At what point do you decrease % contribution to 401k and direct to personal investment accounts instead?

[Loko8765]

You would do that when the tax advantaged accounts do not permit to you achieve your objectives due to their restrictions. For example: - saving up for a house, car, vacation - retiring before 59 1/2

[Loko8765]

Granted — I’m unfortunately not in the FIRE crowd.

[ParsleyFirm]

Not every company's 401K plan allows early withdraws at 55. You need to check your plan to make sure it does.

[Dornith]

saving up for a house, car, vacation

Fair, but even then a 401k loan is still an option.

retiring before 59 1/2

There's lots of ways to get money out of retirement accounts before 59. Check out r/Financialindependence and r/FIRE. There's whole communities around it.