How to withdraw SEP IRA and TSP funds prior to 59.5?

[Fi365]

Apologies if this has been written about elsewhere... Please point me in the right direction.

I contribute to a SEP IRA through my one-woman-show LLC.

My husband contributes to a TSP through his Federal government job.

We also contribute to our traditional IRAs.

Our current thinking is to work until 55 AT THE LATEST because that's when he'll have his 30 years in and get full pension benefits. Although our investments will be 25x our expenses around age 38-40, so we may forego the pension and go live life before that.

I know that we can withdraw our IRA funds (Roth conversion ladder). What about SEP IRAs and TSPs?

Tips appreciated! Thank you!

P.S. I'm considering opening a solo 401k for my business instead of a SEP IRA because there are higher contribution limits (I could contribute ~$50,000/year to a solo 401k vs. ~$30,000/year to a SEP IRA). Anyone know whether solo 401k funds can be accessed prior to 59.5, and if so, how?

[seattlecyclone]

I believe these accounts can also be used for the Roth ladder. The TSP can be rolled into an IRA upon quitting, right? If so, no reason you couldn't do a Roth ladder the same as if the funds had always been in an IRA.

[Fi365]

I believe these accounts can also be used for the Roth ladder. The TSP can be rolled into an IRA upon quitting, right? If so, no reason you couldn't do a Roth ladder the same as if the funds had always been in an IRA.

Wow, what a simple answer. I hope you're right about the TSP!!

Any guesses on the SEP IRA withdrawals?

A solo 401k is an interesting one... I have passive income through my LLC (blog ads, YouTube ads, affiliate links where I make money every time someone buys a product) so I wouldn't technically ever "quit" my LLC and have the ability to roll over the solo 401k into a IRA. I wonder if I'd have to shut my LLC down in order to access those funds? In which case, I'd lose the passive income stream...

The simplest answer is probably to live off our rental property and my business' purely passive income and to leave the retirement funds alone until 59.5 (?).

Every time I learn something new, I realize there are a million things I still need to learn!

[kendallf]

Yes, the TSP can be rolled into an IRA, and with the recent change, multiple partial withdrawals will be possible. 

Additionally, if your husband stays until Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) he'll be able to pull from the TSP immediately without penalty.  If you are currently 32, his MRA is probably 57. 

The big draw about staying until MRA is that you can keep your health benefits, with the gov't contributing 75% of the premiums.  This is a huge benefit if you're close to the MRA (I have 5 years and that's what's keeping me employed).  If you reach your financial goals much earlier you'll have to plan independent health insurance coverage.