Some cultures allow for a different focus, a different strategy, during different stages of your life.
For instance, up to 20 might be for being young and foolish and getting an education.
Age 20 to 35 could be for getting married and raising a family.
Age 35 to 55 might be for running your business and making your fortune.
Life after that is for spiritual contemplation and retirement from the commercial world.
Essentially, your financial needs change over time, reflecting what is going on in your life at any stage, and the choices you make in your lifestyle at that time.
You might need more money when raising a family, but maybe this is a time when you can usually cope better with a little adversity.
By the time your kids are at university you definitely need loads more cash or the poor darlings won't have enough to squander in the student union bar in the evenings, every evening.
And once you hit retirement you can downsize again - unless you intend spending it all on expensive world cruises.
Checking where you are and what you need, and knowing that the conditions which influence your needs do and will change.
You have to make allowances for differing circumstances.
A bit of forward planning with this in mind will stand you in good stead.
For example, if you're about to invest all your spare cash in a long-term investment scheme, remember that if you suddenly need a bit more money as you've taken maternity leave or you want to go on a world trip in a career break, your money will be tied up.
Think it through and anticipate possible future needs and changes.
So, it is time to find out.
Where are you in your life? How much do you need? What is the next stage for you? How much are you going to need?