While this might come off weird for people outside the FI community, sharing our household net worth over the internet is a Labor Day tradition that I’ve observed since I started the blog four years ago.

It’s all for transparency, accountability, and validation that the lessons I’ve been writing about works, at least for people who are walking a similar path to financial independence.

Assets are up by 14%

Thanks to the fastest stock market recovery in history, our investments are up 20% after a scary coronavirus market crash. But lower Zillow home valuation has dragged the total down to 14%. It would have been up 16%, but technology stocks plummeted a day before I prepared this report.

Take a look at the chart below and you’ll see why aggressively buying the dip in March certainly helped boost the value of our investments.

I wrote about “How to Survive and Thrive From the Coronavirus Stock Market Crash” and sure enough, we’ve survived and hopefully will continue to thrive.

The naysayers can argue that a second wave is coming, and we’ve yet to see the worst. But I see that only as another opportunity to buy the dip.

As far as our asset allocation is concerned, we’re 81% invested in U.S. stocks, the majority of which are in Vanguard index funds. Our two single largest stock positions are in Microsoft (MSFT) and Bank of America (BAC), which I rebought at a lower price so as not to miss out on dividend payouts.

Liabilities are down by 93%

One reason why our taxable investments are lower is that I paid off our mortgage in February using the proceeds of the sale. Panic on Wall Street triggered a sell limit order against our Bank of America (BAC) stocks that quintupled in value.

I will have to pay long-term capital gains taxes. But I’m glad that I had accumulated enough cash to pay off the mortgage ahead of schedule.

The pay off has lowered our monthly expenses by 40%. As a result, our average monthly cashflow is almost $2,000 higher compared to last year:

Note that credit card balances are paid in full. It’s listed here just for completeness. We’re keeping these cards only for the perks. But, for all intent and purposes, we consider ourselves debt-free— something that has given us peace of mind during the pandemic.

Other assets not listed

Our net worth statement above does not include the assets listed below.

Automobiles and other personal property (< $20K):  I drive an eight-year-old Toyota Prius C with 155K miles. My wife drives a 12-year-old Honda Pilot. We can both agree that they both do not amount to much.

My wife’s company pension (>$200K): Pensions are hard to value. If I were to add a lump sum value, it would be at the current present value. She will probably receive $1,000 per month for life if she retires early.

To be inherited real-estate property (>$150K): Transfer of title is currently in progress. This rental property is situated in one of the densest cities in the world, Manila. My medium-term plan is to save up enough cash so I can demolish and build a four-story building for use as a dormitory.

All in all, net worth is up by 19%

As a passive investor, I have to admit this number is highly dependent on the performance of the stock market. I may look like a genius now, but I could have just as easily looked like a loser had the market went the other direction.

But it’s a way to give yourself a mental pat on the back for a job well done. A positive two-digit number helps boost your feelings of self-efficacy. Believing in your ability to achieve your goal prepares you for future successes.

See also: The Road to Riches Starts Here: Track Your Net Worth