In business, when you do anything for appearances, you can write that down under the dumb column. We don't do stuff for... we do things that give return on investment in business, and trying to appear to be something is never a return on investment. Just be the thing.
Once you withdraw from your 401(k) early, taxes (24 percent federal, plus applicable state taxes) and the 10 percent early-withdrawal penalty will take a big chunk of that $80,000. Your remaining funds-about $50,000-might still take you far, but also might go faster than you think.
The investment decisions people make are often influenced by cognitive biases that can lead to irrational decisions or behavior contrary to personal financial goals. Cognitive biases, like the status quo bias, showcase a tendency to prefer existing circumstances over change.