[ThePadawan]

Europe-based engineer here: Is a 401k completely unaccessible until 60?

I am currently resident of Switzerland, which has similar restrictions on the tax-free part of retirement savings, but allows earlier withdrawal for reasons such as

* purchasing a home (restriction: you have to live there yourself

* leaving the country

[calvinzpinson]

There are actually a few ways to get money out of your 401k before the traditional retirement age. It involves rolling the funds over from your 401k into a traditional IRA, and then into a Roth IRA in what is sometimes known as a Roth ladder. Here's an article on it: http://rootofgood.com/roth-ira-conversion-ladder-early-retir...

[awinder]

The US has a first time homebuyer withdrawl carve-out (which I think is defined as someone who hasn’t bought a house in 8 years?). There are also hardship exemptions. Technically you can withdrawl for any reason but you pay taxes + a 10% penalty.

[dunham]

I believe you can also take a loan from your 401k, but have to pay it back when you switch jobs.