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Managing money is a lot like running. Many people dislike it, and most are just trying to reach the finish line without burning out.

But a few are like elite athletes — effortlessly staying ahead of the pack. In fact, you might be managing your finances so well that you don’t even realize you’re part of this high-performing group.

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According to data from the Federal Reserve, the average American household had a net worth of $1.06 million in 2022, the last year when these statistics were made public (1).

That seems like a lot, but wealth is also relative — and in the U.S., how far a million will take you varies.

Net worth — that’s assets like real estate and investments, minus liabilities like debt — was $595,000 on average for individuals across the U.S. in 2024, based on research by Empower (2).

Digging a bit deeper into the numbers, you may be surprised to learn that in an economic center like New York State, the average net worth was only $691,127 that year. California hit the #2 spot at $854,715, but Connecticut topped the list with an average of $919,784 per person.

However, these figures are skewed by the ultra-wealthy. You don’t necessarily need half a million or more in the bank to be richer than the average in the U.S.

Here are five clear signs your personal finances are hitting well above the average American’s, and what you can learn from them if you’re not.

Debt is a fact of life for many Americans — about 90% of adults carry some form of it, according to Debt.org (3). The bulk of this debt is typically mortgages, which are often considered “good debt” because they can help build equity.

On the other hand, if you’ve avoided consumer debt entirely — and especially if you’ve paid off your mortgage — you’re in a rare financial position.

Without the burden of interest payments, you likely have more flexibility to save, invest and grow your wealth, putting you well ahead of the average American.

Not everybody can just magically become free of debt all at once. It takes time, especially if you’re burdened by more than one source of debt.

If you do have multiple loans, it could be worth looking into loan consolidation and shopping around for lower interest rates.

The big two methods for paying debt down are the avalanche and snowball techniques.

The avalanche method focuses on paying down your highest-interest debts first. This can create a cascading effect where, after the big debt is paid, you knock off the smaller ones quickly.

Meanwhile, the snowball method starts with paying down your smaller debts one after another to build up steam. Then, once you're down to one debt, you put all your resources into paying it off. From here, most financial experts recommend building out an emergency fund, then getting to investing as soon as possible. But becoming debt-free is the first, and arguably most important, step.

If you owe a substantial amount, and are struggling with a strategy, you may also want to see if you qualify for a debt relief program to help clear a significant portion of your debt.

With Freedom Debt Relief, you can speak with a certified debt relief consultant for free, who can show you how much you can save by partnering with them.

If you’re eligible, they can negotiate settlements with your creditors until all of your enrolled debt is resolved.

Read More: I’m almost 50 years old and don’t have retirement savings. Is it too late to catch up?

If you have any retirement savings at all, you’re already ahead of many Americans. According to Gallup, about 40% of Americans have no money in retirement savings plans, such as 401(k)s or IRAs (4).

But even among savers, balances tend to be modest. Vanguard reports that the median 401(k) holdings for Americans were just $44,115 in 2025 — and this number actually represents a 16% increase year-over-year (5).

While this still might seem like a good starting point, it’s worth noting that the average American believes they’ll need $1.26 million to retire comfortably, according to a survey conducted by Northwestern Mutual (6).

Making sure you have at least six, or possibly seven, figures in your retirement funds — and thinking about more than just your net worth — is perhaps a better starting point.

Gold typically performs well during times of economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Unlike fiat currency, gold can’t be printed at will by central banks and tends to store value better during market downturns. Although the precious yellow metal has experienced pullbacks in 2026, that might mean that now is the time to buy in before a rebound.

If you’re now keen to boost your 401(k) balance, you could invest in a Gold IRA with Goldco.

By opening a Gold IRA, you could be looking out for your future self and cushioning your retirement by potentially hedging your investments against economic turbulence. Investing in gold through a tax-advantaged account can also help stabilize your finances by allowing you to invest directly in physical precious metals rather than stocks and bonds.

If you’re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today.

Plus, with a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver. Just remember that gold is often best used as one part of a well-diversified portfolio.

If you want to boost your wealth, but you aren’t sure about gold, another option is to tap into inflation-resistant assets like real estate.

A real estate investment platform like mogul is a route that offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, giving investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or late-night tenant calls.

Blue-chip rentals, like blue-chip stocks, are properties that are expected to retain their value reliably over time.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the mogul team handpicks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, you can invest in institutional quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.

Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10% to 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

Every investment is secured by real assets, not dependent on the platform’s viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors own the property — not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake.

Getting started is a quick and easy process. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.

With the rising living costs and stagnant wages, saving has become a challenge for many Americans.

As of January 2026, the personal savings rate was just 4.5%, according to Federal Reserve data (8). This figure refers to the percentage of personal disposable income left over for saving after other accounts are settled.

So, if you’re saving more than $10,000 annually — or putting away a double-digit percentage of your income — you’re already well ahead of the curve.

A strong savings rate not only sets you apart but also accelerates your path to financial goals. That’s why most financial planners recommend setting aside three to six months of emergency savings before digging into investing.

Of course, no matter what you’re saving, it’s important to get the best interest rate you can so that your money is being put to work in the background.

For this reason, a high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your savings and emergency fund, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your cash when you need it.

A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base variable APY of 3.30%, and new clients can get a 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total APY of 4.05%. That’s more than 10 times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s February report.

With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks.

If you want to shop around, you could also check out this list of the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2026 and find an offer that fits with your savings goal.

If you’re a millionaire in America, the odds are that you work with a financial advisor, at least according to a 2025 study published by Northwestern Mutual (9).

All told, about 74% percent of millionaires shared that they worked with a financial advisor — compared to just 34% of the general population.

And that should come as no surprise: With an advisor at your back, you are able to look at the numbers more strategically and create a long-term plan that is sustainable for you.

But even if you’re not a millionaire, working with an advisor can improve how you manage your money and help you reach your goals faster.

And there are services that can get you started on the path to millionaire status.

With Vanguard, you can connect with a personal advisor who can help assess how you’re doing so far and make sure you've got the right portfolio to meet your goals on time.

Vanguard’s hybrid advisory system combines advice from professional advisers and automated portfolio management to make sure your investments are working to achieve your financial goals.

All you have to do is fill out a brief questionnaire about your financial goals, and Vanguard’s advisors will help you set a tailored plan, and stick to it.

Economic anxiety is so common that even many millionaires don’t feel secure. In fact, only 36% of millionaires in the Northwestern Mutual survey (9) said they consider themselves to be “wealthy.”

So, if you genuinely feel financially secure, or even “rich,” you’re already not just outperforming the average American — you may even be ahead of your wealthier peers.

Ultimately, confidence in your financial position is a powerful indicator that you’re operating at an elite level.

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We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (1); Empower (2); Debt.org (3); Gallup (4); Vanguard (5); Northwestern Mutual (6), (9); CBS News (7); Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (8)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.