Avoiding a fancy retirement

[Shanna]

I'm new here, and so excited to find you all.

My question is about the order of investments. Every piece of investment advice says to max out your retirement accounts before you start investing in vehicles that are post-tax. The problem is that if I invest any more in retirement accounts (even though they aren't maxed out), I'm investing money where I can only use it after age 59.5, whereas I need to start investing where I can use it prior to that age in an early retirement.

Can someone give me their thoughts? I don't want to work until age 65 and then have more money than I need, I'd rather have enough money throughout and retire early. Which is, after all, why we're all here :-)

[RWD]

Here's some reading material for you:
https://seattlecyclone.com/accessing-your-retirement-accounts-early-yes-you-can/
http://www.madfientist.com/how-to-access-retirement-funds-early/
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/11/11/how-much-is-too-much-in-your-401k/

[Shanna]

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you!