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

In episode 84 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into a powerful but often overlooked retirement savings tool: the spousal IRA catch-up contribution. With 2026 rules allowing a spouse with little or no earned income to contribute up to $8,000 annually, this episode walks through a concrete example: a 58-year-old non-working spouse contributing $8,000 per year for 7 years, growing at 6% annual return, adding over $70,000 in retirement savings. The hosts discuss eligibility rules, income limits, the difference between traditional and Roth spousal IRAs, and how this strategy pairs with catch-up contributions for the working spouse. Perfect for couples where one spouse takes time out of the workforce or earns significantly less, this episode offers actionable advice to close the retirement savings gap. No fluff, just the numbers and rules you need to know.

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In Episode 83 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down the bond ladder strategy — a method for retirees to generate predictable income from a portfolio of individual bonds with staggered maturities. Using real numbers and a concrete example, they explain how a five-year ladder of Treasury notes can produce a 4.2 percent yield in mid-2026, reduce reinvestment risk, and avoid the volatility of bond funds. They also discuss how to build a ladder with corporate bonds for higher income and how to manage the trade-off with default risk. Perfect for retirees who want to sleep well at night while earning steady cash flow.

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In episode 82, Lucas and Luna explore the charitable remainder trust, or CRT, as a tax-efficient strategy for retirees who want to donate assets and generate lifetime income. Using a real-world example of a retiree with $500,000 in highly appreciated stock, they walk through how a CRT can avoid capital gains tax, provide a 5% annual payout, and leave the remainder to charity. They compare it to simply selling the stock and donating cash, highlighting the income boost and tax savings. The hosts also discuss who should consider a CRT, the irrevocable nature of the trust, and how it fits into a broader retirement income plan. This episode offers a concrete, numbers-driven look at a niche but powerful vehicle for charitably inclined retirees.

#CharitableRemainderTrust #CRT #RetirementPlanning #TaxStrategy #CharitableGiving #RetireeIncome #CapitalGains #TaxEfficient #LifetimeIncome #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #EstatePlanning #WealthManagement #RetirementIncome #DonorAdvisedFund #IRA

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Episode 81 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo breaks down how retirees can build a guaranteed income floor using fixed annuities—without the complexity of variable or indexed products. Lucas and Luna walk through a real-world example: a 67-year-old retiree with $500,000 in savings allocating $150,000 to a multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGA) paying 4.2% for five years. They explain how this strategy covers essential expenses while keeping the rest of the portfolio invested for growth. The episode also covers the tax treatment of annuity earnings, how to compare MYGA rates across insurers, and why state guaranty association coverage matters. Plus, a brief note on why Fexingo stays ad-free and how listeners can support the show. Perfect for retirees or near-retirees worried about sequence-of-returns risk and wanting a simple, predictable income source.

#FixedAnnuity #IncomeFloorPlanning #RetirementIncome #MYGA #GuaranteedIncome #SequenceOfReturnsRisk #RetirementPlanning #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #Annuity #RetireeStrategy #TaxDeferredGrowth #StateGuarantyAssociation #IncomePlanning #FinancialPlanning #RetirementSecurity

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Episode 80 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo explores Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs), a little-known strategy for retirees to defer Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) on a portion of their retirement savings. Lucas and Luna explain how QLACs work, the updated 2026 dollar limit of $200,000 or 25% of account balances, and why they can be a powerful tool for managing tax brackets later in life. The hosts walk through a concrete example of how a $100,000 QLAC purchase in a 401(k) can reduce RMD income, lower Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and provide guaranteed lifetime income starting at age 85. They also discuss trade-offs, including liquidity loss and inflation risk. A practical guide for retirees looking to smooth income and minimize taxes in their 80s and 90s.

#QLAC #RetirementPlanning #RMDStrategy #Annuities #TaxPlanning #IRMAA #Medicare #LifetimeIncome #DeferredIncome #Finance #PersonalFinance #Retirement #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #2026

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In episode 79 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore how retirees can use a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) to bunch charitable donations and maximize tax deductions, even after taking the standard deduction. They walk through a concrete example: a retired couple with $50,000 in annual charitable giving who can contribute 5 years' worth into a DAF in one year, itemize deductions in that year, and then take the standard deduction in subsequent years. The hosts explain the mechanics, the tax math, and the pitfall of the net investment income tax. They also discuss how a DAF can be funded with appreciated stock to avoid capital gains tax. By the end, listeners understand why a DAF is a powerful tool for retirees who itemize in some years and take the standard deduction in others.

#DonorAdvisedFund #CharitableGiving #TaxStrategy #RetirementPlanning #ItemizingDeductions #StandardDeduction #BunchingStrategy #AppreciatedStock #CapitalGains #NetInvestmentIncomeTax #Finance #PersonalFinance #TaxSavings #Philanthropy #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #RetireeTaxTips

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Episode 78 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo dives into the SEP IRA, a powerful but often overlooked retirement vehicle for the self-employed and small business owners. Lucas and Luna break down the 2026 contribution limits, the tax deduction mechanics, and a concrete example of how a freelance graphic designer can shelter over $70,000 from taxes annually. They compare SEP IRAs with Solo 401(k)s, discuss the 'pro-rata rule' trap for high earners, and explain why the September 15 extended deadline matters. If you're self-employed or run an LLC, this episode gives you a clear framework for choosing the right plan. Plus, a brief moment on why listener support helps keep the show ad-free.

#SEPIRA #SelfEmployedRetirement #SmallBusinessRetirement #RetirementPlanning2026 #Solo401k #FreelancerTaxTips #LLCRetirement #ContributionLimits2026 #TaxDeduction #ProRataRule #ExtendedDeadline #FrugalRetirement #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #RetirementPodcast #LucasAndLuna #BuyMeACoffee

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore the retiree longevity insurance annuity strategy, a deferred income annuity designed to provide guaranteed income starting at an advanced age like 80 or 85. They break down how this strategy can protect against outliving savings, with specific examples using a $100,000 premium from a 65-year-old retiree generating roughly $4,200 per month starting at age 85. The hosts compare it to other income products, discuss regulatory changes under the SECURE Act, and weigh the trade-offs of liquidity versus longevity protection. This episode offers a concrete, numbers-driven look at a niche but powerful retirement tool for listeners worried about running out of money in their 90s.

#RetirementPlanning #LongevityInsurance #DeferredIncomeAnnuity #LongevityRisk #SECUREAct #GuaranteedIncome #AnnuityLadder #RetireeStrategy #FinancialPlanning #IncomeForLife #LiquidityTradeoff #InflationProtection #LifeAnnuity #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #Retirement #Annuities

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Episode 76 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo: 401k, IRA, and Saving for Your Future dives into the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for federal retirees and how to avoid costly mistakes when transferring funds out of TSP after retirement. Lucas and Luna explain the TSP's unique features — including the G Fund's stable value and the low expense ratios — and why many retirees rush to move their money to an IRA without considering the trade-offs. They break down a concrete example: a retired federal employee with $800,000 in TSP deciding whether to roll over to a Vanguard IRA or keep a portion in the TSP for access to the G Fund. They also discuss the 2026 TSP withdrawal rules, including the partial withdrawal option and the 'once per lifetime' full withdrawal rule that can lock retirees out of future TSP contributions. The episode covers the tax implications, the impact on required minimum distributions, and a strategy to keep the G Fund while gaining IRA flexibility. Listeners will learn why a 'split strategy' — keeping some TSP and rolling the rest to an IRA — may be optimal for many retirees in 2026.

#RetirementPlanning #TSP #ThriftSavingsPlan #FederalRetirees #GFund #IRA #RolloverStrategy #RequiredMinimumDistributions #RMD #2026 #FERS #CSRS #Vanguard #Fidelity #LowCostIndexFunds #RetirementIncome #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the Roth conversion ladder strategy for retirees in 2026. They explain how converting traditional IRA funds to a Roth IRA over several years can reduce future RMDs and lower lifetime tax bills. Using a concrete example of a retiree with $800,000 in a traditional IRA, they walk through the five-year rule, marginal tax rate considerations, and the 'tax bracket arbitrage' opportunity before RMDs kick in. They also discuss how Medicare IRMAA surcharges can complicate conversions and why 2026's lower tax brackets make it an especially attractive year to start. Whether you're a recent retiree or planning ahead, this episode gives you a specific, actionable strategy to optimize your retirement income.

#RothConversionLadder #RetirementPlanning #IRAConversion #TaxStrategy #RMDs #MedicareIRMAA #TaxBracketArbitrage #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RetireeTips #RothIRA #TraditionalIRA #TaxPlanning #2026TaxBrackets #RetirementIncome #Podcast #FinancialPlanning

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