{"podcast":{"title":"Without the Bank Podcast","slug":"without-the-bank-podcast-1519613","podcast_index_feed_id":1519613,"rss_url":"https://withoutthebank.libsyn.com/rss","website_url":"https://withoutthebank.com","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/a/1/a/1/a1a13eddb3d4f42e/WTB_-_Podcast_Cover_Art_-_Sq.jpg","author":"Mary Jo Irmen","episode_count":280,"summary":"The archaic system of giving up money today, taking on risk, and hoping to retire is B.S. This podcast seeks to help make you responsible for your money and your future. You are the one who cares more about it than anyone else. I am here to help you and provide the honesty you need. No sugar coating. No false claims. Just straight up truth.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-30T20:20:59.436352+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/without-the-bank-podcast-1519613"},"episode":{"title":"Your 401k Isn't as Accessible as You Think (Ep. 268)","slug":"your-401k-isn-t-as-accessible-as-you-think-ep-268","published_at":"2026-05-07T10:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/without-the-bank-podcast-1519613/your-401k-isn-t-as-accessible-as-you-think-ep-268","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/without-the-bank-podcast-1519613","url":"https://withoutthebank.libsyn.com/ep-268-your-401k-isnt-as-accessible-as-you-think","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/withoutthebank/WTB_-_Ep._268_-_Tarisa_solo_401K_Access__Distribution.mp3?dest-id=2617376","summary":"The 401k access rules they never taught you — RMDs, hardship withdrawals, loans & hidden costs. 👉 More Without the Bank Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYvzroUouEMsTGKFw5nJHQ In this episode, Tarisa breaks down the third half-truth of 401k plans: access and distribution. The rules around when and how you can touch your own retirement money are far more restrictive than most people realize — and ignoring them could cost you thousands. In this episode: ✅ Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) — why the government forces withdrawals at 73, even if you don't need the money ✅ Hardship Distributions — the only 5 qualifying events that avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty ✅ 401k Loans — the repayment rules, what happens if you leave your job, and the hidden opportunity cost ✅ Inherited 401k — what your beneficiaries actually owe in taxes when they inherit your account ✅ Whole Life Insurance — how it offers uninterrupted compounding and flexible access as an alternative This is Part 3 of our series on the Top 5 Half-Truths of 401k. Don't miss it. 💡 Key Ideas 1. RMDs force withdrawals at 73 — ready or not. The IRS mandates distributions starting at age 73 to collect deferred taxes. Even if you don't need the money, you're required to take it — and it can push you into a higher tax bracket. 2. Only 5 events qualify for a penalty-free hardship distribution. Medical expenses, primary home purchase, eviction/foreclosure prevention, funeral costs, and primary residence repairs are the only IRS-approved exceptions to the 10% early withdrawal penalty. 3. 401k loans carry more risk than most people know. You can borrow up to $50,000, but if you leave your job, the balance may be due in as little as 60–90 days. Miss the deadline and it's reclassified as a taxable distribution —…","meta_description":"The 401k access rules they never taught you — RMDs, hardship withdrawals, loans & hidden costs. 👉 More Without the Bank Here: https://www.youtube.com/chan…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1030,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/without-the-bank-podcast-1519613/episodes/your-401k-isn-t-as-accessible-as-you-think-ep-268/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/without-the-bank-podcast-1519613/your-401k-isn-t-as-accessible-as-you-think-ep-268.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}