After years of climbing the ladder, you’d finally made it. At 51, a high-paying role brought prestige and comfort — until the layoff notice hit. Suddenly, you’re staring down a shrinking job market and offers that don’t come close to your old salary. With a healthy $1.3 million tucked away in your 401(k), you’d like to draw some to live on right now, but you can’t touch it for another eight years without penalty. For many Americans who lose a job in their 40s or 50s, that untouchable retirement balance ...