You may want to adjust your retirement planning when you: Marry or have children Become disabled Divorce Spouse dies Experience a Severe Financial Hardship: Tax on early distributions - before you reach age 59½ Hardship distributions - if your plan allows, the rules to follow Loans - if your plan allows, the rules to follow Are reemployed after military service or maternity/paternity absence Are laid off, quit or terminate your employment Rollovers of retirement plan or IRA money Reach a significant age Or, when your employer: Terminates the plan Switches to another type of plan Declares bankruptcy Merges with another company