Retirement Planning with Fexingo: 401k, IRA, and Saving for Your Future
Lucas and Luna host a calm, data-driven show about retirement planning, focusing on the practical mechanics of 401(k)s, IRAs, and long-term savings. They explain contribution limits, employer matches, and why the difference between pre-tax and Roth contributions matters. The conversation covers common mistakes, such as treating a 401(k) like a savings account or cashing out early. They compare Traditional, Roth, and SEP IRAs, including income limits, taxes, and withdrawal rules, using scenarios like a 35-year-old saver, a freelancer, and a couple nearing retirement.
Episodes
How Your Pension Risk Shapes Retirement Wealth
We are looking at the quiet danger of defined contribution plans versus traditional pensions. Most people think they are just saving money, but they are actually taking on investment risk that their employer used to hold. We break down the sequence of returns risk and why your withdrawal strategy matters more than your savings rate in the first five years of retirement. This is Episode 215 of Fexi
The Power of Payroll Deductions for Retirement
Most people think building retirement wealth is about picking the right stocks or timing the market. But the real secret weapon is often sitting right in your paycheck, invisible and automatic. In this episode, we look at how payroll deductions transform irregular income into disciplined savings. We break down why the 'set it and forget it' approach works better than active trading for most worker
The Liquidity Trap in Your Retirement Portfolio
Most retirees make the same fatal error: they hold too much cash. This episode examines the specific mechanics of liquidity preference and why keeping six months of expenses in a savings account can silently destroy purchasing power over a twenty-year retirement. We look at the real-world case of a couple who learned this lesson the hard way after inflation spiked, and we break down the exact allo
The Sequence of Returns Risk in Retirement
Lucas and Luna dissect the single most dangerous variable in early retirement: sequence of returns risk. Using a specific case study of a couple retiring in 2022, they show how market timing can wipe out decades of savings regardless of average growth rates. The conversation moves from the math of withdrawal strategies to practical hedges like cash buffers and bond ladders, offering listeners a co
How Your Vesting Schedule Shapes Retirement Wealth
Most employees treat their 401k as a static savings account, ignoring the clock ticking on unvested employer contributions. In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, we break down how vesting schedules—both graded and cliff-based—act as invisible levers for your long-term wealth. Lucas and Luna examine why leaving a job mid-vesting period can cost you tens of thousands in free money, an
How Behavioral Biases Drain Your Retirement Account
We examine how the brain tricks you into under-saving for retirement, using a specific case of a high-earning engineer who failed to automate contributions. Lucas and Luna break down loss aversion and present bias, showing why willpower fails in markets and how structural nudges like auto-enrollment fix the gap. We look at the concrete math of a three percent increase strategy and why your emotion
The Inflation Tax on Your Retirement Savings
Most retirees focus on market volatility, but inflation is the silent thief eroding purchasing power over decades. We examine how a persistent three percent inflation rate can reduce your real retirement income by half in twenty years, using concrete examples of fixed versus variable annuities and TIPS to show why protecting buying power matters more than chasing high nominal returns.
#Retirement
The Trap of Standard Retirement Age
We are looking at the specific financial friction point of turning sixty-five. Most people treat retirement age as a hard deadline for work and a soft start for spending, but that binary thinking creates a dangerous gap in cash flow and tax planning. We break down why the traditional sixty-five exit strategy is failing modern portfolios, how healthcare costs intersect with early withdrawal penalti
How Your Pension Risk Shapes Retirement Wealth
Most workers assume their 401k is the only retirement vehicle that matters, but defined benefit pensions are quietly disappearing from the American workplace. This episode examines how the shift from guaranteed lifetime income to self-directed risk changes the fundamental math of retirement planning. We look at the specific trade-offs between pension lump sums and annuities, using a hypothetical c
The Real Cost of Delaying Retirement Savings
We examine how the magic of compound interest creates a massive gap between starting at twenty-five versus thirty-five. Using specific projections for a mid-career professional, we show why the first decade of saving matters more than the contribution amount later on. Lucas breaks down the math behind early contributions while Luna explores the behavioral hurdles of saving when income is lower. Th
How To Build A Retirement Portfolio That Survives Any Market
We explore how inflation risk quietly erodes retirement purchasing power, using the historical performance of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities and real-world portfolio examples to show why traditional fixed-income allocations often fail in high-inflation environments. Lucas and Luna break down specific allocation adjustments listeners can make today to protect their nest eggs from rising co
How The Rule Of Seven Saves Your Retirement
Lucas and Luna examine the 'Rule of Seven,' a lesser-known behavioral finance concept that suggests seven distinct emotional or life events can derail even the most disciplined retirement savings plan. Anchored by data from Vanguard’s 2025 Investor Experience Report, they explore how divorce, job loss, caregiving for aging parents, and sudden health scares often force early withdrawals or contribu
The Retirement Savings Trap of High Earners
High earners often hit a wall in retirement planning not because they don't save enough, but because their tax-advantaged accounts are too small to make a dent. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 'taxable brokerage gap' that traps millionaires who max out their 401k and IRA every year but still face massive tax bills in retirement. We break down why the Roth conversion ladder is no longer
How Your Career Moves Shape Retirement Wealth
Most people think retirement wealth is built by saving more each month. But what if the biggest lever isn't your savings rate, but where you work? In this episode, we look at how job mobility and employer match structures create massive disparities in long-term outcomes. We break down the specific math of a $50,000 salary jump versus a stagnant career path, using data from the Bureau of Labor Stat
The Hidden Cost of Your 401k Provider
Most Americans assume their 401k provider is just a neutral pipe for money. They are wrong. In this episode, we dissect the fiduciary conflict between recordkeepers and plan sponsors, revealing how administrative fees quietly compound against your balance. We look at the specific case of a mid-sized tech company that switched providers and saved employees an average of one point two percent in ann
How Your Job Title Shapes Retirement Wealth
We explore how occupational identity and career trajectory fundamentally alter retirement outcomes, moving beyond simple savings rates to examine the structural advantages of high-status professions. Using data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, we analyze why two people with identical incomes can have vastly different net worths at age sixty-five based on their professional n
How To Build A Retirement Portfolio That Survives Any Market
Most retirement plans fail not because of poor returns, but because of rigid withdrawal rules that ignore real-world spending volatility. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dissect the 'Dynamic Withdrawal Strategy' used by institutional endowments and high-net-worth families to protect principal during market downturns. They break down how adjusting your annual payout based on portfolio performance a
The Retirement Gap Caused By Healthcare Costs
Most retirement calculators assume a fixed annual healthcare budget, but that assumption collapses under real-world volatility. In this episode, we examine the specific trajectory of medical inflation versus general CPI and how out-of-pocket maximums in high-deductible health plans create a structural blind spot in standard 401k projections. We look at the data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of
How to Structure Your Retirement Withdrawals
Most retirees assume they will simply sell their highest-performing asset every month to cover living expenses, but this approach ignores the structural reality of portfolio sequencing. In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine why the order in which you draw from taxable accounts, tax-deferred retirement plans like your traditional IRA, and Roth accounts matters more than the total size of your nes
The Tax Drag That Silently Eats Your Retirement
We explore how tax drag quietly erodes retirement savings, often costing investors thousands more than management fees or market volatility. Using a specific comparison between a taxable brokerage account and a tax-advantaged IRA, we break down the compound effect of paying annual capital gains taxes on unrealized gains. Lucas walks through the math of why holding high-dividend stocks in a taxable
How Your Employer Match Changes Retirement Math
Most workers treat their employer match as a bonus, but it is actually the foundation of your retirement wealth. We examine how the specific mechanics of vesting schedules and contribution matching structures can silently erode decades of compounding growth. Using concrete examples from typical defined contribution plans, we break down why leaving money on the table through poor timing or misunder
How Social Security Strategy Changes Your Retirement Math
Most people treat Social Security as a fixed monthly check, but the timing of your claim is actually one of the most powerful leverages in retirement planning. In this episode, we break down the specific financial impact of delaying benefits past full retirement age versus claiming early at sixty-two. We look at the seventy-six percent lifetime value difference for a typical earner and why waiting
Why Your Retirement Timeline Is Broken
Most retirement calculators assume a straight line from work to leisure, but the reality of modern careers is far more jagged. This episode examines how career interruptions, sabbaticals, and non-linear income paths create hidden gaps in compound growth that standard models ignore. We look at the specific math behind taking five years off between jobs or during mid-career shifts, and why your defa
Why Your Retirement Plan Fails on Day One
Most retirement guides focus on how much you save, but ignore the single biggest variable: when you retire. This episode dissects the 'sequence of returns' problem not as a market risk, but as a timing decision. We look at why retiring in a bear market versus a bull market can cost up to two hundred thousand dollars over a twenty-year withdrawal phase. Lucas and Luna break down the specific math b
How to Fix Your Retirement Gap Without More Savings
Most people think the only way to close a retirement savings gap is to contribute more, but contribution limits are capped and often unaffordable. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how shifting your investment strategy can actually solve the problem. We look at a specific case of an investor who stopped chasing high returns and instead focused on reducing volatility through a glide path adju
The RMD Shock That Breaks Retirement Plans
Most retirees forget that Required Minimum Distributions start at age seventy-three. This episode examines the tax trap of suddenly converting tax-deferred wealth into taxable income. Lucas and Luna discuss how a single year of forced withdrawals can push you into a higher bracket, spike your Medicare premiums, and eat away at Social Security benefits. We break down the specific math of the seven-
How Sequence of Returns Risk Ruins Retirement Plans
Lucas and Luna dissect the brutal mathematics of sequence of returns risk, using a real-world case study of a retiree named David who lost thirty percent of his portfolio not because markets fell, but because he withdrew money during the dip. They explain why traditional retirement calculators lie by averaging returns, and offer three concrete structural fixes: dynamic withdrawal rules, cash buffe
How Your Investment Fees Are Quietly Stealing Your Retirement
We break down the silent drain of expense ratios and advisory fees on long-term retirement wealth. Using a concrete example of two identical $1 million portfolios, one with low-cost index funds and one with active management, we show how just one percent in annual fees can cost you over half a million dollars over thirty years. Lucas and Luna explore why most people never check their statements fo
The Behavioral Cost of Perfect Retirement Plans
Lucas and Luna dissect the quiet erosion of retirement wealth caused not by market crashes or tax surprises, but by the psychological friction of maintaining a perfect financial plan. They explore how the human brain treats money as distinct 'mental accounts' rather than a unified pool of capital, leading to suboptimal allocation decisions during critical life transitions. Using the specific case
The Behavioral Cost of Perfect Retirement Plans
Most retirement planners obsess over asset allocation and tax efficiency, yet the single biggest variable in long-term wealth is not a number on a spreadsheet but a human behavior: panic selling. This episode examines the behavioral gap between what we plan to do and what we actually do when markets crash. We look at specific data from major brokerage firms showing how many investors liquidated po
The Silent Killer of Retirement Savings
We are looking at the quiet erosion of retirement wealth caused by high-fee investment options in employer-sponsored plans. Most workers don't realize they are paying for expensive active management when low-cost index funds would serve them better. This episode breaks down how a one percent fee difference compounds over thirty years to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. We examine the specifi
Why Your Emergency Fund Is Draining Your Retirement
Most financial planners tell you to keep three to six months of expenses in cash. But with interest rates stabilizing in late 2026, that strategy might be costing you tens of thousands over a thirty-year retirement horizon. Lucas and Luna dissect the hidden opportunity cost of high-yield savings accounts versus taxable brokerage accounts, using a specific case study of a dual-income household in t
The Inflation Risk That Destroys Retirement Plans
Most retirees focus on nominal returns, ignoring how inflation silently erodes purchasing power. This episode examines the real-world impact of persistent price increases on fixed income strategies and why protecting against inflation risk is more critical than chasing high yields in today’s economic environment.
#RetirementPlanning #InflationRisk #PurchasingPower #FixedIncome #FinancialSecurity
The Power of Tax Diversification in Retirement
Most retirees focus entirely on how much they have saved, but few think about the tax structure of that savings. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the concept of tax diversification—maintaining a mix of taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-exempt accounts to manage future tax liability. They break down why relying solely on one account type creates risk when retirement policy changes or market con
The Catch-Up Contribution Strategy For Retirement
Most people think retirement saving is about consistent monthly contributions, but the real leverage often comes in the final years. This episode explores catch-up contributions for those over fifty and the rare window to make lump-sum additions to retirement accounts after a career break or income spike. We look at how specific IRS limits allow high earners to accelerate their nest egg without tr
The Unfunded Liability That Changes Retirement Math
We break down the hidden math behind defined benefit pensions and why the shift to defined contribution plans has fundamentally altered retirement security. Lucas and Luna examine the specific mechanics of how pension fund underfunding works, using a hypothetical municipal plan as an anchor. We explore what this means for your own portfolio allocation, particularly regarding the risk premium you a
The Hidden Cost of Default Investment Choices in Retirement
We look at how automatic enrollment and default fund selection have quietly reshaped retirement outcomes for millions of workers. Lucas and Luna break down the mechanics behind why most people end up in conservative target-date funds or money market sweep accounts, and what that means for long-term compound growth. We examine a specific case study of a mid-career professional who stayed in a low-y
The Sequence of Returns Risk in Retirement
Lucas and Luna break down the single biggest mathematical threat to early retirees: sequence of returns risk. They walk through a specific case study of two investors with identical portfolios but different retirement years, showing how a market downturn right at the start of withdrawal can permanently alter a nest egg. The conversation moves beyond simple savings rates to discuss the mechanics of
How to Fix Your Retirement Savings Gap Without Increasing Contributions
Most workers assume the only way to boost retirement savings is to raise their contribution percentage, but this episode explores a different lever: fee compression. We examine how high expense ratios in 401k plans can silently erode decades of compound growth, using specific data from Vanguard and Fidelity to show the real cost of passive management fees versus active fund selection. Lucas breaks
The Hidden Cost of Your Default Investment Choice
Most retirement savers leave their money in the default fund without thinking twice. This episode examines why that passive choice often leads to higher fees and suboptimal returns. Lucas and Luna break down the specific mechanics of target-date funds versus low-cost index options, using data from Vanguard and Fidelity to show how small percentage points in expense ratios compound into thousands o
The Gap Year Tax Trap For Early Retirees
Episodes 173 and 174 covered the math of withdrawals and tax drag, but most planners miss the single biggest risk for early retirees: the coverage gap between leaving your job and qualifying for Medicare at age sixty-five. We break down the precise mechanics of the ACA marketplace subsidies, how income spikes from Roth conversions can disqualify you, and why using a Health Savings Account as a bri
The Hidden Tax Drag on Your Retirement Savings
Most investors obsess over asset allocation but ignore the silent killer of compound growth: tax inefficiency. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down how taxable brokerage accounts can quietly erode your wealth through annual capital gains distributions and dividend taxes. We explore the specific mechanics of 'tax-loss harvesting' and why holding high-yield bonds in a taxable account is a stra
The 4 Percent Rule Is Dead Here Is The New Retirement Standard
The classic four percent withdrawal rate, popularized by the Trinity Study in the nineteen nineties, is facing a credibility crisis as bond yields and market volatility shift. In this episode, we dissect why relying on a static percentage might leave retirees short, especially in today’s September two thousand twenty-six economic landscape. Lucas and Luna break down the dynamic withdrawal strategi
How to Avoid the 401k Auto-Increase Trap
Many 401k plans now feature an auto-escalation feature that quietly raises your contribution rate each year. While it's designed to boost savings, it can backfire if you're not prepared for the higher withholding. In Episode 172, Lucas and Luna break down how auto-escalation works, why it can catch you off guard, and the smart ways to use it to your advantage. They discuss the typical default incr
How to Use the Rule of 55 to Retire Early Without Penalties
Thinking about retiring before 59 and a half but worried about the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty? In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the Rule of 55 — an IRS provision that lets you tap your 401k penalty-free if you leave your job in the calendar year you turn 55. They walk through the exact eligibility requirements, the difference between the 401k and IRA rules, and a real-world example
How to Avoid the 401k Auto-Enrollment Trap
Many workers assume that being auto-enrolled in a 401k means they're set for retirement. But the default contribution rate is often far too low to build a meaningful nest egg, and the default investment choice might be too conservative or too aggressive for your timeline. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the hidden costs of auto-enrollment, using a concrete example: a 30-year-old earning
How to Avoid the 401k Loan Repayment Trap After Leaving Your Job
Leaving a job with an outstanding 401k loan can trigger a nasty surprise: the unpaid balance becomes taxable income, plus a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty if you're under 59 and a half. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the actual mechanics of the 60-to-90-day repayment window, what happens if you miss it, and the strategies that can help you dodge the tax bill. They walk through a r
How to Avoid the Surprise Tax on a 401k to Roth IRA Conversion
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into a common but often-missed retirement planning mistake: converting a traditional 401k to a Roth IRA without realizing you'll owe income tax on the entire balance. Using a real-world example—a 50-year-old engineer with a $400,000 401k—they walk through the unexpected tax bill, how to plan for it, and strategies to avoid the surprise, like doing partial conve
How to Avoid the Social Security File and Suspend Trap
In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the file and suspend strategy for Social Security—a move that once let married couples claim spousal benefits while letting their own benefits grow. But the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 shut down the most powerful version of this maneuver. Lucas explains what's left, how the rules changed, and why the strategy can still
How to Avoid the 60-Day Rollover Deadline Trap
In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore one of the most misunderstood rules in retirement finance: the 60-day rollover deadline. When you take a distribution from an IRA or 401(k) with the intention of rolling it over, you have exactly 60 days to complete the transfer—miss it and the IRS treats it as a taxable withdrawal, potentially triggering taxes and a 10 pe
How to Avoid the Surprise Tax on a Roth IRA Conversion
Episode 165 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo digs into the sneaky tax trap that can hit a Roth conversion: the pro-rata rule. Lucas explains how the IRS treats a Roth conversion when you also hold pre-tax IRAs, using a concrete example with a $200,000 rollover IRA and a $50,000 conversion. Luna raises the listener's classic question—'Can I just convert my after-tax 401k contributions and skip t
How to Avoid the Medicare Late Enrollment Penalty
In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down the Medicare late enrollment penalty—a costly mistake that can follow you for life. You'll learn how the penalty works for Part B and Part D, why missing the initial enrollment window can permanently raise your premiums, and the specific timelines you need to know if you're still working past 65 or rely on employer cove
How to Avoid the 5 Percent Early Withdrawal Penalty on a 457 Plan
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked 457(b) plan, a retirement account available to state and local government employees and some nonprofits. Unlike 401(k)s and IRAs, 457(b) plans have a unique feature: no 10 percent early withdrawal penalty if you leave your job before age 59 and a half. Lucas walks through a real-world example of a 45-year-old public school teacher who le
How to Handle a Retirement Account After a Divorce
Divorce is one of the most common reasons retirement plans get derailed, yet few people know the rules. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the Qualified Domestic Relations Order — the QDRO — and how it lets you split a 401k or pension without triggering the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. They walk through a real-world example of a couple splitting a $400,000 401k, explain why the 50/
How to Handle a 401k After You Leave Your Job
In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna walk through the critical decision you face when you leave a job: what to do with your 401k. They break down the four main options—leave it, roll it over to an IRA, roll it into your new employer's plan, or cash out—and weigh the pros and cons of each. Using a real-world example of a mid-career professional with $80,000 in a forme
How to Avoid the Social Security Earnings Test Surprise
In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore the Social Security earnings test — a rule that can temporarily withhold benefits if you claim early and keep working. Using a real-world example of a 62-year-old teacher earning $60,000 a year, they break down how the test works, why the withholding isn't lost forever, and how benefits are recalculated later. They also di
How to Avoid the 10 Percent Early Distribution Penalty Trap
In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the 10 percent early distribution penalty trap that catches many retirees off guard. They explore the specific rule that allows penalty-free withdrawals from a 401k if you leave your job in the year you turn 55, a provision known as the Rule of 55. The hosts break down the eligibility requirements, the differences betwee
How to Use a Solo 401k to Boost Retirement Savings
Lucas and Luna explore the solo 401k, a powerful retirement tool for self-employed individuals and small business owners. In Episode 158 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, they break down contribution limits for 2026, the difference between employee and employer contributions, and the potential to save over $70,000 annually. They discuss the importance of adopting the plan before year-end, the f
How to Use a 401k to Build a Generational Wealth Transfer
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a less-talked-about angle of retirement planning: using your 401k as a tool for generational wealth. They break down the SECURE Act 2.0's 10-year rule, the power of naming beneficiaries, and the strategic use of Roth conversions to leave a tax-free inheritance. With the August 2026 market backdrop, they explain how a well-structured 401k can reduce taxes for
How to Avoid the Widow's Penalty on Social Security
When a spouse dies, the surviving partner faces a permanent cut in Social Security benefits if they claimed early. In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the 'widow's penalty' — a little-known rule that can slash a survivor's income by thousands of dollars a year. They walk through a real-world example: a couple where one spouse claimed at 62, the other waited until full retirement age, and what h
How to Use a 401k Hardship Withdrawal Without Derailing Retirement
When an unexpected expense hits before retirement, a 401k hardship withdrawal can feel like the only option. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the rules, the tax traps, and the long-term cost of tapping your retirement savings early. They walk through a concrete example: a 45-year-old taking a $20,000 hardship withdrawal to cover a medical bill. You'll hear how the 10% penalty, income tax
How to Avoid RMD Penalties With Qualified Charitable Distributions
In this episode, Lucas and Luna discuss the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules that kick in at age 73, and how a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) can help retirees meet their RMD while supporting causes they care about. With the IRS penalty for missing an RMD at 25 percent, getting it right matters. They walk through a real example: a 76-year-old retiree with a $500,000 IRA who donat
How to Use a Roth Conversion Ladder for Early Retirement
Lucas and Luna dig into the Roth conversion ladder, the strategy that lets early retirees access 401k and IRA funds before age 59 and a half without the 10 percent penalty. They walk through the five-year clock, the two-step process of rolling a traditional IRA into a Roth, and the tax implications you need to plan for. Using a concrete example of a 45-year-old who wants to retire at 50, they show
How to Plan a Retirement Withdrawal Budget That Actually Works
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into one of retirement planning's most practical—and least talked about—tasks: building a withdrawal budget that survives real life. They walk through a concrete example: a 66-year-old retiree with $1.1 million in a traditional IRA, $250,000 in a Roth, and Social Security benefits starting at 67. The focus is on the 'spending floor' approach—how to cover essent
How to Avoid the Medicare IRMAA Surcharge in Retirement
Lucas and Luna dig into the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA, the surcharge that can quietly raise Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for retirees with higher incomes. Using a real couple's situation as a case study, they explain how IRMAA brackets work, why a one-time Roth conversion or a big capital gain can trigger it, and how to plan around it with strategies like managing t
The 4 Percent Rule in an Era of Higher Rates
For decades, the 4 percent rule was the default answer to how much you can safely withdraw from your retirement portfolio. But with bond yields back to levels not seen in fifteen years, financial planners are asking whether the old math still holds. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the origins of the rule, how today's return assumptions change the numbers, and why the real risk in retireme
How to Estimate Your Retirement Tax Bracket
In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore a question that catches many retirees off guard: what tax bracket will you actually be in during retirement? Most people assume they'll be in a lower bracket, but the reality is often different—especially when you factor in Social Security taxation, Required Minimum Distributions, and other income sources. Lucas walks thro
How to Use a Spousal IRA When Only One Spouse Works
In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna tackle a question many married couples face: what happens to retirement savings when one spouse stays home or works part-time? They explore the spousal IRA, a powerful but often overlooked tool that allows a working spouse to contribute to an IRA in the non-working spouse's name. The discussion covers the 2026 contribution limits,
How to Avoid the Nasty Surprise Tax on Inherited Retirement Accounts
When you inherit a 401k or IRA, the IRS has specific rules about how quickly you must withdraw the money — and getting it wrong can trigger a massive penalty. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the SECURE Act's 10-year rule, explain who's exempt, and walk through a real-world example of a daughter who inherited her father's IRA and faced a 50 percent penalty from the IRS. They discuss why
How to Use a Retirement Spending Floor to Protect Your Income
In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore the concept of a retirement spending floor — a guaranteed income layer that covers essential expenses. They use the example of a hypothetical retiree with $1.2 million in savings, showing how combining Social Security, a single-premium immediate annuity, and a bond ladder can create a floor that covers $48,000 of annual sp
How to Avoid the 10 Percent Early Withdrawal Penalty
What happens if you take money out of your 401k or IRA before 59 and a half? Most people know the 10 percent penalty exists, but few understand the exceptions and strategies that can help you avoid it legally. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the specific rules, from the Rule of 55 for 401ks to SEPP (substantially equal periodic payments) to 72(t) distributions, and how they apply in 202
How to Turn Old 401ks Into a Rollover IRA Without Taxes
Lucas and Luna dive into the often-overlooked strategy of consolidating old 401(k)s into a single rollover IRA. They walk through the mechanics of direct versus indirect rollovers, the 60-day rule, and the one-rollover-per-year limit that trips up many investors. Using a concrete example of a listener with three old accounts, they show how a rollover can simplify your retirement savings, reduce fe
How to Handle a 401k Loan Before You Retire
Borrowing from your 401k is one of the most common retirement mistakes, but it's not always a bad idea. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the mechanics of 401k loans: how the repayment works, what happens if you leave your job, and the double-tax trap that catches many borrowers. They walk through a specific example of a 45-year-old borrowing $30,000 for a home renovation, comparing the t
How Retirement Plan Fees Can Cost You Decades of Growth
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the quiet retirement killer that most people overlook: account fees. Using a concrete example, they show how a seemingly small 1 percent fee on a $100,000 portfolio can wipe out nearly $100,000 over thirty years—money that could otherwise compound into a much larger nest egg. They break down the common places these fees hide, from 401k plan administration t
New 401k Catch-Up Rules for Ages 60-63 in 2026
In 2026, SECURE 2.0 introduces a super-sized catch-up contribution for workers aged 60 to 63, allowing up to an extra $11,250 in your 401k. Lucas and Luna break down the new limits, the Roth catch-up mandate for high earners, and how to decide between traditional and Roth contributions. They use the example of a 62-year-old who can now defer an additional $18,750 per year, and discuss strategies f
How to Avoid the Pro-Rata Rule in a Backdoor Roth IRA
If your income is too high for a direct Roth IRA contribution, the backdoor Roth IRA is the workaround. But if you have any pre-tax money in a traditional IRA, the pro-rata rule can turn your supposedly tax-free conversion into a taxable mess. In this episode, Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete example: a high earner earning $200,000 in 2026, wanting to contribute $7,000 to a Roth IRA, but sit
How an HSA Supercharges Retirement Savings
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into why a Health Savings Account might be the most overlooked retirement tool. They explain the triple tax advantage: deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. Using 2026 contribution limits ($4,150 individual, $8,300 family, plus $1,000 catch-up for ages 55+), they show how investing HSA funds over 20
How the Rule of 55 Unlocks Your 401k Before Age 59 and a Half
Most people know that withdrawing from a 401k before age 59 and a half triggers a 10 percent penalty. But there's a little-known exception called the Rule of 55 that lets you access your 401k penalty-free if you leave your job at age 55 or older. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down exactly how the rule works, who qualifies, and how to avoid costly mistakes. They walk through a real-life sce
How to Sequence Retirement Withdrawals to Minimize Taxes
Most retirees know they need to withdraw money from their accounts, but few realize that the order in which they tap taxable, traditional, and Roth accounts can cost them tens of thousands of extra taxes. In this episode, Lucas and Luna walk through a real-world example: a 72-year-old with $1 million in a traditional IRA, $200,000 in a Roth, and $150,000 in a taxable brokerage. They explain the lo
How to Use NUA to Slash Taxes on Company Stock in Your 401k
When you've accumulated a sizable chunk of company stock in your 401(k), the standard advice is to roll it into an IRA and defer taxes. But for some retirees, that could mean paying ordinary income tax on the entire balance at withdrawal. Enter Net Unrealized Appreciation, or NUA — a tax strategy that lets you pay lower capital gains rates on the appreciation of employer stock when you take a lump
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