# What do I do with a 401k?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-a-401k/288726>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 7, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-a-401k/288726 "2005-02-07T00:55:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![DrLoveGun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@DrLoveGun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLoveGun)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-a-401k/288726/41 "2005-02-10T05:01:42Z")

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> [@missbunny](#):
>
> You can start withdrawing money without penalties at age 59-1/2, not 65.

You’re right, I stand corrected.

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**Author:** ![DrLoveGun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@DrLoveGun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLoveGun)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-a-401k/288726/42 "2005-02-10T05:03:27Z")

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> [@Medea's Child](#):
>
> AHH! the above is me. Really. _Someone_ just didn’t log off after he used my laptop.

One last thing, and this is the most important thing. Once you set it up, forget it. Don’t watch your funds, you’ll just make yourself crazy. Just know that you’re continuing to add money to the account, and it will grow eventually. But it will also go up and down as the market fluctuates. Thats the nature of investing.

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