Editor’s note: "The Rule of 55" is part eight of an ongoing series focused on how to retire early and the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. Part One is How to Retire Early in Six ...

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 ...

Learn the early retirement withdrawal rules that allow you to access retirement funds before age 59½ without penalties, including the Rule of 72(t) and the Rule of 55, and how to use them wisely.

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.

Take control of your finances in 2026 with these expert strategies. Learn about the 529-to-Roth IRA rollover, the Rule of 55, ...

Here's what's at stake.