Been thinking about this a lot lately - what should my net worth be at 30, anyway? Like, is there actually a number we're supposed to hit, or is this whole thing just different for everyone?

So here's the thing about net worth that most people get wrong. It's literally just your assets minus your debts. That's it. But it actually matters way more than just looking at your salary, because it tells you if you're building real financial stability or just treading water.

According to the Federal Reserve data from a couple years back, people under 35 actually saw their net worth more than double between 2019 and 2022. The median was around $39,000 and the average hit $183,500. That's pretty wild growth, though they're still the least wealthy age group overall.

Now, what should my net worth be at 30 specifically? One financial advisor I came across says your real goal should actually be hitting zero net worth - which sounds backwards until you realize it means you've paid off all your debt. Getting to zero is supposedly the hardest part but also the first step to actual financial independence. Makes sense when you think about it.

Other experts throw out a range of $25,000 to $100,000 as a solid target for your 30s. Their logic is pretty straightforward - if you're not saving another dollar and want to retire at 65, you'd need at least $100,000 invested to hit around $1 million by retirement. But if you're saving $500 monthly, hitting $25,000 is more realistic.

There are also a few rules people reference. The 2x Income Rule suggests your net worth should be roughly double your annual salary by 30. So if you're making $60k, aim for $120k in net worth. Then there's the 30x Monthly Expenses approach - if your monthly costs are $3,000, you'd want $90,000+ in net worth. Some people also use a debt-to-net-worth ratio, keeping non-mortgage debt under 25% of your total net worth.

Honestly though? Your actual number depends on your situation. Marital status, career path, where you live, what you want out of life - it all matters. The benchmarks are helpful but not gospel.

If you want to actually build this, it's less about risky moves and more about consistency. Someone calculated that saving $5 every weekday at 4% annual interest compounds to about $16,230 over 10 years. Boring but it works. There's also the IRA angle - maxing out a Roth or traditional IRA at $6,500 yearly and getting a modest 7% return could get you to roughly $132,000 by 30, or over $225,000 by 35.

The real takeaway? Stop overthinking the exact number. Figure out what your situation actually is, pick a target that makes sense for you, and then just stick with it. Discipline and repetition beat trying to get rich quick every single time.