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  • The Spousal IRA Strategy for Non-Working Spouses in 2026

    The Spousal IRA Strategy for Non-Working Spouses in 2026
    2026/06/08
    Episode 38 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo dives into the spousal IRA strategy, a powerful but often overlooked retirement savings tool for couples with one non-working or lower-earning spouse. Lucas and Luna explain how a non-working spouse can still contribute to an IRA based on the working spouse's income, the income limits for 2026, and how this strategy can double a couple's retirement savings tax advantage. They walk through real numbers: for a family earning $150,000, a spousal IRA contribution could save $2,200 in taxes this year alone. The episode also covers the conversion to a Roth spousal IRA and common mistakes like missing the deadline or exceeding phase-out limits. Whether you're a stay-at-home parent, a part-time worker, or a dual-income couple, this episode gives you a concrete action step to boost your retirement nest egg by tens of thousands of dollars over time. #SpousalIRA #RetirementPlanning #NonWorkingSpouse #IRAStrategy #RothIRA #TaxSavings #FexingoBusiness #Finance #PersonalFinance #RetirementSavings #CouplesFinance #IncomeLimits #StayAtHomeParent #2026TaxYear #RothConversion #IRA #FinancialLiteracy #WealthBuilding Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分
  • The 401k Auto-Escalation Feature That Boosts Your Savings Rate

    The 401k Auto-Escalation Feature That Boosts Your Savings Rate
    2026/06/07
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the 401k auto-escalation feature — a little-known plan design that automatically increases your deferral percentage each year. Lucas explains how a typical auto-escalation clause raises contributions from 3% to 10% over five years, using data from Vanguard's 2025 How America Saves report showing that participants with auto-escalation save nearly 2 percentage points more than those without. They discuss why inertia works in your favor, how to check if your plan has it, and whether you should opt out or lean in. Luna shares a real story from a friend whose auto-escalation boosted her savings from 4% to 12% without her noticing. The episode also covers the behavioral economics behind the feature, potential downsides like hitting IRS contribution limits too early, and how to pair it with a company match. #401k #AutoEscalation #RetirementSavings #BehavioralFinance #Vanguard #HowAmericaSaves #SavingsRate #EmployerMatch #CompoundInterest #Inertia #RetirementPlanning #PersonalFinance #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #FinancialWellness #PlanDesign #SaveMoreTomorrow Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 分
  • How to Withdraw from Your 401k Before Age 59 and a Half Without Penalty

    How to Withdraw from Your 401k Before Age 59 and a Half Without Penalty
    2026/06/07
    Episode 36 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo tackles one of the most common retirement questions: 'Is there any way to access my 401k before 59½ without paying the 10% penalty?' Lucas and Luna walk through the three main exceptions — the Rule of 55, substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP), and hardship withdrawals — using concrete examples. They explain why the Rule of 55 only works if you leave your job in or after the year you turn 55, how SEPP plans lock you into a fixed withdrawal schedule for five years or until age 59½, and why hardship withdrawals still trigger the penalty unless they meet a specific exception. They also touch on a less-known strategy: rolling your 401k into an IRA and then using SEPP from the IRA. If you're planning an early retirement or just want flexibility, this episode gives you the rules so you don't get burned. #RetirementPlanning #Retirement #401k #EarlyWithdrawal #PenaltyException #RuleOf55 #SEPP #HardshipWithdrawal #SubstantiallyEqualPeriodicPayments #72t #IRA #Pension #Finance #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #PersonalFinance #RetirementWithdrawal Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 分
  • The SECURE Act 2.0 Student Loan 401k Match Strategy

    The SECURE Act 2.0 Student Loan 401k Match Strategy
    2026/06/06
    In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down a little-known provision from the SECURE Act 2.0 that allows employers to make matching contributions to your 401k based on your student loan payments. They explain how this works, who qualifies, and why ignoring it could leave thousands of dollars on the table. Using a concrete example of a 30-year-old earning $60,000 with $40,000 in student debt, they show how this match can add over $100,000 to retirement savings by age 65. The hosts also discuss practical steps to check if your employer offers this benefit and what to do if they don't. A must-listen for anyone juggling student loans and retirement savings. #SECUREAct2.0 #StudentLoanMatch #401k #RetirementPlanning #EmployerMatch #StudentDebt #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RetirementSavings #LoanRepayment #TaxAdvantaged #WealthBuilding #MillennialFinance #GenZFinance #HRBenefits #PersonalFinance #FiduciaryRules Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 分
  • The QLAC Strategy to Reduce Required Minimum Distributions

    The QLAC Strategy to Reduce Required Minimum Distributions
    2026/06/06
    Episode 34 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo dives into Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts — QLACs — and how they can reduce your Required Minimum Distributions by deferring a portion of your tax-deferred savings to age 85. Lucas and Luna explain the mechanics, the updated 2026 limits, and the trade-offs, including liquidity risk and inflation concerns. They walk through a concrete example of a 72-year-old retiree with a $1.2 million IRA who defers $200,000 into a QLAC, cutting their first RMD by nearly $7,300. The episode also covers why QLACs aren't for everyone and how they fit into a broader tax-bucket strategy. Perfect for pre-retirees worried about RMD tax bombs and sequence-of-returns risk. #QLAC #QualifiedLongevityAnnuityContract #RequiredMinimumDistributions #RMD #RetirementPlanning #TaxDeferral #Annuity #LifetimeIncome #IRS #Section401a9 #IRA #TaxBomb #SequenceOfReturnsRisk #LongevityRisk #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #Retirement Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    12 分
  • The Widow Penalty in Social Security Explained

    The Widow Penalty in Social Security Explained
    2026/06/05
    In this episode of Retirement Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dig into a little-known Social Security rule called the widow's penalty. They explain how a surviving spouse's combined benefit can be significantly reduced if they claim early, and why the timing of a survivor benefit claim matters more than most retirees realize. Using a concrete example of a 62-year-old widow, they walk through the numbers: how a $1,500 monthly benefit drops to $1,050 if claimed early, and how waiting until full retirement age preserves the full amount. They also discuss strategies like filing a restricted application for spousal benefits first, then switching to survivor benefits later. The episode covers the Government Pension Offset and how it can reduce survivor benefits for those with non-covered pensions. A must-listen for couples planning their claiming strategy or anyone who wants to avoid leaving thousands of dollars on the table. #SocialSecurity #WidowPenalty #SurvivorBenefits #RetirementPlanning #SpousalBenefits #ClaimingStrategy #GovernmentPensionOffset #WEP #GPO #FinancialPlanning #RetirementIncome #FullRetirementAge #RestrictedApplication #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #Retirement Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 分
  • The Three-Bucket Retirement Withdrawal Strategy Explained

    The Three-Bucket Retirement Withdrawal Strategy Explained
    2026/06/05
    Episode 32 of Retirement Planning with Fexingo breaks down the three-bucket withdrawal strategy—a systematic approach to sequencing your retirement income from taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts. Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete example: a retiree with $600,000 in a 401k, $200,000 in a Roth IRA, and $100,000 in a taxable brokerage account, withdrawing $40,000 per year. They explain how withdrawing from the right bucket each year can reduce your lifetime tax bill by tens of thousands of dollars, mitigate sequence-of-returns risk, and keep your Medicare premiums lower. The episode also covers the 'cash wedge' technique and how to refill buckets during bull markets. No fluff—just a practical framework you can apply to your own retirement plan. #RetirementPlanning #ThreeBucketStrategy #WithdrawalStrategy #TaxEfficientWithdrawal #SequenceOfReturnsRisk #CashWedge #RothIRA #TraditionalIRA #TaxableAccount #MedicareSurcharge #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #RetirementIncome #BucketStrategy #TaxPlanning #BucketsOfMoney Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分
  • The 401k Early Withdrawal Penalty Exception You Need to Know

    The 401k Early Withdrawal Penalty Exception You Need to Know
    2026/06/04
    Most people assume tapping your 401k before 59½ triggers a 10% penalty. But there's a little-known exception called the Rule of 55 that lets you access funds penalty-free if you leave your job in the year you turn 55. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down who qualifies, how it works with multiple employers, and a real-world example of a 52-year-old who accidentally triggered it. They also cover the substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP) option as a fallback. If you're planning an early retirement or a mid-career job change, this episode is essential listening. #401k #EarlyWithdrawal #RuleOf55 #SEPP #RetirementPlanning #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #EarlyRetirement #PenaltyException #RetirementSavings #IRA #TaxStrategy #JobChange #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分