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cbs news financial contributor and author of "the real cost of living" carmen wong ulrich has some ofhe real pitfalls we are talking about here. >> good morning. >> good morning. this is a question a lot of people are trying to figure out. to ever dip into the 401(k). when is it appropriate? is it ever appropriate? >> can i say never? here's what i wish and i hope that was the case. here's the thing. if the irs protects your 401(k) in bankruptcy court, even in bankruptcy you don't have to give up your 401(k). that shows you how important and vital it is to your planning and financial future. remember, this is not an asset like the cash that you have in the bank. this is something that's a long-term commitment. i advise folks not to dip in there. if you do before 59 1/2, you know you will lose up to 50% in penalties, fees and taxes. it's not worth it. if you're going to do it, make sure you do it for the right reasons and the right way. >> we know this is a challenging economy right now. some say, hey, it's a hardship for me. what qualifies as a hardship case? >> you want to file a har