There are two issues the OP seems to be confusing.
1) an IRA is a tax deferral tool. Funds designated as IRA funds can be invested in a wide variety of products from FDIC-insured savings accounts to mutual funds, individual stocks, real estate, etc.
2) one can pull money from a traditional IRA tax penalty-free at 59 1/2 yo, but one can move IRA funds between investment vehicles before 59 1/2 yo tax penalty-free.
Therefore one can pull out of the stock market without “scrapping an IRA” that was formerly invested there, or vice/versa.
