If you try to withdraw early from just about any retirement plan, you'll be slapped with a penalty—an incentive to leave your money alone and let it build toward retirement like you always intended.

If you try to withdraw early from just about any retirement plan, you'll be slapped with a penalty—an incentive to leave your money alone and let it build toward retirement like you always intended.

A 54-year-old with $4M in a 401(k) has eight times the average balance for people in their 50s. The rule of 55 allows penalty-free 401(k) withdrawals if you leave your job in the year you turn 55 or ...

You've spent decades contributing to a tax-advantaged retirement savings account. Now, for one reason or another, you want to withdraw your money. Maybe a medical issue has pushed you into early ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Host of the Retire Sooner podcast and CFP™ practitioner. Many investors gain penalty-free access to retirement accounts at age 59½ ...