Roth IRAs provide tax-advantaged investments that allow you to invest without incurring taxes in retirement, yet choosing an online brokerage and robo-advisor that best meets your Roth needs can be tricky.
Betterment offers a comprehensive robo-advisor that makes building a diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) cost effectively and with minimum fees easy. Betterment also automatically rebalances your portfolio and reinvests dividends, and even offers free portfolio monitoring!
1. VBIAX
VBIAX is an exchange-traded fund based on the Morningstar Moderate Target Risk TR USD Index with an impressive Finny Score of 40 indicating it excels across five key areas we consider: daily movements, cost, return profile and stability.
Roth IRAs are popular retirement savings tools because you can contribute your aftertax dollars into them and withdrawals are then completely tax-free in retirement, providing an enormous benefit.
Before investing, it’s essential to fully comprehend both its benefits and drawbacks of Roth IRAs. One downside may be income restrictions on how much can be put in, potentially pushing you into higher tax brackets when retirement comes around. There may also be fees associated with trading and investment funds held within a Roth such as transaction and expense ratios.
2. FDKLX
Roth IRAs provide an ideal solution for holding funds with minimal or no dividend income or may generate tax-exempt income (such as municipal bond interest), making FDKLX a great way to save taxes in retirement accounts.
Ideal Roth IRAs should contain core index funds that provide broad exposure to U.S. stocks, bonds and global investments – something the above ETFs can help achieve.
3. DBSVX
Roth IRAs offer several attractive qualities, yet also come with their own set of drawbacks. One major downside is requiring you to contribute after-tax dollars as opposed to traditional IRAs or 401(k) accounts that allow contributors to deduct contributions and reduce income tax burden.
Due to Roth IRAs’ tendency of pushing you into higher tax brackets during retirement, which could cost you in the form of higher taxes in future earnings than you currently do, a Roth may not be suitable. There are plenty of alternative investment solutions out there and it would be wise to consult a financial adviser before making your choice. For more on choosing an IRA see How to choose the ideal IRA account for yourself.
4. DFSVX
ETFs offer many advantages for novice investors who may not want to commit a large sum upfront. ETFs tend to feature lower buy-in costs and expense ratios than traditional mutual funds, making them attractive options with limited entry requirements and expenses.
DFSVX is an example of such a fund; it tracks the Russell 2000 Value Index and offers exposure to small-cap stocks with lower valuations. Furthermore, this fund strives to outstrip its index over time – which may appeal to aggressive investors who believe in factor investing.
Before investing, it’s essential to carefully consider both the tax treatment of any investments made into a Roth IRA as well as your financial goals and how these may influence which ETFs make the best fit for this account.
5. DIA
Roth IRAs enable you to invest post-tax dollars, so as to avoid taxes in retirement on earnings. High dividend stocks that distribute a portion of profits directly back to shareholders on an annual basis may make suitable long-term investments.
DIA provides exposure to real estate investment trusts, which often offer relatively high dividend yields and price appreciation potential. Investors who embrace factor investing may find DFSVX beneficial as it targets small market cap stocks with low valuations – providing high conviction core holdings.
At the core, choosing the appropriate ETFs for a Roth IRA depends on an investor’s goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. As a rule of thumb, however, finding an array of funds designed for long-term investing and keeping an eye on expense ratios (where lower is better).
