<prompt> Human: My wife has a small 401k about 10,000 from a previous employer. She doesnt plan on going back into the conventional workforce she is planning on starting a small business. Id like to be in a position to buy a rental home within a year or so with some other current and future savings. Id like to have at least 5 rentals by the time Im eligible to retire in 11 years. Closing the account would result in the initial 10 penalty 1000 and taxable income 2000. So, its not like wed be closing an account with 100k in it and would be paying a HUGE penalty. The way I look at it is the rental homes are part of our retirement plan. What do you guys think?  <response>: Save up the money instead. If the only way to afford something is to drain your retirement, you cannot afford that thing. That 10k can easily grow even if you never put more money into it again. 