How much money should I have saved at all times?

I advise all my clients to have three to six months of living expenses in a savings account ready to go in case of emergencies. Then as far as retirement planning, the rule of thumb is save as much as you can. Every situation is different, so it's important to consider yours. Are you going to get an inheritance? Do you already own the home you live in? Do you plan on working later in life? Do you want to retire super early? Do you have lots of kids? Do you plan on taking care of your parents? All those variables affect how much you should be saving.