For many Americans, the dream of retiring early is often hindered by the IRS’s 10% early withdrawal penalty on distributions from retirement accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s before age 59.5. However, the ...

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 ...

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.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Host of the Retire Sooner podcast and CFP™ practitioner. Happiness may be subjective, but with multiple studies suggesting ...

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 ...