The 401k Podcast with Fexingo: Employer Retirement Plans, Matching, and Long-Term Saving

Episode 104 of The 401k Podcast explores a new SECURE 2.0 provision that lets employers offer matching contributions on employee adoption expenses. Lucas and Luna break down how this works, the tax implications, and why it matters for both plan sponsors and participants. They discuss real-world scenarios, the $15,000 adoption credit, and how this could shift employer benefits strategy. Plus, a qui...

In this episode of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a new retirement benefit emerging in 2026: employer matching contributions tied to child care expenses. They break down how some companies are structuring these matches—often by counting child care costs as elective deferrals for matching purposes—and what it means for employees juggling family costs and retirement savings. The hosts disc...

Episode 102 of The 401k Podcast with Fexingo dives into a little-known SECURE 2.0 provision: allowing employers to deposit matching contributions into a Roth account even when the employee's own contributions are pre-tax. Lucas and Luna unpack how this works, why some plan sponsors are adopting it in 2026, and the tax implications for savers. They walk through a concrete example: a worker earning...

Episode 101 of The 401k Podcast with Fexingo explores the new lifetime income features hitting 401k plans in 2026. Lucas and Luna break down how SECURE 2.0 paved the way for annuities and guaranteed withdrawal benefits inside employer retirement plans. They discuss the difference between in-plan annuities, deferred income annuities, and qualified longevity annuity contracts (QLACs). The hosts walk...

In this milestone 100th episode of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the in-service distribution option—a little-known feature that lets you roll over your 401k balance to an IRA while still employed. They break down the rules: who qualifies (typically age 59½ or older, or after a plan-specific holding period), the tax implications, and why it matters for investment flexibility, lower fees,...

Episode 99 of The 401k Podcast with Fexingo digs into the updated hardship withdrawal rules under SECURE 2.0 that took full effect this year. Lucas and Luna explain the new limit on self-certification, the removal of the 6-month contribution suspension, and how the 'deemed' event framework has shifted. They walk through a real-world example: a participant needing $15,000 for medical bills, compari...

By mid-2026, thousands of 401k plans have added student loan matching under SECURE 2.0, letting employees get employer matching contributions for paying down student debt instead of saving in the plan. Lucas and Luna walk through how the provision works, who qualifies, and what the fine print says about vesting, plan design, and earnings limits. They talk through real examples from major plan reco...

Target-date funds are the default investment in most 401k plans, but few participants understand how the 'glide path' actually works. Lucas and Luna break down a specific example: Vanguard's 2060 fund, which holds 90% stocks until 2035, then gradually shifts to a 50/50 stock-bond split by retirement. They explain why some plans use a 'through' glide path that keeps stocks higher after retirement,...

Episode 96 of The 401k Podcast with Fexingo explores the latest innovation in employer retirement plans: pairing Roth matching contributions with student loan payments. Lucas and Luna break down how this works under SECURE 2.0, using a concrete example from a mid-sized tech firm that implemented the feature in early 2026. They discuss the tax implications for employees, the administrative hurdles...

Episode 95 of The 401k Podcast explores how SECURE 2.0 allows employers to match student loan payments with retirement contributions, even if the employee doesn't contribute to the 401k. Lucas and Luna break down the mechanics using a real-world example: a 28-year-old earning $60,000 with $35,000 in student debt. They explain how the match works, the tax implications, and why this could be the sin...

Lucas and Luna dive into the mechanics of 401k plan default investments that automatically increase your contribution rate over time. They explain how the Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) paired with auto-escalation works in practice—using a typical employee named Sarah who starts at 3% and ends at 10% without ever making a decision. The hosts break down the default escalation step...

In this episode of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the new Emergency Savings Account feature now available in many employer retirement plans under SECURE 2.0. They walk through how it works—a separate after-tax account within the 401k that lets employees save up to $2,500 for unexpected expenses, with the first four withdrawals each year penalty-free. Lucas shares data from Vanguard showi...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the SECURE 2.0 provision that lets employers match 401k contributions based on your student loan payments. They explain how it works, who qualifies, and why it could help you save for retirement even while paying down debt. They also walk through a real example: a borrower paying $500 a month on loans could get a $300 annual match without contributing a d...

In this episode of The 401k Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore a controversial new feature appearing in some 401k plans: a debit card linked to your retirement account. They break down how it works, why plan sponsors are adding it, and the potential pitfalls for savers. Lucas cites data from a 2025 Vanguard survey showing 12% of large plans now offer this option, and walks through a real...

Episode 90 of The 401k Podcast with Fexingo dives into the new Emergency Savings Account (ESA) option now available in many employer retirement plans. Lucas and Luna explain how the SECURE 2.0 Act created this feature, why it allows employees to save up to $2,500 in post-tax dollars within their 401k, and how the first three withdrawals per year are penalty-free. They use a concrete example: a wor...

In this episode of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the SECURE 2.0 Act's new catch-up contribution rules that took effect in 2026. They explain why high-earners aged 50 and older must now use Roth contributions for their catch-ups, how the new age-60-to-63 catch-up provision works, and what this means for your retirement savings strategy. Using concrete examples and a look at IRS Notice...

Most 401k participants never change their contribution rate once they set it. In episode 88 of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the quiet power of auto-escalation — the feature that automatically increases your deferral percentage each year. They walk through how a typical plan escalates from 6% to 10% or higher, why behavioral economists advocate for it, and the surprising findings fro...

In this episode of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna examine the risks and timing of borrowing from your 401k during volatile markets. They walk through a concrete scenario: an investor considering a $50,000 loan in June 2026, just before a potential correction. They explain how double taxation, opportunity cost, and job lock can amplify losses if you leave your employer. Lucas cites data from Vang...

When you leave a job, what happens to your 401k balance? Most people know they can roll it over, cash out, or leave it behind. But fewer realize that starting in 2024, many plans now include an auto-portability feature that can automatically transfer small balances to your new employer's plan. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explain how automatic portability works, why it was created to combat lea...

Many 401k plans now offer a self-directed brokerage window (SDBW), letting you invest beyond the plan's core menu of mutual funds. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down how SDBWs actually work, who they're for, and the hidden costs that can eat into returns. They walk through a real example: a mid-career saver with a $200,000 balance who uses an SDBW to buy individual tech stocks and ETFs. Th...

In this episode of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna dig into your plan's managed account service — the automated investment advisory tool many 401k providers offer for a separate fee. They walk through how the typical managed account works, what it actually costs (often 0.3% to 0.5% of assets annually on top of fund fees), and when it might add value — especially for someone who doesn't want to re...

Episode 83 of The 401k Podcast breaks down the difference between your plan's in-plan Roth rollover and the mega backdoor Roth strategy. Lucas and Luna walk through IRS Notice 2014-54, the pro-rata rule, and why a 2026 plan change might let you move pre-tax money to Roth without a tax bomb. They use the example of a mid-career engineer at a mid-size tech firm who wants to maximize Roth savings. Pl...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the growing trend of 401k plans adding cryptocurrency investment options. They discuss the pros and cons, using Fidelity's 2022 Bitcoin offering as a case study, and explain what participants should consider before allocating retirement funds to crypto. The hosts also touch on regulatory developments and fiduciary responsibilities of plan sponsors. #401k #Cr...

In this episode of The 401k Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the auto-portability feature now available in many 401k plans. Starting in 2024, the SECURE 2.0 Act paved the way for automatic transfer of small-balance retirement accounts when you change jobs. Lucas explains how the Portability Services Network works, the $1,000 threshold, and why an estimated 25 million forgotten 401k accounts could b...

Episode 80 of The 401k Podcast with Fexingo tackles what happens to your 401k balance when you go through a divorce. Lucas and Luna walk through the Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDOR) process—what it is, why it must be court-approved, and the strict 60-day rollover window for the ex-spouse if they want to avoid taxes and penalties. They explain the difference between a QDOR and a standard r...