[CurlyDave]

Cashing out my IRA is ordinary income, not long term capital gains, although it surely IS long term.

A surprise, and a disappointment. I tell this to all youngsters who ask investment advice.

I call BS on that one. The money you put into your IRA was not taxed when you put it in. Therefore it is taxed when you take it out.

You can ignore the advantages of an IRA and open an ordinary brokerage account, but you will have to pay taxes on every trade and the money you put in will come from after-tax income.

[Ken H]

Cashing out my IRA is ordinary income,

I call BS on that one. The money you put into your IRA was not taxed when you put it in. Therefore it is taxed when you take it out.

Isn't that exactly what he said?