The 7 Financial Ratios That Quietly Decide Whether You’ll Feel Calm About Money — or Constantly Stressed

Most people think financial health is about income.

“How much do you earn?”“What’s your job title?”“Did you get a bonus this year?”

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Two people earning the same income can live radically different financial lives.

One sleeps well.The other refreshes their bank app at 2am.

The difference isn’t income.It’s financial structure.

And the fastest way to see your structure — honestly, clearly, and without excuses — is through financial ratios.

Think of these as:

• Vital signs for your money

• X-rays for your financial body

• A lie detector for “I think I’m doing okay”

Let’s walk through the 7 financial ratios that quietly make or break your finances.

1. Basic Liquidity Ratio

“How long could you survive if life hit you in the face?”

Formula :

Cash & Cash-equivalents

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Monthly Expenses

What This Ratio Really Tells You

This ratio answers a brutally practical question:

If your income stopped tomorrow, how many months before panic sets in?

Cash and cash-equivalents include savings accounts, fixed deposits, and money market funds. Not included: your house, your long-term investments, or your “I’ll figure something out” plan.

Healthy Benchmark

• Minimum: 3 months

• Ideal: 6 months

• Self-employed / commission-based: 9–12 months

When This Goes Wrong

If your ratio is too low, every inconvenience becomes a crisis:

• Medical bill → credit card

• Car repair → borrowing

• Job disruption → stress spiral

If your ratio is too high, too much cash sits idle and quietly loses value to inflation.

Liquidity is protection. Excess liquidity is hesitation.

2. Liquid Assets to Net Worth Ratio

“How flexible is your wealth when life changes?”

Formula :

Liquid Assets

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Net Worth

Common Liquid Assets are similar to the above cash or cash equivalents like the money sitting in your bank account, which can be easily converted to cash rapidly without significant loss in market value. Your car and property are not considered liquid asset.

What This Ratio Reveals -

You can be wealthy on paper and still financially stuck.

This ratio measures how quickly your wealth can respond when:

• Opportunities appear

• Emergencies strike

• Plans suddenly change

Healthy Benchmark

At least 15% of net worth in liquid assets.

When This Goes Wrong

Too low, and you’re asset-rich but cash-poor.Too high, and fear is preventing your money from growing.

Wealth isn’t just about size — it’s about mobility.

3. Savings Ratio

“Do you pay yourself first… or last?”

Formula :

Monthly Savings

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Monthly Income

What This Ratio Exposes

This ratio doesn’t care how much you earn.

It reveals:

• Discipline

• Priorities

• Whether your lifestyle is quietly outrunning your income

Healthy Benchmark

• Minimum: 10%

• Strong: 15–20%

• Aggressive goals: 25%+

When This Goes Wrong

Low savings ratios often come with good excuses:“I’ll save more later.”“Things are expensive now.”“I deserve this.”

But without savings, progress stays theoretical.

Income creates options. Savings create security.

4. Debt to Assets Ratio

“How much of your life is owned by the bank?”

Formula :

Total Debt

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Total Assets

Total Debt = everything you owe, loans, mortgages, credit cards and etc

Total Assets = everything you own, property, car, cash, bank accounts, investments, policies with cash value.

What This Ratio Shows

This ratio tells you how leveraged your life really is.

High leverage magnifies both gains and stress.

Healthy Benchmark

Below 50%, with context.

When This Goes Wrong

Too high, and small disruptions become dangerous.Too low, and you may be avoiding smart leverage entirely.

The goal isn’t zero debt — it’s controlled debt.

5. Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR)

“How much of your income is already spent before life begins?”

Formula :

Monthly Debt Payments

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Monthly Income

Monthly Debt Payments includes your

What This Ratio Measures

Your breathing room.

How much of your income is already committed before:

• Food

• Fun

• Flexibility

Healthy Benchmark

Ideally ≤ 35%.Beyond that, life starts feeling tight.

When This Goes Wrong

High TDSR means:

• Every salary raise disappears

• Every rate hike hurts

• Every surprise creates anxiety, eg, home/ car repairs, medical expenses.

High income doesn’t help if obligations eat it first.

6. Net Invested Assets to Net Worth Ratio

“Is your money working harder than you?”

Formula :

Invested Assets

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Net Worth

Where Net Worth = Assets - liabilities

Assets include cash, bank accounts, investment, property and valuables.

Liabilities includes mortgages, loans for cars, renovation, credit card debt and any other financial obligations.

Invested assets are a subset of your assets, which generates income and/or appreciates in value over time. eg: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs.

Your residential home you are living in now, does not count.

What This Ratio Tells You

This ratio reveals whether time is compounding for you — or passing you by.

Healthy Benchmark

Around 50% or more, excluding your primary residence.

When This Goes Wrong

Too low, and inflation quietly erodes your future.Too high without balance, and volatility shakes your confidence.

Growth needs structure, not just courage.

7. Solvency Ratio

“If everything stopped, would you still stand?”

Formula :

Net Worth

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Total Assets

What This Ratio Reflects

Your resilience.

High solvency means options.Low solvency means pressure.

Healthy Benchmark

Around 50% or more.

When This Goes Wrong

Low solvency often hides behind appearances:

• Nice home

• Nice car

• Fragile balance sheet

True wealth shows up when things go wrong — not when things go right.

Final Thought: Ratios Don’t Judge — They Reveal

These ratios don’t tell you whether you’re “good” or “bad” with money.

They tell you:

• Where you’re exposed

• Where you’re strong

• Where small adjustments can dramatically improve peace of mind

You don’t need perfection.You need awareness and direction.

Start with one ratio.Track it.Improve it.

That’s how financial calm is built — quietly, intentionally, and sustainably.

And if you still wondering about the formula, get a certified consultant to walk it thru with you.