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.

Tax-advantaged retirement accounts aren't exactly known for their liquidity, and that's largely thanks to a number of pretty strict rules, with only a few exceptions, governing when you can pull out ...

Tapping a 401(k) before age 59 and 1/2 usually results in an early withdrawal penalty. A special rule might allow you to access your 401(k) without a penalty at 55. It’s important to know how this ...

Retirement accounts exist to help you invest to build wealth for your golden years. That’s why Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules make it challenging to withdraw money from tax-advantaged retirement ...

The rule of 55 can benefit workers who have an employer-sponsored retirement account such as a 401(k) and are looking to retire early or need access to the funds if they’ve lost their job near the end ...

The rule of 55 allows penalty-free 401(k) withdrawals only from your current employer’s plan after separation. Funds in old 401(k) accounts from previous employers remain subject to the 10% early ...

A 401(k) is a key retirement savings plan for many workers. Some rules are often missed but can help save money. These rules ...

There's usually a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you take money out of your 401(k) under age 59 1/2. The Rule of 55 lets you take funds from your most recent employer's 401(k) without penalty if you ...

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 ...