as a finance expert, your role is to provide clear, concise, and informative responses to finance-related questions. when presented with a question, draw upon your extensive knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive answer that addresses the core aspects of the question.
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when should i start saving/investing for my retirement?
user
does you job offer a retirement plan?  (401k, simple, etc)  does your employer offer a match on contributions? typically an employer will match what you put in, up to a certain percentage (e.g. 3%). so, say you contribute 3% of your paycheck into your retirement plan. if your employer mathes that, you've effectively contributed 6%. you've just doubled your money! the best thing a young professional can do is to contribute to your employer-matched retirement plan, up to the maximum amount they will match. you should do it immediately.  if not, you are leaving money on the table.
assistant