re: What % of your income are you saving for retirement?

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I'm in my 30's and I'm now putting 15% into my 401k (3% company match)and maxing out my ROTH ($5000). That's roughly 24% of my gross income. Yeah, I know I'm not OT status.

With a kiddie on the way I'm wondering how much I can cut back on retirement savings and still safely put enough away for retirement.

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I think you are doing fine, I believe 20% of gross is rational and a great head start. From the experience of my sibling with two kids, it can become a lot more difficult to save significant money when kids arrive. Is your wife working/saving? If you can save larger percentages of future raises it helps. The answer is no one knows the future rates of returns of various investments. Right now, fixed income looks like a moderate term loser after accounting for inflation and taxes, who knows what the future brings. You can read this as far as savings rates:

LINK

I posted a savings rate poll from bogleheads.org on here about a week ago, those people are serious savers, many at 20-40% of income and higher, but many have higher incomes. People that take an interest in personal finance and investing tend to be better off down the road than those who don't.

My wife and I saved anywhere from 10-70% of income over the years, and she changed careers and was in school/internship for 5-yrs not getting paid. When you are making multiple 6-figures with no kids it is a lot easier. We have had good lives and done most anything we really wanted with a high savings rate, we have taken many great vacations over the years, have a nice house, etc so it's not like one has to starve or lead a shitty life to save money.

I am 48, debt free, pseudo early retired and we saved 50k in tax advantaged accounts last year, including $20k in Ibonds. Saving as much as you can at an early age absolutely pays off down the road. If I could legally put $50-100k into Roths annually I would do it. Tax advantaged medical savings accounts for all would be helpful, too.

Good luck, I think kids are great, we just don't have any.

Is it a good idea to put more than 10 - 15% into a 401k? What if the market tanks during my retirement years?

At what point is it better to have cash in the bank as opposed to cash tied up in stocks & bonds?