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

If you have an IRA and plan to leave it to a trust for your heirs, there's a ticking tax bomb you need to know about. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explain the so-called 'trust trap' created by the SECURE Act's 10-year rule and how it can force beneficiaries to empty an inherited IRA within a decade, often at the highest marginal tax rates. They walk through a concrete example: a $400,000 IRA left to a non-spouse trust with a 37% beneficiary bracket, resulting in nearly $150,000 in extra taxes versus leaving the IRA directly to an individual. The hosts also discuss the 'see-through trust' exception and why many estate planning attorneys haven't updated their trust documents since 2019. This is a must-listen for retirees with sizable IRAs who want to minimize the tax hit for their children or grandchildren.

#IRABeneficiaryTrust #SECUREAct #TrustTrap #InheritedIRA #RetirementTax #EstatePlanning #10YearRule #SeeThroughTrust #ConduitTrust #AccumulationTrust #IRAInheritance #TaxBomb #StretchIRA #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #RetirementPlanning #WealthTransfer

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Episode 73 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo digs into a powerful but underused maneuver: combining required minimum distributions with qualified charitable distributions in the same year. Lucas and Luna break down the rules, the tax impact, and a real-life example of a 72-year-old retiree who shifted $50,000 from a traditional IRA to charity, slashing her adjusted gross income by $12,000. They explain how the SECURE Act 2.0 changes in 2026 make this hybrid approach even more valuable for retirees who itemize or want to reduce Medicare premium surcharges. No fluff, just the numbers you need to talk to your tax pro about.

#RMD #QCD #RequiredMinimumDistribution #QualifiedCharitableDistribution #IRA #RetirementPlanning #TaxStrategy #SECUREAct20 #CharitableGiving #MedicareSurcharges #AGI #TaxPlanning #Retiree #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #WealthManagement

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Episode 72 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo explores a powerful retirement savings strategy for self-employed retirees: the solo 401k. Lucas and Luna break down how a retired consultant in her 60s can contribute up to $76,500 in 2026 by combining employee deferrals with employer profit-sharing. They compare solo 401ks to SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs, highlighting the trade-off between higher contribution limits and administrative complexity. The hosts also discuss Roth solo 401k options, catch-up contributions for those 50 and older, and the importance of a written plan document. If you're a retiree earning self-employment income from consulting, freelancing, or a small business, this episode offers a concrete tax-advantaged strategy to supercharge your retirement savings.

#RetirementPlanning #Solo401k #SelfEmployed #RetirementSavings #TaxAdvantagedInvesting #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RetireeIncome #ProfitSharing #Roth401k #CatchUpContributions #SEPIRA #SIMPLEIRA #ContributionLimits #IRS #TaxStrategy #WealthManagement

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore the fixed indexed annuity as a tool for generating guaranteed lifetime income in retirement. They walk through how a retiree named Carol, age 62, used a portion of her 401k rollover to purchase a fixed indexed annuity with a lifetime income rider, locking in a 5.2% income credit and a 4% annual cap tied to the S&P 500. Together, they explain the trade-offs: protection from market downturns versus the opportunity cost of missing big up-years. Lucas breaks down the surrender schedule, the participation rate, and how the 'floor' of 0% works in down years. Luna challenges whether the complexity and fees are worth it compared to a simple immediate annuity or a bond ladder. They also discuss the role of state guaranty associations and the importance of comparing multiple carriers. The episode closes with a reminder that annuities aren't for everyone, but for retirees seeking a base layer of predictable income, a fixed indexed annuity can be a thoughtful piece of the puzzle.

#FixedIndexedAnnuity #RetirementIncome #LifetimeIncome #AnnuityRider #RetirementPlanning #S&P500 #IncomeFloor #ParticipationRate #SurrenderSchedule #StateGuarantyAssociation #Finance #Retirement #Annuity #GuaranteedIncome #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #FinancialPlanning

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Episode 70 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo dives into self-directed IRAs and how retirees can invest in real estate within a tax-advantaged account. Lucas and Luna discuss the rules, prohibited transactions, and the case of a retiree who bought a rental property through a Solo 401k. They cover what works, what doesn't, and the compliance traps that trip up DIY investors. Perfect for listeners exploring alternative retirement assets beyond stocks and bonds.

#SelfDirectedIRA #RealEstateIRA #Solo401k #RetirementPlanning #IRAInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #ProhibitedTransactions #TaxAdvantaged #AlternativeAssets #Custodian #CheckbookControl #LLC #UDFI #UnrelatedDebtFinancedIncome #RetireeStrategy #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore the retiree annuity ladder strategy for 2026. They break down how combining immediate, deferred, and fixed indexed annuities can create a reliable income stream while managing interest rate risk. Using a case study of a 65-year-old retiree with $500,000, they walk through allocating $100,000 to an immediate annuity for baseline expenses, $150,000 to a deferred annuity starting at age 75, and $250,000 to a fixed indexed annuity for inflation-adjusted growth. They discuss the role of state guaranty associations covering up to $250,000 per insurer, the importance of laddering maturities over 5-10 years, and how today's higher rate environment in June 2026 makes this approach particularly attractive. The episode also covers trade-offs like illiquidity and complexity, and includes a natural donation segment. Perfect for retirees seeking predictable income without stock market volatility.

#RetirementPlanning #AnnuityLadder #RetireeIncome #FixedIndexedAnnuity #ImmediateAnnuity #DeferredAnnuity #InterestRateRisk #StateGuarantyAssociation #Retirement2026 #RetireeStrategy #IncomeStream #FinancialPlanning #RetirementGoals #LunaAndLucas #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #RetirementFinance

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Episode 68 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo examines how retirees might use a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) — commonly known as a reverse mortgage — as a strategic tool in 2026. Lucas and Luna break down the real numbers: a hypothetical couple, both 68, with a $600,000 home and no mortgage, could access roughly $3,000 per month through a line of credit that grows over time. They contrast this with a traditional home equity loan or HELOC, explaining why a HECM line of credit has unique advantages — no monthly payments, non-recourse protection, and the ability to preserve investment portfolios during market downturns. The hosts also flag the 2026 changes under the FHA's updated principal limit factors and the impact of rising interest rates on initial borrowing capacity. They walk through a case study from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau showing how a retiree who drew from a HECM line of credit during the 2008 crash avoided selling stocks at the bottom. This is a nuanced, numbers-driven look at an often-misunderstood retirement tool.

#RetirementPlanning #ReverseMortgage #HECM #HomeEquity #Finance #RetirementIncome #FHA #CFPB #WealthManagement #FinancialLiteracy #RetirementStrategy #RealEstate #HousingWealth #Retirees #PortfolioPreservation #MarketDownturns #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore tax bracket arbitrage—a strategy where retirees deliberately manage their taxable income to fill up lower tax brackets each year. Using a concrete example of a married couple with a $60,000 annual pension, they show how withdrawing an additional $30,000 from a traditional IRA at the 12% bracket can save thousands in future taxes when RMDs kick in. They discuss the SECURE Act 2.0 changes affecting RMD ages, the interaction with Social Security taxation, and how to model your own 'bracket map' using the 2026 inflation-adjusted brackets. No product pitches—just the numbers and the logic.

#TaxBracketArbitrage #RetirementPlanning #IRAWithdrawals #RMDStrategy #TaxStrategy #SECUREAct2 #RothConversion #SocialSecurityTaxation #MarginalTaxRate #2026TaxBrackets #MarriedFilingJointly #PensionIncome #FinancialPlanning #FexingoRetirement #TaxEfficient #RetireeTips #Finance #FexingoBusiness

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the retiree in-kind RMD strategy, a tax-smart way to satisfy Required Minimum Distributions without selling appreciated assets. They walk through how transferring shares directly from an IRA to a taxable account avoids triggering capital gains, preserves compounding, and offers flexibility for gifting or rebalancing. Using the example of a retiree with a concentrated NVIDIA position, they explain the mechanics, the tax implications, and why this strategy is especially relevant in a high-growth market like mid-2026. They also address common pitfalls, such as accidentally distributing low-basis shares or triggering the net investment income tax. Listeners learn one concrete tactic they can discuss with their financial advisor this year.

#RetireeInKindRMDStrategy #RequiredMinimumDistributions #InKindTransfers #RetirementPlanning #TaxSmartWithdrawals #NVIDIA #ConcentratedStockPositions #CapitalGainsTax #NetInvestmentIncomeTax #IRAWithdrawals #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #TaxEfficientRetirement #2026RetirementStrategies #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #RetirementPlanningWithFexingo

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In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dissect one of the most overlooked traps for retirees who keep working before reaching full retirement age: the Social Security earnings test. Using a concrete example of a 63-year-old retiree earning $60,000 from a part-time consulting gig, they show exactly how the test reduces benefits by $1 for every $2 earned above the annual limit of $22,320 in 2026. Lucas explains the mechanics, the one-time do-over rule (form SSA-521), and how benefits are recalculated later to give you credit for withheld amounts. Luna pushes back on whether the test is really a 'tax' or just a delay, and they walk through strategies like reducing earned income, deferring Social Security, or restructuring work income to avoid the penalty entirely. No fluff, just the math and the move.

#SocialSecurity #EarningsTest #RetirementPlanning #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #Retiree #FullRetirementAge #BenefitReduction #DoOverRule #SSA521 #DelayedRetirementCredits #ConsultingIncome #RetirementStrategy #WealthManagement #TaxPlanning #IncomeTest

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