[quote=moneymaker]My decision would be simple repeal the 10% penalty for 401K withdrawals. What is your QE3 idea?[/quote]
Well – since pensions have gone the way of the dodo bird, and SS is on shaky ground… who’s going to pay for your retirement?

The money you’re “paying yourself back” with is money you’re *not* saving/investing/growing… it’s filling a hole you created in your retirement nest egg. In other words – you’d probably be putting less new contributions in, or saving less in taxable accounts, or investment accounts. Unless your salary magically went up by the payment amount.

I’m not so keen on letting people have unfettered access to their retirement funds early. I know too many people who would fritter it away on stupid stuff. Not enough people save properly for retirement in the first place.