If you coulda foreseen the potential accumulation, you woulda skipped the lump-sum distribution. Just for the sake of argument, let’s say you’re retired, age 59 1/2 and toying with taking a lump-sum distribution from your employer-sponsored plan. Let’s also say you’re your spouse is still working, and you have other taxable savings you can use. If you leave your employer-sponsored plan funds alone, here’s what could happen over the 11 years between now and age 70 1/2 (when you must begin distributions).