Tracking net worth as a couple
Couples hold money in many shapes: joint accounts, separate accounts, one partner's retirement plan, a shared mortgage. A single combined figure is useful precisely because it ignores whose name is on what.
Why a combined view helps
- Decisions such as buying a home or changing jobs depend on the household position, not either person's balance alone
- Debt held by one partner affects both
- Retirement planning is a shared question
You do not need to merge accounts
Many couples keep separate accounts and still want a shared picture. The combined figure can be built by linking each person's accounts to one view while keeping the accounts themselves where they are.
Agree on definitions first
Settle a few rules before comparing numbers: whether a home is counted at market value, whether business interests are included, and whether each person's pre-existing debt belongs in the shared total.
Keep it a calm conversation
A net worth review works best at a set, infrequent interval such as quarterly, framed as a look at direction rather than a verdict on anyone's choices.
In MizuFlow
The Household plan combines up to six members into one total, with a breakdown by member, so each person keeps their own accounts and sees the whole.