ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reveals the rules of the early withdrawal penalty (and how to avoid it) when taking money out of the TSP prior to age 59 1/2. Key takeaways: What the rules are for when you may take money from TSP What triggers a penalty for some federal employees taking funds prior to age 59 1/2 How to avoid the penalty based on when or how you take money The bigger impact a penalty like this has on your TSP account