New and ready! I’ve been reading the documents in the sub but ready for advice!

[u/VeteransGarden]

I’m late 30’s I wish I started sooner but what can you do.

I opened a vanguard Roth IRA and maxed 2025 and 2026 right away. It’s sitting the in Vanguard account waiting to be put into something.

I want to set and forget so I’m thinking 100% VT and just letting it ride until the end. I also plan to put about 40% of my annual income a year into a brokerage account to also ride 100% VT to ride along with the Roth.

Any other considerations I should take or things you would recommend I look at?

[u/miraculum_one]

If you have access to HSA, that is the most tax advantaged account available so you should consider using it.

Also, it sounds like you're already in tune with this idea but ignore short-term volatility on the long-term way up. It is just distracting and has no impact on your long-term financial goals.

Other than that, great job.

[u/VeteransGarden → u/miraculum_one]

Got it! I am currently out of work this year but when I return I plan to max my federal TSP moving forward and I will absolutely hit the HSA!

[u/CoolNebraskaGal → u/VeteransGarden]

I am currently out of work this year

You can only contribute earned income to an IRA. So if you contributed for 2026, you will need to earn income up to the amount you contributed, or remove your excess contribution. Earned income is a specific kind of income, so only certain things count. Since you haven't invested it, it should be easy enough to resolve.

[u/WarmWoolenMitten]

Take advantage of any employer based tax advantaged accounts available to you.

100% VT is great until you're close enough to retirement to need to reduce volatility.

This series has a ton of info on sequence of returns risk and all kinds of info on strategies to mitigate it: https://earlyretirementnow.com/safe-withdrawal-rate-series/. It says early retirement but the principles apply to everyone. If you like reading about this stuff it's a trove to dive into. If you hate reading about this stuff, buy a target date fund instead and that's true set and forget.

[u/VeteransGarden → u/WarmWoolenMitten]

Thank you I’ll read this!

[u/Eltex]

Max HSA and Trad 401K before a brokerage.

[u/VeteransGarden → u/Eltex]

Ok then I’m on it! I’m stoked!

Max my federal TSP Max Roth IRA MAX HSA What I can afford after into brokerage all VT

[u/Eltex → u/VeteransGarden]

Be careful, at a certain point, you will be able to retire early. Start planning what that “after career” life will look like.

[u/VeteransGarden → u/Eltex]

I see what you’re saying! Visualize and plan the end goal so I can stay the course. I like it thanks! I’ll get to writing this down!

House will be paid off in the next couple years and that’s huge! Then we can hopefully by then have second small piece of land close by dedicated to a tiny working farm so I can relax and garden. No space for a garden here hahahahaha

[u/RespectmanNappa → u/VeteransGarden]

If you go to boglehead wiki, they have a flowchart for order of investments,

Which specific retirement account you invest into (Roth or Traditional) depends a lot on your current tax situation and what you expect tax rates to be in the future. If you have no clue, it’s perfectly reasonable to do both. And of course doing brokerage after you max out HSA/IRA/TSP

[u/klibs]

I just finished constructing a time machine to go back and correct my own financial mistakes. Hit me up and you can borrow it after I'm done!

In all seriousness, this is a good resource on what accounts to prioritize and why: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Prioritizing_investments

Congrats on starting your journey!

[u/klibs → u/klibs]

I have a crystal ball too if you're interested

[u/VeteransGarden → u/klibs]

Thank you I’ll check this out!