What if I need the money in my IRA before retirement?
- What is an IRA?
- What's the difference between Roth and traditional IRAs?
- Why is an IRA a good deal?
- Who can put money into an IRA?
- How much should I put into an IRA?
- When can I access money in my IRA?
- When are IRA withdrawals penalty-free?
- When do I have to start taking the money out of an IRA?
- What if I need the money in my IRA before retirement?
- How should I invest the money?
- How do my IRA withdrawals get taxed in retirement?
- Where should I open an IRA?
- Should I take money from my IRA to pay off debt
If you withdraw money from a traditional IRA before you turn 59 ½, you must pay a 10% tax penalty (with a few exceptions). The same rule applies if you withdraw investment earnings from a Roth IRA. The exceptions involve cases in which you use the withdrawal to pay for college expenses, to buy your first home (up to $10,000) or for medical expenses greater than 7.5% of your AGI (adjusted gross income), or in case of disability. For more, see Can I take money from my IRA without penalty??
