エピソード

  • How Your 401k Plan Uses Forfeitures to Reduce Employer Costs

    How Your 401k Plan Uses Forfeitures to Reduce Employer Costs
    2026/06/07
    Episode 36 of The 401k Podcast with Fexingo dives into a little-known but hugely impactful 401k feature: forfeitures. Every year, employees who leave a company before their employer match fully vests leave money behind—and that money doesn't vanish. Instead, it goes into a forfeiture account, which plan sponsors can use to reduce future matching contributions, pay plan fees, or even reallocate to remaining participants. Lucas and Luna break down the mechanics with a concrete example: a 5% match on a $60,000 salary, a two-year cliff vesting schedule, and what happens when an employee leaves after 18 months. They also discuss the recent IRS rule changes in 2025 that clarified how forfeitures must be used and why plan sponsors are now required to disclose forfeiture balances on Form 5500. By the end, you'll know how to check your own plan's forfeiture policy and why this hidden pool of money matters to your bottom line. Plus, a brief listener-supported moment tied to the episode's core message about transparency. #401k #Forfeitures #EmployerMatch #Vesting #RetirementPlans #IRS #Form5500 #PlanSponsor #Fiduciary #ERISA #ParticipantAdvocacy #FeeDisclosure #EmployerCosts #RetirementSaving #Finance #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #The401kPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 分
  • Your 401k Emergency Savings Account Is Now a Real Option

    Your 401k Emergency Savings Account Is Now a Real Option
    2026/06/06
    Starting in 2026, 401k plans can include an emergency savings account feature that lets you save up to $2,500 of after-tax money that's fully liquid, tax-free on withdrawal, and even eligible for employer matching. Lucas and Luna break down how SECURE 2.0 created this option, why it changes the old rule that retirement money should never be touched before 59.5, and what it means for someone who's been avoiding their 401k because they're afraid of locking up cash. They walk through the mechanics, the matching nuance, and a real example of how a 30-year-old earning $60,000 could use the feature to build a $2,500 cushion while still getting the full employer match. The episode closes with a reflection on whether this finally kills the 'emergency fund vs. retirement savings' trade-off. #401k #EmergencySavingsAccount #SECURE2dot0 #RetirementPlanning #EmployerMatch #LiquidSavings #TaxFree #Fexingo #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #EmployeeBenefits #WorkplaceSavings #LucasAndLuna #The401kPodcast #FexingoBusiness #FinancialWellness #PlanSponsor Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    12 分
  • How Your 401k Catch-Up Contributions Change at Age 50

    How Your 401k Catch-Up Contributions Change at Age 50
    2026/06/06
    Episode 34 of The 401k Podcast with Fexingo digs into the 401k catch-up contribution rule for workers age 50 and older. Lucas and Luna break down the SECURE 2.0 changes taking effect in 2025 and 2026, including the new higher catch-up limit for ages 60 to 63. They walk through a real example: a 55-year-old earning $120,000 who uses the full catch-up for five years could add nearly $40,000 in tax-advantaged savings versus skipping it. The hosts also explain why the rule change in 2026 forces some high earners to use Roth catch-up contributions instead of pre-tax. A practical episode for anyone approaching retirement or helping a parent with their 401k strategy. #401k #CatchUpContributions #RetirementPlanning #SECURE2.0 #RothCatchUp #EmployerRetirementPlans #Age50Plus #TaxAdvantagedSavings #FiduciaryRules #ContributionLimits #PreTaxVsRoth #RetirementIncome #PlanSponsor #IRSGuidance #Finance #PersonalFinance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 分
  • Why Your 401k Roth Contribution Option Might Be Better Than You Think

    Why Your 401k Roth Contribution Option Might Be Better Than You Think
    2026/06/05
    In this episode of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna dig into the Roth 401k option that many plans now offer but few employees fully understand. Using a concrete example of a 30-year-old earning $75,000 a year, they compare the after-tax benefit of Roth contributions versus traditional pre-tax contributions over a 30-year career. They explain how the math shifts depending on your tax bracket now versus in retirement, and why younger workers often benefit more from Roth than they realize. The hosts also discuss the impact of employer matching (which is always pre-tax), how to model your own marginal rate, and one often-overlooked rule about required minimum distributions. This episode gives you a simple framework to decide which contribution type fits your situation, with no jargon and no hot takes. If you've ever wondered whether to check the 'Roth' box in your 401k elections, this is the conversation you need. #Roth401k #Traditional401k #TaxDiversification #RetirementPlanning #401kContributions #MarginalTaxRate #EmployerMatch #RequiredMinimumDistributions #AfterTaxSavings #TaxBracket #YoungInvestors #CompoundGrowth #FiduciaryAdvice #Finance #Investing #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #The401kPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 分
  • How Your 401k Default Contribution Rate Creeps Up Without You Noticing

    How Your 401k Default Contribution Rate Creeps Up Without You Noticing
    2026/06/05
    Episode 32 of The 401k Podcast digs into a subtle feature in many retirement plans: automatic contribution escalation. Lucas explains how a seemingly small annual increase—often just one percentage point—can compound into tens of thousands of extra dollars over a career. He uses a concrete example: a 30-year-old earning $60,000 who starts at a 6% default rate and escalates 1% each year until 15% versus someone who stays flat at 6%. The difference? Over $300,000 in projected savings by age 65, assuming a 7% annual return. Luna challenges whether auto-escalation works if participants opt out, and the hosts discuss behavioral research showing most people stay in. They also warn that some plans cap the increase too low, leaving savers short. The episode aims to help listeners check if their plan has auto-escalation and whether they should enable it. #401k #Retirement #AutoEscalation #ContributionRate #BehavioralFinance #Savings #CompoundInterest #EmployerMatch #PlanDesign #Fiduciary #PersonalFinance #Investing #RetirementPlanning #LucasAndLuna #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #FinancePodcast #HRBenefits Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分
  • Why Your 401k HSA Pairing Packs a Tax Triple Punch

    Why Your 401k HSA Pairing Packs a Tax Triple Punch
    2026/06/04
    Lucas and Luna explore the powerful but often overlooked strategy of pairing your 401k with a Health Savings Account. They break down the triple tax advantage—tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses—and explain why this combination can supercharge retirement savings. Using real-world numbers, they show how a 35-year-old in a 24% tax bracket could accumulate over $100,000 in extra retirement value by age 65 simply by maxing out an HSA and investing it in low-cost index funds. The hosts also discuss common pitfalls, like using HSA funds for current medical bills instead of letting them grow, and the 'secret' to treating your HSA as a retirement account. Perfect for anyone with a high-deductible health plan looking to optimize their savings. #401k #HSA #HealthSavingsAccount #RetirementPlanning #TaxAdvantage #TripleTaxAdvantage #HighDeductibleHealthPlan #HDHP #EmployerMatch #Investing #IndexFunds #CompoundGrowth #TaxDeduction #TaxFreeGrowth #TaxFreeWithdrawal #RetirementSavings #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    12 分
  • The 401k Hardship Withdrawal Trap You Need to Avoid

    The 401k Hardship Withdrawal Trap You Need to Avoid
    2026/06/04
    In this episode of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna unpack the 401k hardship withdrawal trap that could derail your retirement. Over 2 million participants take hardship withdrawals annually—often for avoidable reasons. Lucas explains the specific IRS rules, the 10% penalty, the 20% withholding, and the double-taxation effect. Luna asks about alternatives like 401k loans and emergency savings accounts. They walk through a concrete example: someone taking a $10,000 withdrawal for a medical bill ends up needing $14,300 to net $10,000. They also discuss the SECURE 2.0 Act changes, including the $1,000 emergency withdrawal allowance and the new self-certification rule. If you're considering dipping into your 401k early, this episode gives you the math and the options to think twice. #401k #HardshipWithdrawal #RetirementPlanning #SECURE20 #EmployeeBenefits #PersonalFinance #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #401kPodcast #EarlyWithdrawalPenalty #EmergencySavings #IRS #RetirementSavings #FinancialLiteracy #401kLoan #TaxPenalty #MoneyTips Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 分
  • 401k Vesting Schedules Could Cost You Your Employer Match

    401k Vesting Schedules Could Cost You Your Employer Match
    2026/06/03
    Episode 29 of The 401k Podcast tackles one of the most misunderstood features of employer retirement plans: the vesting schedule. Lucas and Luna break down how vesting works, why a three-year cliff or five-year graded schedule can leave thousands of dollars on the table if you change jobs too soon. They walk through a real example: a 30-year-old earning $65,000 who contributes 6% to capture a 4% match, only to leave after two years and forfeit $5,200 in unvested employer contributions. The hosts explain the difference between cliff and graded vesting, how to read your plan's Summary Plan Description, and what to do if you're approaching a job change mid-vesting. They also touch on how the SECURE 2.0 Act's long-term part-time worker rules interact with vesting. If you're contributing to a 401k, you need to know when that match actually becomes yours. #401k #VestingSchedule #EmployerMatch #RetirementPlanning #CliffVesting #GradedVesting #SECURE2Act #JobChange #PlanSponsor #SummaryPlanDescription #Finance #PersonalFinance #RetirementSavings #EmployeeBenefits #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #The401kPodcast #Retirement Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 分