Before you start
Use Debts for liabilities: mortgages, loans, credit cards and unclassified debt. Debt records reduce net worth and affect Forecast, liquidity and Capital Review. Keep current balance separate from original principal, and link a debt to an asset only when the relationship is real.
Detailed steps
Open Debts and choose the right tab
Start in Debts. Use Mortgages for property-backed loans, Loans for term loans or facilities, Credit Cards for revolving card balances and Unclassified Debt when an imported liability still needs classification.
Choose the correct debt type before entering numbers
Open Add Debt and select Mortgage, Loan, Credit Card or Import Debt Statement. The form changes based on type, so choose the liability type before entering balance, rate, payment or maturity.
Review mortgage rows with linked asset context
Mortgage rows should show lender, balance, rate, payment and maturity. If the mortgage belongs to a property already in Assets, link it so property value and debt remain separate but connected.
Review loan terms beyond the balance
Loan records need current balance, rate type, interest rate, payment amount, payment frequency and maturity. A loan with the wrong payment or maturity can make Forecast misleading even when the balance is correct.
Use credit cards for current balance owed
Credit card liabilities should show the current balance owed, not the credit limit or available credit. Add APR and payment details when available so high-rate revolving debt is visible for review.
Link debt only when the relationship is real
Use linked asset fields for mortgages or asset-backed borrowing only when the liability genuinely belongs to that asset. Do not link a personal loan to a property just to make the dashboard look cleaner.
Return to Net Worth after debt changes
Open Net Worth after adding or updating debts. Liabilities should increase when you add debt and decrease after payoff or balance reduction. Net worth should move in the opposite direction of the liability change.
Field guide
Amount currently owed.
Use latest outstanding balance, not original principal.Amount initially borrowed.
Keep separate from current balance.Fixed, variable, tracker or other interest structure.
Review variable or tracker rates after benchmark changes.Required periodic payment.
Payment amount and frequency both matter for Forecast.Date the liability is due, refinanced or expected to end.
Use the lender date when available.Asset financed or secured by the liability.
Link only when the real-world relationship exists.A liability that still needs type and field review.
Classify before relying on debt analysis.Decision rules
What it adds
- Prevents net worth from being asset-only.
- Clarifies rate, payment and maturity exposure.
- Improves Forecast and liquidity analysis.
What it does not do
- Capitelist does not refinance, service or negotiate debt.
- Rates and balances require user or import updates.
- Complex facilities may need external amortization schedules.
Common mistakes
What to check
- Keep original principal and current balance separate.
- Review variable or tracker rates after benchmark changes.
- Link mortgages and margin debt to the right asset where possible.
Entering original principal as current balance.
Entering credit limit as credit card debt.
Subtracting mortgage debt from property value and also adding it as a liability.
Leaving payment frequency blank when it affects cash flow.
Ignoring variable-rate changes.
Linking debt to the wrong asset.
Archiving unclear debt instead of resolving its source.
After you save
- Check the relevant Debts tab after saving.
- Open Net Worth and confirm liabilities and net worth moved correctly.
- Open Forecast when payment, rate or maturity affects runway.
- Open Capital Review when leverage, maturity or rate exposure needs follow-up.
- Attach or preserve lender statements for material debts.
- Update balances when new statements, refinancings, payoffs or rate changes occur.