Retirement planning can be an insanely complex process. Because every individual has his or her own unique circumstances, coming up with a one-size-fits-all rule is extremely difficult.

There are times, however, where some maxims are so obvious that they're worth repeating. One of the most popular of these maxims is: "Save 10%-15% of your income for retirement." It seems obvious that such a move is in everyone's best interest.

But as you'll see in the following video, The Motley Fool's Brian Stoffel will explain how this principle becomes more and more insidious as your career progresses. By taking a different, less common approach, he explains how you can cut years off the time between now and your retirement.