re: Late to the game: Investing in my late 20's

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My question is, let's just say by some utter miracle I retire earlier than 60-whatever and want to essentially "cash out" prior to the target date I have set. Is that possible?

I know it'll be decades before I actually have to worry about this but I'm just curious. and let's say it's not possible and it is totally locked in...what happens in the year that I set as my target date? Does it basically turn into like a checking account that I can take out of it as I please?

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The target date is nothing more than a handsoff approach. The year you pick is just a way to tell Vanguard when to change your fund to a more conservative fund.

Example - you are 30 years away, it will be a lot of stocks - very aggressive, and will get conservative to as you get closer to retirement.

You can cash out whenever you want.