The retirement account, long seen as a nest egg for old age, may be turning into a rainy-day fund for some.

Five questions to ask yourself when retiring early.

Early 401(k) withdrawals are those you make under age 59 1/2 without a qualifying reason. You'll pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty on top of ordinary income taxes. Consider early 401(k) withdrawals ...

The wisdom of financial planning often clashes with the messy reality of life, and for one couple in their early 50s, a strong retirement nest egg and a valuable home aren't enough to quell the severe ...

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 ...

IRAs are tax-advantaged accounts that the government has strict rules for. Withdrawals made before age 59 1/2 typically have a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Explore all the possible strategies you can ...

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 ...

Typically, 401(k) withdrawals taken prior to age 59 and 1/2 are subject to an early withdrawal penalty. While some exceptions exist already, a new rule allows savers to tap their 401(k)s early to ...

When you need money quickly and you don't have the cash at hand, you may start looking for the cheapest and easiest way to get the funds you need. A 401(k) withdrawal might seem to fit that bill: It's ...