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

Episode 14 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo: 401k, IRA, and Saving for Your Future dives into the Roth IRA income phaseout — the little-known rule that silently blocks high earners from contributing directly. Lucas and Luna break down the phaseout thresholds for 2026: $150,000 to $165,000 for single filers and $236,000 to $251,000 for married couples filing jointly. They explain the 'pro rata rule' that makes the backdoor Roth IRA a trap if you have a traditional IRA balance, and walk through a concrete example of a married couple earning $240,000 who accidentally trigger a 6% excise tax on excess contributions. The episode also covers strategies to avoid the tax hit: rolling existing IRA balances into a 401k, using a mega backdoor Roth if your employer allows after-tax contributions, and the simpler option of recharacterizing contributions. No fluff, just the numbers and rules that matter.

#RothIRA #IncomePhaseout #BackdoorRothIRA #ProRataRule #HighEarners #RetirementPlanning #Finance #FinancialPlanning #IRARules #TaxStrategy #MegaBackdoorRoth #ExcessContributions #ExciseTax #401k #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RetirementSavings #WealthManagement

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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