Episodes
How Advisors Should Guide You Through the New Inherited IRA Rules
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo, hosts Lucas and Luna dive into the 10-year rule for inherited IRAs—a topic that's especially timely after the IRS issued final regulations in July 2024 and began enforcing them for 2025. They explain why beneficiaries of inherited retirement accounts face a ticking clock, how the Secure Act changed the rules, and what the new required minimum distribution rules mean for non-eligible designated beneficiaries. With a practical example…
How to Stress-Test Your Long-Term Care Strategy
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the often-overlooked intersection of long-term care and retirement planning. With healthcare costs rising and many families facing unexpected care needs, they explore how advisors can help clients stress-test their long-term care strategy—not just in terms of dollars, but in terms of family dynamics and quality of life. The conversation centers on a real-world case: a 62-year-old client with a $1.4 million…
Why Your Advisor Should Explain the 4 Percent Rule
Episode 152 of The Financial Advisor Podcast digs into the 4 percent rule — where it came from, why it's still useful in August 2026, and where it falls short. Lucas and Luna walk through the 1994 Trinity Study, the underlying assumptions (a 30-year horizon, a balanced portfolio, 3 percent inflation), and how today's low bond yields and historically high stock valuations complicate the math. They discuss sequence-of-returns risk, the 'guardrails' approach, and why a flexible withdrawal strategy…
How Advisors Should Help You Manage Sequence of Returns Risk
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked threat of sequence of returns risk—the danger of poor market performance during the early years of retirement. They break down why a 4 percent withdrawal rate can be safe in theory but dangerous in practice, using a concrete example of a retiree who retires right before a downturn. The hosts discuss practical strategies advisors use to mitigate this risk, such as cash buckets, flexible spending rules…
How Advisors Should Handle Client Debt Before Retirement
In this milestone episode, Lucas and Luna explore a topic many advisors avoid: carrying debt into retirement. With consumer debt levels rising and interest rates elevated as of August 2026, they discuss why the old rule of 'pay off the mortgage before you retire' needs a modern rethink. They walk through a specific case: a couple in their late 50s with a mortgage, a car loan, and credit card debt, and how a fiduciary advisor might sequence the payoff decisions using a cash-flow and tax lens.…
Why Your Advisor Should Review Your Beneficiary Designations
Episode 149 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo: Lucas and Luna dive into the often-overlooked but critical topic of beneficiary designations. They explain why an aging beneficiary form can wreak havoc on an otherwise sound estate plan, using the cautionary tale of a client who named an ex-spouse as primary beneficiary on a 401(k). The hosts break down the difference between probate and non-probate assets, the so-called "retirement plan exception" that overrides wills, and how a quick…
How to Turn a Windfall Into a Lifetime of Income
In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the annuity laddering strategy—a structured way to convert a lump sum, from an inheritance or a business sale, into a predictable income stream that starts now and grows with you. They walk through a specific retiree scenario, showing how an advisor can build a ladder of deferred income annuities with a base of guaranteed payments and a layer of inflation protection. The hosts explain the trade-offs between immediate and deferred annuities, how to…
Why Your Advisor Should Explain the Medicare IRMAA Surcharge
On this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast, Lucas and Luna discuss a retirement planning detail that often gets overlooked until it's too late: the Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA. Using a concrete example of a couple retiring at 65 with a significant taxable retirement account, they explain how a single Roth conversion or a large capital gain can trigger higher Medicare premiums two years later. They walk through the mechanics of the surcharge, including the…
Why Your Advisor Should Stress-Test Your Retirement Plan
Financial advisors often promise smooth retirement journeys, but life throws market crashes, medical bills, and family emergencies. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore why a fiduciary advisor should run stress tests on your retirement plan, using Monte Carlo simulations and scenario analysis to reveal vulnerabilities. They discuss the 2008 crash and 2020 pandemic as real-world tests, the difference between deterministic and probabilistic forecasts, and how to interpret a 75 percent success…
Why Your Advisor Should Explain the Backdoor Roth IRA
In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the backdoor Roth IRA — a strategy that lets high earners contribute to a Roth despite income limits. They walk through the mechanics, the pro-rata rule, and the common pitfalls, using a concrete example of a couple earning $250,000. They also discuss why it's crucial for advisors to explain the tax consequences clearly and why a simple mistake can trigger a surprise tax bill. Along the way, they touch on the ongoing debate about whether Congress might…
How Advisors Should Explain the Safe Harbor Rule
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle the Safe Harbor rule for estimated tax payments—a topic that trips up many taxpayers, especially those with variable income. They break down why the IRS offers this protection, how it works with the 90 percent current-year or 100 percent prior-year thresholds (110 percent for high earners), and the penalties it helps you avoid. Using a practical example of a freelancer with fluctuating income, they illustrate how Safe…
How Advisors Should Handle RSU Vesting
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the financial planning implications of restricted stock units (RSUs). They discuss why RSUs are a common part of executive compensation, the tax consequences of vesting, and how a good advisor can help you manage concentration risk and plan for future liquidity events. With real-world examples and practical advice, this episode covers the 83(b) election, insider trading windows, and the importance of having a plan for your…
What a Fiduciary Advisor Must Tell You About Reverse Mortgages
Reverse mortgages carry a reputation problem — most advisors dismiss them as a last resort. But in this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, or HECM, and argue that a fiduciary advisor should at least model it as a retirement income tool, not just a product to avoid. They walk through a real scenario: a 68-year-old homeowner with $800,000 in home equity and a $60,000 annual spending gap. By drawing on a reverse mortgage line of credit early, that retiree can…
Fiduciary Duty and Rollover Advice
Lucas and Luna discuss the SEC's Regulation Best Interest and what it means for you when your advisor recommends rolling over a 401(k) into an IRA. They explain the difference between a fiduciary standard and the lesser suitability standard, why the rollover is the classic conflict-of-interest moment, and how Reg BI actually falls short of a true fiduciary duty. With a concrete example of a typical fee comparison and questions to ask your advisor, this episode gives you a practical checklist…
Why Your Advisor's Fiduciary Duty Matters
Lucas and Luna break down the fiduciary standard and why it matters more than a 'suitability' label. Using a concrete example — a retiree with $200,000 pushed into a high-commission variable annuity — they explain how the SEC's Regulation Best Interest and the DOL fiduciary rule differ, and why you should ask your advisor one simple question to know if they're putting you first. #FiduciaryDuty #RegulationBestInterest #FinancialAdvisor #SuitabilityStandard #VariableAnnuity #RetireeScenarios…
Why Your Advisor Should Help You Plan for Cryptocurrency in Your Estate
Nearly 20% of U.S. households now hold some cryptocurrency, yet most estate plans ignore digital assets. Lucas and Luna unpack why your financial advisor should be asking about your crypto holdings—from the tax pitfalls of gifting Bitcoin to the logistical nightmare of bequeathing a wallet without a private key. They walk through a real-world example of a client who accidentally left $500,000 in Ethereum inaccessible to heirs, and explain why a simple 'digital asset directive' can save your…
Why Your Advisor Should Explain Asset Location
Most investors obsess over asset allocation—stocks versus bonds. But where you hold those assets matters just as much. In this episode, Lucas and Luna walk through a real-world example: a couple with $500,000 in a taxable brokerage and $500,000 in a traditional IRA. By placing bonds in the IRA and stocks in the taxable account, they can save over $100,000 in taxes over 20 years. Lucas explains the tax-efficiency hierarchy, the role of municipal bonds, and why many advisors overlook asset…
Why Your Advisor Should Address Behavioral Biases in Investing
Behavioral biases like loss aversion and recency bias can destroy portfolio returns. In this episode, Lucas and Luna discuss how good financial advisors act as behavioral coaches, using real-world examples like the 2020 panic sell-off and the Dalbar study that shows a massive gap between S&P 500 returns and actual investor returns. Learn why the best advisors focus on keeping you invested through volatility, and how they can help you avoid the costly mistake of buying high and selling low.…
Your Advisor on Qualified Charitable Distributions
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) strategy—a way to donate from your IRA directly to charity, satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution, and reduce your taxable income all at once. They break down the key rules: you need to be at least 70½, the annual cap is $100,000, and the donation must go to a qualified public charity. Lucas explains why so few eligible donors use QCDs—despite the obvious tax benefits—and how a proactive advisor can bring…
How Advisors Should Explain the Estate Tax Exemption Drop
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the 2026 federal estate tax exemption reduction from roughly $13.6 million to $7 million per person. They discuss why this matters for affluent families, how portability works, state-level estate tax traps, and gifting strategies. Lucas explains the mechanics of the sunset from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and why advisors who ignore estate planning are doing clients a disservice. The hosts also touch on credit…
How Advisors Should Explain the NUA Strategy for Company Stock
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the net unrealized appreciation (NUA) strategy—a powerful but often overlooked tax move for clients holding highly appreciated company stock in a 401(k). They walk through a concrete example: a client with $500,000 in cost basis now worth $1.2 million. Rolling to an IRA would trigger ordinary income tax on the entire gain. But by isolating the employer stock and distributing it as a lump sum, the appreciation is taxed…
How Advisors Should Handle Concentrated Stock Positions
Lucas and Luna dive into one of the toughest conversations a financial advisor faces: a client whose net worth is tied to a single stock. Using a real-world example of a tech employee with 80% of their wealth in one company, they explore the risks—market, tax, and emotional—and the strategies advisors can deploy. From systematic selling and collar hedges to tax-bracket management and donor-advised funds, this episode gives you the framework for a high-stakes planning conversation. Plus, a case…
How Your Advisor Should Explain the 199A QBI Deduction
Episode 132 of The Financial Advisor Podcast dives into the Section 199A Qualified Business Income deduction—a tax break that can save small business owners up to 20% of their qualified income. Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete example with an owner of a single-member LLC earning $220,000, explaining the phased-out deduction at higher income levels, the role of W-2 wages, and why the 199A is often misunderstood. They clarify the difference between specified service trades and other…
Why Your Advisor Should Model Social Security Claiming Strategies
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explain why Social Security claiming decisions are among the most impactful in retirement planning — and why most retirees leave money on the table by claiming at 62. They walk through the math: how a delay from full retirement age to 70 boosts benefits by 24% through delayed retirement credits, and how a median earner can gain over $200,000 in lifetime benefits by waiting until 70. They also cover the earnings test before full retirement age, spousal and…
Why You Should Know How Your Financial Advisor Gets Paid
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the critical topic of advisor compensation. They reveal that only about 30% of clients can accurately describe how their advisor earns money. Lucas explains the three main models — fee-only, fee-based, and commission-based — and why the difference matters for your long-term returns. The hosts walk through specific questions you should ask to uncover potential conflicts, including whether your advisor is…
How Advisors Should Explain the Two Percent Rule
Episode 129 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo zooms in on a provocative alternative to the classic 4 percent rule: the 2 percent rule. Lucas and Luna unpack why a growing number of retirement researchers argue that 2 percent — not 4 — is the safer starting withdrawal rate for today's retirees. They examine the math: a 4 percent withdrawal on a $1 million portfolio means $40,000 in year one. At 2 percent, it's $20,000. The hosts explore the assumptions behind the lower figure…
How Advisors Should Explain the 4 Percent Rule Today
Episode 128 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna unpack the 4 percent rule — where it came from, why it might not work in today's low-yield, high-valuation environment, and what advisors should be telling clients instead. They walk through the 1994 Bengen study, the Trinity study updates, and why a dynamic spending approach like guardrails or a rising equity glidepath may be more appropriate. Specific numbers: 4 percent initial withdrawal, 50 to 75 percent success rate…
How Advisors Should Explain Portfolio Dividend Yield
Episode 127 of The Financial Advisor Podcast: Lucas and Luna explore why a portfolio's dividend yield is often misunderstood by clients. Using the S&P 500's current yield of roughly 1.3% as an anchor, they discuss how advisors can explain the difference between yield and total return, the role of reinvestment, and why chasing high dividend stocks can signal trouble. They reference real-world examples like utilities versus growth stocks and compare the yield on the ten-year Treasury as a context…
How Advisors Should Explain the Medicare IRMAA Surcharge
Episode 126 of The Financial Advisor Podcast dives into the Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharge, a topic many advisors overlook until clients hit retirement. Lucas explains how IRMAA works, including the five income brackets for 2026, how Roth conversions can unexpectedly trigger higher premiums, and why the two-year lookback rule means proactive planning matters. Luna shares a story about a client who triggered IRMAA with a one-time capital gain, and the hosts…
Why Your Advisor Should Discuss Tax-Loss Harvesting Beyond December
Episode 125 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna dive into why most advisors wait until December to tax-loss harvest — and why that leaves money on the table. They walk through a specific case: a couple in the 32 percent bracket with a concentrated tech position that fell 18 percent in June 2026. Instead of waiting, the advisor harvested in July, used the losses to offset a capital gain from a rental property sale, and reinvested into a slightly different ETF to avoid…
How Your Advisor Should Handle the 60-40 Portfolio Today
Episode 124 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo tackles the classic 60-40 portfolio — 60% stocks, 40% bonds — and asks whether it still works in mid-2026. Lucas and Luna drill into the specific challenge: with the ten-year Treasury yield hovering around 4.8% and inflation still sticky near 3.1%, the bond side is finally providing real income again, but equity valuations are stretched. They walk through a real-world case: a 58-year-old client with a $1.4 million portfolio who wants to…
Why Your Advisor Should Talk About Medicare Surcharges
Episode 123 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo explores a hidden retirement tax that catches many high-income retirees off guard: the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), or Medicare Part B and D premium surcharges. Lucas and Luna walk through how IRMAA brackets work, why a Roth conversion can unexpectedly trigger surcharges two years later, and what advisors should be doing to model IRMAA alongside RMDs and Social Security claiming. Specific examples include the 2026…
Why Your Advisor Should Understand Sequence of Returns Risk
Episode 122 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo dives into sequence of returns risk — the often-overlooked danger that the order of investment returns can devastate a retirement portfolio even if average returns are solid. Lucas and Luna break down a concrete example: a retiree with a $1 million portfolio withdrawing 4% annually starting in 2000 versus 2009. They explain why traditional Monte Carlo simulations can miss this risk, how bucket strategies and dynamic spending rules can…
How Advisors Can Use Monte Carlo Simulations Better
Monte Carlo simulations are everywhere in financial planning, but most advisors and clients misunderstand what they actually show. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into a specific pitfall: the misleading certainty of the median outcome. Using a concrete example—a 60-year-old retiree with a $1.5 million portfolio—they explain why focusing on the 10th percentile is more useful than the median, how sequence-of-returns risk warps the simulation, and what questions clients should ask to…
How Advisors Should Discuss Required Minimum Distributions
Episode 120 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo digs into a specific and often-overlooked RMD planning tactic: using qualified charitable distributions to satisfy RMDs while reducing taxable income. Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete case of a 73-year-old retiree with a $500,000 IRA who donates $20,000 directly to charity, showing how the strategy saves over $4,000 in federal taxes. They explain the mechanics, the $108,000 annual cap on QCDs, why advisors need to coordinate QCDs…
Why Your Advisor Should Explain Endowment Model Investing
Episode 119 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo explores endowment model investing — the approach used by Harvard, Yale, and other large institutional funds. Lucas and Luna break down the core ideas: heavy allocation to alternatives like private equity and real assets, long time horizons, and the 'liquidity premium.' They discuss whether this strategy can work for individual investors, what fees really look like, and why your advisor should be able to explain the difference between…
How Your Advisor Should Handle Sequence of Returns Risk
Episode 118 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo: Lucas and Luna tackle one of the most dangerous threats to a retirement portfolio — sequence of returns risk. Using a concrete example of a retiree who retired in 2000 versus 2003, they explain how the order of market returns can decimate a nest egg even when average returns are the same. They discuss why traditional 4% rule assumptions fail, how advisors can stress-test withdrawal strategies, and what tools like cash buckets, flexible…
How to Evaluate an Advisor's Insurance Planning Skills
Episode 117 of The Financial Advisor Podcast tackles a question many clients overlook: how do you assess whether your financial advisor actually knows insurance? Lucas walks through the key signs of competence — from policy type recommendations to commission disclosure — and shares a specific case where a planner saved a family over $200,000 by restructuring a permanent life policy. Luna asks about the red flags that signal an advisor is just pushing product. Together, they give listeners a…
What Your Advisor Should Tell You About Direct Indexing
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down direct indexing — a strategy that lets you own the individual stocks in an index rather than buying an ETF. They use the specific example of a $500,000 portfolio tracking the S&P 500, showing how tax-loss harvesting at the individual stock level can generate meaningful tax savings each year, especially for high-income earners. They also discuss the minimum account sizes required, typical fees charged by firms like…
How Advisors Should Explain Option Collars to Retirees
In episode 115, Lucas and Luna explore the concept of an option collar strategy for retirees who are sitting on concentrated stock positions but want to protect against downside without triggering a massive tax bill. Using a concrete example of a hypothetical retiree with $2 million of a single tech stock from decades of employer grants, Lucas explains how buying a put and selling a call creates a costless hedge that caps both risk and upside. Luna presses on real-world costs, strike-price…
How to Use a Donor-Advised Fund for Tax Planning
In this episode of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the practical uses of donor-advised funds (DAFs) for tax-efficient charitable giving. They discuss how a DAF works as a separate account that lets you donate appreciated assets, take the deduction immediately, and recommend grants later. The hosts walk through a concrete example: a client with $100,000 in highly appreciated Apple stock who avoids capital gains tax by contributing to a DAF, then uses the…
Why Your Financial Advisor Should Talk About Roth Conversions
Episode 113 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo dives into Roth IRA conversions — a powerful but often misunderstood strategy for managing future tax burdens. Lucas and Luna break down when converting traditional IRA assets to Roth makes sense, using the case of a 55-year-old client with a $1.2 million IRA and a pension starting at 65. They explain the tax math, the role of the five-year rule, and how to avoid the common mistake of triggering a higher marginal rate. Lucas shares a…
What Your Advisor Should Tell You About Bond Ladder Duration Matching
Episode 112 of The Financial Advisor Podcast digs into bond ladder duration matching — a portfolio construction technique that most advisors explain poorly and many skip entirely. Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete example: a retiree with $500,000 in fixed income who needs to fund five years of expenses starting in three years. They show how to match each rung's duration to the spending horizon, why a simple 'keep it short' approach leaves money on the table, and the one question every…
What Your Advisor Should Tell You About Annuity Income Riders
Episode 111 of The Financial Advisor Podcast digs into guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit riders on fixed indexed annuities. Lucas and Luna walk through a real-world example: a 62-year-old client considering a GLWB rider with a 5% income roll-up, a 0.95% rider fee, and a 3% withdrawal cap. They compare the promised income stream to a DIY portfolio withdrawal strategy using a 60/40 stock-bond mix. Key numbers emerge: the annuity pays $7,500 per year on a $100,000 contract, but the rider fee…
How to Assess an Advisor's Estate Planning Credentials
Episode 110 of The Financial Advisor Podcast. Lucas and Luna dig into the surprisingly unregulated world of estate planning credentials. Most advisors who say they do estate planning have no formal training in it — but how do you tell the difference between a CFP who took one elective and a true estate-planning specialist? The hosts break down the key credentials: Accredited Estate Planner (AEP), Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS), and the difference between a financial advisor with an…
How Your Advisor Should Stress-Test Your Plan for Longevity Risk
Episode 109 of The Financial Advisor Podcast tackles one of the scariest unknowns in retirement planning: longevity risk. Lucas and Luna break down why the old 'average life expectancy' is a dangerous number to plan around, using the Society of Actuaries' 2025 mortality table as a concrete example. They explain why a 65-year-old couple today has roughly a 50% chance that one spouse lives past 90 — and what that means for portfolio withdrawal rates, annuity decisions, and the role of a fiduciary…
Why Your Advisor Should Explain Portfolio Beta to You
Episode 108 of The Financial Advisor Podcast explores why your financial advisor should walk you through portfolio beta — not just the number, but what it actually means for your downside risk. Lucas and Luna break down a real example: a client who thought a beta of 0.8 meant 'safe' until a 2022-style drawdown showed otherwise. They explain how beta differs from standard deviation, why a low-beta portfolio can still lose money, and how advisors can use the S&P 500 as a benchmark to set…
How to Spot a Bad Fee Structure in Your 401(k) Plan
Episode 107 dives into the hidden fees lurking inside employer-sponsored 401(k) plans. Lucas unpacks a typical plan's fee disclosure document, breaking down the difference between recordkeeping fees, investment expense ratios, and revenue sharing arrangements. Luna shares a real-world case of a small business owner who discovered she was paying 1.8% in total plan costs — nearly three times the industry average for a plan of her size. Together, they walk through how to identify excessive fees…
What Your Advisor Should Tell You About Rebalancing for RMDs
Episode 106 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo tackles a neglected retirement planning challenge: how Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) force your portfolio out of balance and what to do about it. Lucas and Luna walk through why the 60/40 stock-bond mix drifts into equities after years of RMD withdrawals, the tax consequences of selling winners to rebalance, and a simple three-step strategy using future RMDs as rebalancing opportunities. They also touch on the 'RMD bucket'…
How to Stress-Test Your Financial Plan for a Job Loss
Episode 105 of The Financial Advisor Podcast with Fexingo tackles a stress test most planners skip: job loss. Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete case of a 52-year-old engineer who lost his job in tech layoffs in early 2026. They show how running a 'no-new-income' scenario changes everything — from emergency fund adequacy (hint: three months is not enough) to Roth conversion timing and sequence-of-returns risk. The discussion zeroes in on the specific numbers: the engineer had $380,000 in a…
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