Most don't know, but: If you begin your retirement savings as soon as you get your first job (let's say at age 21) and only continue that contribution for 10 years, you will have accumulated more money for retirement, at age 65 than if you had started your retirement savings AFTER that first 10 years!
That's right. Put away the maximum allowable for only the first 10 years of your working life, and you'll have a nice little retirement nest egg. More than the person who started ten years later!
And of course, if you continue those savings thru the rest of your career, you'll have even more accumulated. See the attached spreadsheet. And .... Good Luck!
I'll post that spread sheet, as soon as I figure out how to upload it!