I have planned since I was in my early 20's. I always was conscious of saving even a little bit from every pay check, even when I was just a baby sitter at age 12, then a life-guard/swim instructor-coach in my late teens and early 20's. It's something my father emphasized in us kids. Of course, back then the economy was different.
I did more than save because just saving and putting it in a savings account doesn't keep up with inflation at all and you loose money when it just sits. So, I very early on invested in mutual funds and individual stocks and bonds, which did well in various decades. In any ten year period throughout the history of the stock market, stocks out-perform any investment. But I also bought some real estate. We bought our own home, then sold it when it appreciated a lot, built another home, sold that at a profit, bought another home and so on. And had a rental property so it would produce income and tax advantages. We should have done more of that. Having our own businesses also had tax advantages that you don't get with an employer.
It's never too soon to plan for retirement, especially in these hard times. People should put aside something...no matter how small out of every paycheck. Pay yourself first. And it shouldn't sit dormant, losing value. There are a lot of good values in stocks and bonds right now. It is risky but it's more than risky to not do anything or let it just sit. A financial planner can be a big help.
Disclaimer: Of course, this is just my opinion and I am not advising anyone, as I am certainly no financial expert. I wish I had done things a little differently.