No. If you take money out of your 401k account before you reach age 59 ½, you’ll have to pay taxes on the money and also pay an early withdrawal penalty. You’ll also miss future growth in your investments. Don’t let fear drive your investing. The benefit of regular investing through a 401k account is that when markets decline in value, you’ll be buying more shares at lower prices. When markets rebound, as they have done in the past, you’ll be glad that you continued regular investing in your 401k account.