How Much Should I Have Saved by 40?

How much should you have saved by 40? It’s one of those money questions that practically begs for a simple answer. Three times your salary. Check the box. Move on. Except your financial life does not work that way. In this episode of She’s Talkin’ Money, I’m breaking down why common age-based savings benchmarks can be useful as a starting point — but completely misleading when they’re treated like a verdict on whether you’re doing well or falling behind. Because someone who earned $75,000 for most of her career and just started making $150,000 should not suddenly feel like a financial failure because her “target” doubled overnight. And having $300,000 saved does not tell me nearly enough to know whether you’re actually on track. We’re talking about what matters more than an arbitrary savings multiple, including your desired retirement age, what you expect retirement to cost, whether your money is Roth or pre-tax, your debt, your liquidity, your future goals, and how much you’re consistently saving today. I’ll also explain why the question “How much should I have saved?” is often really asking something deeper: Am I okay?Am I behind?Did I wait too long?Can I still catch up?Is everyone else doing better than me? The answer is not another random benchmark. It’s having a plan. In this episode, you’ll learn: why the popular “3x your salary by 40” rule can create unnecessary panic how a major income increase can make traditional benchmarks especially misleading why $300,000 in Roth money is not the same as $300,000 in pre-tax retirement money what actually makes me concerned when someone reaches 40 why your retirement age and future spending matter more than a generic savings target how I think about saving roughly 20% of take-home pay with my clients why automating your savings matters more than obsessing over one perfect number and the questions you should ask instead of simply wondering whether you’re ahead or behind There is no magic amount you need to have saved by 40. The better question is whether your money is actually moving you toward the life you want. If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step. Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Nothing discussed should be considered a recommendation, and listening does not create an advisory relationship. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Please consult your own financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions based on your individual circumstances.