re: Pulling out of your 401k early.

quote:

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I always point out that you don't lose a penny until you sell.

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Yes, and the same holds true for making money. It's OK to look at things that way if you're a longer term investor... as long as that philosophy isn't used to mask a bad investment decision (continuing to hold a loser with deteriorating fundamentals, even though you're down some exorbitant percentage).

Apart from dividends or margin loans, in order to use your money, you have to sell at some point. But no, doing something stupid, as was described in the OP, is not what anyone should do.