the paycheck

Money in a plain brokerage account is the bridge from 55 to 59 and a half.

No penalty, no waiting age, only tax on the gains. The planner draws it first and leaves the 401K to grow. In this example the 401K is not touched until 75.

You asked for the link. The planner every chart came from is one tap away; the slides are below if you want them again.

Open the planner Type in one paycheck. About three minutes, in the browser.

Slide 1 of 6: Money in a plain brokerage account is the bridge from 55 to 59 and a half.

Slide 2 of 6: Purple carries the spending. Blue is left alone to grow.

Slide 3 of 6: Three accounts, three sets of rules.

Slide 4 of 6: It taxes the gains, not the money you already paid tax on.

Slide 5 of 6: Twenty years on the taxable account, and the 401K keeps compounding.

Slide 6 of 6: Save this if you are aiming to stop before 59 and a half.

Where to go next

Retire Plan

Type in one paycheck and it runs your plan through every year of market history since 1871, with the taxes worked out. About three minutes, in the browser.

Open it

Sources: Expected path at 5% real return, 2026 dollars. Plan: age 35, $110,000 salary, $150,000 taxable plus $12,000 a year, retiring at 55 on $60,000.; Engine output for the example plan. Draw order is a setting: taxable first, or last.; Same plan, expected path. Every start year since 1871 survives this plan..

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