Americans say this net worth would make them 'financially comfortable'—but that metric is often 'misleading,' money expert says

What would it take for you to feel financially comfortable?

For most of the people who work with Joy Slabaugh, a certified financial planner, licensed therapist and founder of Wealth Alignment Institute, the answer is the same.

“It’s always a little bit more than what they have,” she says. “Regardless of how much money they have, it’s just a little bit more.”

On average, Americans say they’d need a net worth of $839,000 to feel financially comfortable, according to a recent survey from Charles Schwab. Members of Gen Z say they’d be comfortable with less — just $329,000, on average.

You may be wondering what net worth could afford you a comfortable life — and what your current net worth actually is.