smaller freedom fund (as I wasn’t an investor and pension contributions were minimum that the employer would match). It took me years to realise that investing doesn’t only mean speculating on individual shares or high risk managed funds (where I lost money in my 20s), and to start index investing. I have a long way to go, and look forward to increasing my freedom fund weighting as I complete the investing weeks on the course. Alan changed his mindset, and I did too – but I have a long way to go. My net worth by your definition now looks much less than what I’d have considered it was before today.
Thank you Katie and Alan for giving your time, efforts and money to educate the masses and challenge the mainstream views!
Hmmm, freedom fund looks better than I thought it would but it’s not really accessible until 65! Might have to figure that out.
Hey Jennifer, that is where we get onto bridging between pots! more on this coming. here is the bridiging calculator: https://rebeldonegans.com/bridging-calculator/ Alan
Should I include a cash ISA in my Freedom Fund or as cash?
Hey Nigel, we see it as cash if you are building as it isn’t really growing for you. So we would put it in the cash and planned spending section! Sending happiness. Alan