I started investing at a young age. I was told that was how people became successful. I invested in the stock market for the first time at age 16. I pretty much lost all the money LOL! I didn't get it. It seemed impossible to understand. But I kept trying to learn.

Like many people I thought the stock market was the only method in which you can invest. But I didn't like the feel of it. This up and down thing, Made me dizzy, The research into each company seemed tedious and grueling. When I discovered that there are other ways of investing, That can return a profit; I had to learn more.

At age 19 I got my job for a shipping company, With the union Teamsters.
They had a lot of great benefits; They didn't match your retirement savings. Instead, we got pension. When we got older. I decided to put money into a ROTH IRA and a regular IRA. I put different percentages away from my every pay check. I was only making 150 per week part time, So It wasn't very much. I was excited to see the mountains of returns I'd be getting.

I was quickly disappointed.

After hearing James, Altucher claims that those accounts are scams. I decided to cut back my investing, But leave the current amounts there.
I was disappointed with the results...

After a whole year, I gained 25.00, and that was it!! I readjusted my money now and then, Making my investments riskier.
I'm sorry I don't remember all the terms.

Things never got better, and I felt like a failure.I realized I couldn't' withdraw the money until I'm 60. I went to my boring, Unfulfilling job everyday.

While all this was happening behind the scenes, I tried investing in bonds; I finally started understanding how to invest in stock. But It still wasn't my favorite.
Then I learned about peer to peer lending. It was easy and fun; I immediately loved it!
I could help other people out while putting money in my pocket! I loved it. I started building up my account.

I eventually became self-employed! That's when I was notified by the company running my retirement account, That I had to make a choice...
Withdrawl, Transfer, Or rollover.

I decided to withdraw The IRS gave me a penalty fine of 30.00

LOL! FOR 1,900. THATS NOT BAD!

I am confident that I"ll be able to get all my money back, plus more. I now have the headache of reinvesting such a large portion of the money. I know this sounds silly. But I'm used to investing 20.00 here and there, Not 1,900 all at once!

Taxes are going to really suck next year! LOL

Have you considered withdrawling your retirement savings?

Thank you Pixabay for the photos