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

Episode 94 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna dive into self-directed IRAs, exploring how retirees can use them to invest in real estate—specifically rental properties. They walk through the rules: you need a custodian like Equity Trust or Alto IRA, the property must be titled in the IRA's name, and all expenses and income must flow through the account. They highlight a pitfall: prohibited transactions, like using the property yourself or having a family member live there. A concrete example: buying a $200,000 rental property in Cleveland, generating $2,000 monthly rent, with the IRA paying taxes and insurance. The episode also covers the tax advantages—rental income grows tax-deferred or tax-free in a Roth—and the liquidity trade-off. Plus, a sincerity-driven donation segment reminding listeners the show is ad-free and supported via buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo.

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore the fixed indexed annuity as a strategic tool for retirees seeking both growth potential and downside protection. They break down how a fixed indexed annuity differs from a variable annuity, how the crediting methods work (including point-to-point and participation rates), and why the current interest rate environment in mid-2026 makes these products more attractive than they've been in years. Lucas walks through a concrete example of a 65-year-old retiree allocating $200,000 into a fixed indexed annuity with a 10 percent cap and a 100 percent participation rate on the S&P 500. They discuss the trade-offs: caps, spreads, and surrender charges. Luna challenges the complexity and questions whether most retirees truly understand the fine print. The hosts also touch on state guaranty association protections and how these products fit into an overall income plan without derailing other strategies like Social Security claiming or a Roth conversion ladder.

#FixedIndexedAnnuity #RetirementIncome #DownsideProtection #S&P500 #AnnuityStrategy #RetireePlanning #IndexedAnnuity #CapRate #ParticipationRate #StateGuarantyAssociation #IncomeFloor #SafeMoney #InsuranceBasedRetirement #RetirementWithFexingo #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RetirementPodcast

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore a controversial retirement planning tool: the reverse mortgage. They discuss how a home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) can be used strategically to reduce sequence-of-returns risk, delay Social Security, and create a tax-efficient income stream. Lucas explains the mechanics, including how the loan is repaid, the role of interest rates, and the potential impact on heirs. They also address common misconceptions and risks, such as the cost structure and the requirement to maintain the home. Luna shares a surprising statistic: only about 2 percent of eligible homeowners use reverse mortgages, often due to stigma and lack of understanding. The hosts conclude that for retirees with significant home equity but limited liquid assets, a properly structured reverse mortgage line of credit can be a powerful buffer against market downturns and longevity risk.

#ReverseMortgage #HECM #RetirementPlanning #HomeEquity #SequenceOfReturnsRisk #SocialSecurity #TaxEfficientIncome #FinancialStrategy #FexingoFinance #RetirementIncome #LongevityRisk #HousingWealth #Finance #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #Fidelity #AARPSurvey #RetireeTips

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna reveal how retirees can turn a Health Savings Account into a powerful tax-free income tool — not just for medical costs, but as a stealth retirement account. They walk through a real example: a 65-year-old couple with $50,000 in out-of-pocket healthcare expenses in retirement, and how paying those from an HSA instead of a traditional IRA saves them over $12,000 in taxes. They also cover the HSA catch-up contribution for those 55 and older, the 'last-month rule' for funding an HSA right before Medicare enrollment, and the strategy of reimbursing yourself years later for qualified expenses. Plus, a natural mid-episode mention of how listener support at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo keeps the show ad-free and independent.

#HealthSavingsAccount #HSA #RetirementPlanning #TaxFreeIncome #Medicare #CatchUpContributions #LastMonthRule #ReimbursementStrategy #TaxSavings #HealthcareCosts #RetireeFinance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #FinancePodcast #PersonalFinance #Retirement #WealthManagement #PodcastEpisode91

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In episode 90 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down the biggest Required Minimum Distribution changes from the SECURE Act 2.0 that take effect in 2026. They focus on the new RMD starting age of 73, the reduced penalty for missed RMDs (from 50% to 25%), and the expanded QCD limit of $105,000 indexed for inflation. The hosts use a concrete example: a retiree with a $500,000 traditional IRA who misses their RMD — showing how the penalty drops from $25,000 to $12,500 under the new rules. They also discuss how the QCD strategy can offset RMD income for charitably inclined retirees, and why the RMD age shift means careful planning for those turning 72 in 2026. A practical episode for anyone nearing retirement age or helping parents manage their IRAs.

#SECUREAct2.0 #RMD #RequiredMinimumDistribution #IRA #RetirementPlanning #QCD #CharitableDonations #TaxStrategy #2026Changes #RMDage73 #PenaltyReduction #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #Retirement #TaxPlanning #LucasAndLuna #IRARules

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore the spousal IRA strategy—a powerful tool that allows a working spouse to contribute to a retirement account for a non-working or lower-earning spouse. They break down the 2026 contribution limits, income eligibility rules, and the potential tax benefits, using a concrete example of a couple where one spouse stays home with kids. The discussion also covers the catch-up contributions for spouses aged 50 or older, and how this strategy fits into a broader retirement plan. Lucas and Luna explain why this approach can help families build retirement savings even when only one partner has earned income, and they address common misconceptions about IRA eligibility for non-working spouses.

#SpousalIRA #RetirementPlanning #IRA #NonWorkingSpouse #CatchUpContributions #TaxBenefits #RetirementSavings #PersonalFinance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #Investing #2026 #ContributionLimits #MarriedCouples #RetirementStrategy #IRA2026 #SpousalRetirement

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Episode 88 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo dives into the Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA, a surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums that catches many retirees off guard. Lucas and Luna break down the 2026 income brackets from the IRS and Social Administration, explain how a one-time Roth conversion or capital gain can trigger a two-year lag penalty, and walk through the appeal process using Form SSA-44. They also discuss planning strategies like spacing out Roth conversions and managing distributions to stay under the $106,000 single threshold. This episode includes a concrete example of a retiree who owed an extra $4,000 per year due to a single large IRA withdrawal. For anyone nearing 65 or already on Medicare, understanding IRMAA can save thousands in unnecessary premiums.

#Medicare #IRMAA #RetirementPlanning #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #Retirement #SocialSecurity #RothConversion #TaxPlanning #HealthcareCosts #MedicarePartB #MedicarePartD #FormSSA44 #IncomeSurtax #WealthManagement #PersonalFinance #RetireeTips

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down the often-overlooked Social Security spousal benefit strategy. They use the case of a couple named Mark and Julie—Mark is the higher earner, Julie is 62 and considering claiming early. Lucas explains the math: Julie can claim a spousal benefit worth up to 50 percent of Mark's full retirement age benefit, but if she claims before her own full retirement age, she gets a permanent reduction. They also cover the 'file and suspend' strategy (still available under current rules), the impact of the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment, and common pitfalls like the 'deemed filing' rule. The episode provides concrete numbers and a clear framework for couples deciding when to claim spousal benefits.

#SocialSecurity #SpousalBenefits #RetirementPlanning #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #MarkAndJulie #FileAndSuspend #FullRetirementAge #COLA2026 #DeemedFiling #EarningsTest #DelayedRetirementCredits #WidowBenefit #ClaimingStrategy #RetireeIncome #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning

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In episode 86 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known strategy: using a permanent life insurance policy—specifically a cash-value whole life or indexed universal life policy—as a source of tax-free retirement income. They break down how policy loans and withdrawals can supplement IRA and 401k distributions without triggering income tax, and why this works best for retirees who have already maxed out other tax-advantaged accounts. The hosts compare the strategy to a Roth IRA, discuss the costs (including premiums and potential lapse risk), and walk through a concrete example of a 65-year-old couple using a $500,000 policy to generate $20,000 a year in tax-free cash flow. They also touch on the 2026 regulatory landscape and the importance of working with a fee-only advisor. No product pitching—just a clear-eyed look at when life insurance makes sense in a retirement plan.

#LifeInsuranceRetirement #TaxFreeIncome #CashValueLifeInsurance #PermanentLifeInsurance #IndexedUniversalLife #WholeLifeInsurance #RetirementIncomeStrategy #TaxFreeWithdrawals #PolicyLoans #RetirementPlanning #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #RetireeStrategy #WealthManagement #EstatePlanning #LifeInsuranceLoans

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Episode 85 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo explores the Health Savings Account (HSA) as a powerful but often overlooked retirement tool. Hosts Lucas and Luna explain how HSAs offer a triple tax advantage—tax-deductible contributions, tax-deferred growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses—making them a unique complement to 401(k)s and IRAs. They walk through eligibility rules (you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan), 2026 contribution limits ($4,300 for individuals, $8,550 for families, plus $1,000 catch-up for those 55+), and the strategy of paying current expenses out of pocket to let the HSA grow. The episode also covers the Medicare enrollment trap: once you sign up for Medicare Part A, you can no longer contribute to an HSA. With healthcare costs projected to consume a large portion of retirement income, the HSA offers a tax-free war chest for future medical needs. Lucas and Luna discuss real-world examples, including how a couple could amass over $200,000 in tax-free funds by maxing out contributions for 20 years. This episode is a must-listen for retirees and pre-retirees looking to optimize their tax strategy.

#HSA #HealthSavingsAccount #RetirementPlanning #TaxFree #HighDeductibleHealthPlan #Medicare #TaxStrategy #CatchUpContributions #MedicalExpenses #2026 #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #Podcast #Retirement #WealthManagement #FinancialPlanning #HealthcareCosts

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