The association reports that in 2024, there were more than 70 million active participants in employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and millions of former employees and retirees who benefited from such plans ...

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 ...

Retiring early with a 401(k) requires understanding how to access funds before the standard retirement age without triggering heavy penalties. This involves leveraging strategies like Rule 72(t) ...

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 ...

Generally, you should only make 401(k) withdrawals as you enter retirement, but there are certain situations in which you may do so earlier in life. Generally, withdrawing money from a 401(k) can take ...

If you take money out of your IRA early, you'll get hit with a hefty penalty. You also lose out on the returns any withdrawn funds would have generated in the future. You should try to avoid early ...

Tapping into your retirement savings early may seem like a risky idea, but there are many reasons why you may have to take money from your 401(k) before retirement. These accounts are meant to support ...

Financial advice professionals have used the 4% rule as a benchmark for advising their clients in scheduling their retirement ...

Jordyn joined Investopedia in February 2025. She was previously a freelance writer covering lifestyle, entertainment, politics in the Midwest, and more. Investopedia / Photo Illustration by Alice ...