With the first month of 2026 in the books it is time to take stock to see how we fared financially.
Thoughts before calculating: I think this is going to be a positive month, but nothing crazy. After the shit show that was 2025 I am glad to say I had one month that I avoided any financial landmines. While I had to replace the water heater in the rental that really felt like a hold over from 2025 and my rental property has its own emergency fund, so the expense didn’t hit my checking account.
Calculating my Net Worth
My Family’s Assets
While I have several asset categories, I don’t think they are particularly complicated.
Cash
Cash Equivalents –While I am currently underfunded on my emergency fund, I am really hoping to change that a bit this year. Specifically, I am hoping to save a large part of my bonus into boring old cash. I really want to bump up this number to match what I consider a truly funded emergency fund.
Real Estate Holdings
Main Residence – Exactly what it sounds like! My Family’s home.
Rental Property – Every month, I update a spreadsheet I keep for the minority owners of my rental property. I had some hiccups (i.e. costs and headaches) towards the end of the year, and this is going to cost me a few dollars this year since I am going to put in a new water heater and likely some flooring after she had a flood. The water heater was completed in January. Sometime in 2026 I am going to need to look into flooring for the back part of the basement. I am going to try and push this off for a few months.
Retirement Accounts
My 401(k) – Going to stop complaining and it is what it is with the fees on the funds. I am hoping to do one rebalance this month and maybe check it out once a quarter for rebalancing in 2026. Completed! Last month I rebalanced my 401k with the help of ChatGPT.
My Traditional IRA – Need to review it this month for any changes. I didn’t make any major moves in 2025, and probably won’t this year as well. I’ll handle this in February.
The Wife’s Roth IRA – Same as above.
The Wife’s SEP IRA – Sme as above.
Non-Qualified Accounts
My Trading Account – This one account houses both where I invest in my dividend growth companies and risky speculative option trades. I am going to update how I handle trading profits this month. Failed. I’ll handle it in February.
Alternative Investments
Crypto Currency – This account was basically started for FOMO purposes. It is a shitty reason, but it is mine nonetheless. I don’t pay much attention to the crypto market and will probably continue to ignore the account.
Life Insurance Cash Surrender Value – I own a number of permanent, cash value whole life insurance policies. Since the cash is accessible, I include it in my net worth statement. In 2026 I plan on obtaining a bit more permanent insurance for purposes of adding a Long Term Care Rider.
Physical Gold – A few years back I decided to start buying physical gold, I am hoping one day to be that crazy guy with a stack of gold I can swim through, but I haven’t bought some in so long. A few months ago I wrote that I wanted to get back into it. I have started a monthly purchase plan with Acre Gold. Given the historic price of gold, and the amount I actually allocated to the site every month, this will take a while before I get my first shipment! Finally I am done with Acre – and I would not recommend the company. I got my money back but it is a massive, massive rip off with fees built upon fees. This month I am going to have to go back to old school and just purchase it myself.
Currently, I do not include my investment club in my net worth.
My Family’s Debt
Last year, I organized my debt into tiers.
- Tier 1 is consumer debt.
- Tier 2 is longer term debt that I’d like to be paid off but if it takes a while I simply don’t care ( solar loan, whole life loan, etc).
- Tier 3 debt is mortgage debt. I can’t imagine attacking this without a very good reason.
I haven’t updated the spreadsheet in quite some time – but will need to this month. Failed. Will do it this month.
My Net Worth Change
- Month over Month – My family’s net worth increased about 1.5%
- Year to Date – Given that this is the first month, obviously it is the same.
Like I said – positive but nothing crazy. I’ll take 1-2% every month! I have a lot to do in February on the personal finance side of my life, but I am excited to get it underway.