It is a long-term solution for what might be a short-term problem.

Steve Parrish

Should this be the first way to get at money ? I would say no, retirement plans should be among the last places to look.

Having the government force a retiree to take taxable distributions from an IRA when the stock market is down is neither popular nor logical, this is an easy and temporary fix. If you can keep going with what you have and can avoid the RMD, it is a great tax opportunity.