If you are in a position where you can remove money without paying tax, but you don't need to spend it right away, you would be better off converting those amounts to a Roth IRA. That way, it can continue to grow, and you don't pay tax when you do need to spend it. If you withdraw the money and leave it in a mattress, you earn nothing and it loses value due to inflation, and if you withdraw the money and then invest it back in CD or other investments, you will still eventually pay tax on the interest, dividends or capital gains.
