Retirement Planning with Fexingo: 401k, IRA, and Saving for Your Future

When you inherit a 401k from a parent or spouse, the tax rules changed dramatically with the SECURE Act. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the new ten-year distribution rule, the 'stretch IRA' that no longer exists, and the shocking tax bracket surprises that await beneficiaries who don't plan ahead. They walk through a concrete example: a $400,000 inherited 401k that could trigger a $90,000 tax bill if cashed out in a lump sum, or a manageable $20,000 if spread over the decade. They also discuss the exception for surviving spouses and the pitfalls for minors and disabled beneficiaries. Practical advice on when to consider Roth conversions before you pass, and why you should update your beneficiary forms today. #Inherited401k #SECUREAct #StretchIRA #RetirementPlanning #Beneficiary #RMD #TaxPlanning #RothConversion #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #401k #IRA #EstatePlanning #TaxBracket #WealthTransfer #FinancialLiteracy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 12 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo dives into a question that trips up many savers: once you have a mix of Roth and traditional 401k money, how do you actually withdraw it tax-efficiently? Lucas and Luna break down the withdrawal rules, the pro-rata problem, and a real-world strategy called 'tax bracket stacking.' They use the example of a hypothetical retiree named Mark who has $400,000 in traditional and $150,000 in Roth 401k. Learn why Mark might want to start his traditional withdrawals earlier than planned and how to avoid triggering a higher tax bracket in retirement. The episode also covers how employer matching contributions are always pretax, even in a Roth 401k, and why that complicates your withdrawal strategy. Plus, a quick behind-the-scenes moment about how listener support keeps this podcast ad-free. #Roth401k #Traditional401k #RetirementWithdrawals #TaxPlanning #ProRataRule #TaxBracketStacking #EmployerMatch #PretaxContributions #RothVsTraditional #RetirementPlanning #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #TaxStrategy #401kWithdrawal #LucasAndLuna #ListenersLikeYou Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Lucas and Luna dig into the hidden costs of borrowing from your 401k. Using a concrete example of a mid-career borrower who takes a $20,000 loan, they show how double taxation, lost compounding, and job-change repayment cliffs can cost you over $100,000 in retirement savings. They contrast the 401k loan with alternatives like a home equity line or a personal loan, and explain the one scenario where borrowing from your 401k actually makes sense. A must-listen for anyone who has ever considered tapping their retirement account early. #401kLoan #RetirementPlanning #BorrowingFrom401k #DoubleTaxation #OpportunityCost #LostCompounding #JobChangeCliff #RepaymentRules #SECURE20 #SIMPLEIRA #PersonalLoan #HomeEquity #EmergencyFund #FinancialPlanning #Retirement #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 10 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo dives into sequence-of-returns risk — the often-overlooked danger of a market downturn hitting just as you start withdrawing from your nest egg. Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete example: a retiree with a $1 million portfolio who retires in 2008 versus 2013, showing how the same average return leads to wildly different outcomes. They explain why dollar-cost averaging works in accumulation but fails in decumulation, and discuss practical strategies like a bond tent, cash reserve buffer, and flexible spending rules. If you're within five years of retirement, this episode could save you from running out of money even if the market cooperates in the long run. #SequenceOfReturnsRisk #RetirementWithdrawalStrategy #PortfolioSequenceRisk #RetirementPlanning #BondTent #CashReserve #DecumulationPhase #RetirementIncome #MarketTimingRisk #FinancialPlanning #PersonalFinance #RetirementSavings #InvestmentStrategy #RiskManagement #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #WealthManagement Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 9 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo tackles Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs), an IRS-approved insurance product that lets retirees defer Required Minimum Distributions on a portion of their retirement savings until as late as age 85. Lucas and Luna explain how a QLAC works with a specific example: a 72-year-old with $500,000 in traditional IRA assets uses $100,000 to buy a QLAC that starts paying at age 80, removing that $100,000 from RMD calculations. They discuss the SECURE 2.0 Act's expansion of the QLAC premium cap (now $200,000 indexed for inflation) and the trade-offs: guaranteed income vs. lost liquidity, inflation risk, and counterparty risk with insurance companies. Lucas frames it as 'a niche tool for a specific problem: too much tax-deferred money later in life'. The episode includes the show's usual 'buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo' donation segment. #QLAC #QualifiedLongevityAnnuityContract #RequiredMinimumDistributions #RMDs #SECURE20Act #RetirementIncome #Annuities #TaxDeferred #IRARules #LongevityRisk #GuaranteedIncome #IRS #PersonalFinance #RetirementPlanning #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 8 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo zeroes in on a retirement account that gets overlooked: the SEP IRA. Lucas and Luna walk through why freelancers, gig workers, and solo business owners should consider it instead of a traditional IRA or solo 401k. They break down the 2026 contribution limits ($69,000 or 25% of compensation, whichever is less), the tax deduction mechanics, and the surprising fact that SEP IRAs have different Roth rules than standard IRAs. They also cover the messy catch: if you ever hire employees, you have to contribute the same percentage for them. This episode is built around a concrete example: a 45-year-old freelance designer earning $150,000 who can stash away $37,500 pre-tax this year. No fluff, just the numbers and the trade-offs. #SEPIRA #SelfEmployedRetirement #FreelanceFinance #GigEconomySavings #RetirementPlanning #Solo401k #TraditionalIRA #RothIRA #TaxDeduction #ContributionLimits2026 #SmallBusinessOwner #EmployeeContributions #FiduciaryRule #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #Fexingo Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 7 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo dives into a critical but overlooked anchor: your Social Security claiming strategy isn't just for pre-retirees. Lucas and Luna explain how decisions you make in your 40s and 50s—like timing your first benefit, coordinating spousal benefits, and managing earnings history—can boost lifetime income by six figures. They walk through the math on why waiting to age 70 is powerful, but not always optimal, and how a simple strategy like 'file and suspend' (before it was phased out) changed the game. If you've ignored Social Security planning until now, this episode will change your mind. #SocialSecurity #RetirementStrategy #ClaimingAge70 #SpousalBenefits #EarningsHistory #FRA #RetirementIncome #MidCareerCheckup #WealthManagement #PersonalFinance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #RetirementPlanning #LucasAndLuna #CompoundInterest #LifetimeIncome #BenefitStrategy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Starting January 2026, the SECURE 2.0 Act raises the catch-up contribution limit for people aged 60 to 63 to the greater of $10,000 or 150% of the standard catch-up amount—indexed for inflation after 2025. But there's a catch: all catch-up contributions for those earning over $145,000 must now go into a Roth account, not traditional pre-tax. Lucas and Luna walk through the mechanics, the phase-in, and who should adjust their savings strategy now. They also discuss the new 'starter 401(k)' provision for small businesses and how the rules differ for SIMPLE IRAs. A practical guide to a law that quietly reshapes retirement saving for millions of older workers. #RetirementPlanning #SECURE2.0 #CatchUpContributions #Roth401k #401k #IRA #Finance #Business #PersonalFinance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Fexingo #LucasAndLuna #TaxPlanning #RetirementSavings #SECUREAct #OlderWorkers #WealthManagement Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Lucas and Luna explore why Health Savings Accounts are arguably the most tax-advantaged retirement vehicle available, yet remain massively underutilized. Lucas walks through the triple tax benefit: contributions are pre-tax, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. He explains the strategy of paying out-of-pocket for healthcare now and saving the receipts to reimburse yourself in retirement, effectively turning the HSA into a supercharged IRA. Luna challenges the listener's main hesitation: the risk of overfunding and losing the money if you stay healthy. Lucas responds with data showing that a typical retired couple will spend about $315,000 on healthcare, according to Fidelity's 2025 estimate, making the HSA a near-certain win. They also cover the 'catch-65' rule: once you enroll in Medicare, you can no longer contribute, but you can still use the funds tax-free. The episode closes with Lucas's nomination of the HSA as the first account to max out after the employer 401k match, ahead of the Roth IRA, for anyone with a high-deductible health plan. #HSA #HealthSavingsAccount #RetirementPlanning #TaxAdvantaged #TripleTaxBenefit #Medicare #Catch65 #Fidelity #HealthcareCosts #HighDeductibleHealthPlan #HDHP #RothIRA #401k #EmployerMatch #TaxFreeGrowth #MedicalExpenses #Finance #FexingoBusiness Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 4 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo digs into Roth IRA conversions — a powerful but often misunderstood strategy. Lucas and Luna break down a real-life case: a 58-year-old engineer with $600,000 in a traditional 401(k) who converts $50,000 per year over five years, paying taxes now to lock in tax-free growth. They explain the five-year rule, the pro-rata rule, and why 2026's lower tax brackets (set to expire in 2027) make this a narrow window. No fluff, no sales pitch — just a concrete playbook for listeners wondering whether to convert before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act sunsets. #RothConversion #RetirementPlanning #TaxStrategy #IRA #401k #RothIRA #ProRataRule #FiveYearRule #TaxCutsAndJobsAct #Sunset #2026TaxBrackets #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #TaxEfficiency #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #Retirement Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Target-date funds are the default choice in most 401k plans, but they carry hidden risks that many investors don't realize. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the specific glide-path assumptions behind a popular 2050 fund, explaining why someone with a high risk tolerance or a pension might be overpaying for exposure they don't need. They discuss a concrete example: a 35-year-old engineer with a stable defined-benefit pension who would be better off building a simple three-fund portfolio instead. The hosts also explore how target-date funds can mask bond-market duration risk, especially in a rising-rate environment like the one we've seen through early 2026. If you've ever wondered whether the 'set it and forget it' approach actually fits your personal financial situation, this episode offers a clear, data-driven reality check. #TargetDateFunds #401k #RetirementPlanning #GlidePath #AssetAllocation #BondRisk #DurationRisk #InvestmentFees #ThreeFundPortfolio #RiskTolerance #PensionPlanning #Vanguard #Fidelity #BlackRock #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RetirementFinance Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna unpack a quiet problem: the majority of 401k participants are not maximizing their employer match. They break down the numbers using Vanguard's 2025 data showing that the average American leaves $1,336 per year in free money. Lucas explains how auto-escalation features, like those at Microsoft and Bank of America, have boosted participation above 90%, and why inertia is the biggest barrier. They also cover the 'stretch contribution' strategy used by tech workers and the new SECURE 2.0 rules making it easier to enroll part-time workers. Luna challenges Lucas on whether the match is always the right priority versus debt repayment. By the end, listeners learn a concrete move: check your plan's match formula and adjust your contribution by at least one percentage point. No jargon, no sales pitch—just a focused conversation on one of the highest-return financial decisions you can make. #RetirementPlanning #401k #EmployerMatch #FreeMoney #Vanguard #AutoEscalation #SECURE20 #Microsoft #BankOfAmerica #Inertia #ContributionRate #DeferralRate #FinancialLiteracy #PersonalFinance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #Investing Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In the first episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna tackle the single biggest silent killer of retirement savings: investment fees. Using a concrete example of a 25-year-old earning $50,000 with a 1% expense ratio versus a 0.03% index fund, Lucas shows how that tiny-sounding difference can eat $230,000 over 40 years. Luna pushes back on whether chasing the lowest fee always makes sense. They discuss target-date funds, 401k plan menus, and the one fee most people overlook: the plan administration fee. No jargon, no scare tactics—just a clear-eyed look at why a few basis points can mean the difference between retiring at 65 and working another five years. This episode sets the tone for the whole show: specific numbers, real trade-offs, and a focus on what actually moves the needle. Listeners walk away knowing exactly what to look for in their 401k summary plan document this afternoon. #401k #RetirementPlanning #InvestingFees #ExpenseRatio #IndexFunds #TargetDateFunds #LucasAndLuna #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #PersonalFinance #WealthBuilding #CompoundInterest #PlanAdministrationFee #PassiveInvesting #FeeDrag #FinancialLiteracy #RetirementSavings #EpisodeOne Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo