Asset
GeneralGlossary term
Definition
Anything of value that an individual or company owns, such as cash, investments, real estate, or personal property. Assets are the foundation of building wealth.
Related terms
- LiabilityA financial obligation or debt owed to another party. Liabilities include mortgages, auto loans, credit card debt, and student loans.
- Net WorthThe total value of your assets minus your liabilities. A key measure of financial health that should ideally increase over time as you build wealth.
- PortfolioA collection of financial investments like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and other assets. Diversifying your portfolio helps manage risk.
By the numbers
What the data says
- Q2 2025
$18.39 trillion
Total US household debt
Up $185 billion in the quarter. Mortgages are $12.94 trillion of it.
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Household Debt and Credit Report - September 2025
3.0%
Consumer prices rose over the previous 12 months
Food up 3.1%, energy up 2.8%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index - 2022 survey
$192,900
Median net worth of US families
The mean is about $1.06 million, pulled up by the wealthiest households
Source: Federal Reserve, Survey of Consumer Finances
National figures from the sources shown, as of the period on each card. They are context, not a forecast or advice for your situation.
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