r/Bogleheads•
Kipper11

New to Boglehead, any pointers, and am I on the right track?

Investing Questions

Hey y'all, long-time listener (1 week or so), first-time caller. Looking to get some general pointers and make sure I am on the right track.

Currently I am 34 years out from retirement ( if I wait until 65 anyway) and getting a late start. I make approximately $70k a year and am currently trying to learn more about investing/retirement and possibly FIRE. I do live in the US. I also have a mortgage with 26 years left at a 3.6 rate.

I currently have a 5% Trad 401k contribution with an 11% Roth contribution, as well as a 6% company match. Currently have about $16k in my 401k, which is in a 2060 Target date fund. I also started a personal Roth IRA but only have a few hundred dollars in it until my bank fully links for deposit.

My loose game plan was to contribute about $300 a month to my IRA and then split it, like $200 VT/VTI and then $100 BND/BNDW. Does this seem like a reasonable split? I also have been reading about 3-fund vs TDF and how it allows for more flexibility later on based on selling in retirement. I am trying to grasp the basics before worrying about my 401k composition.

I'm also in a sort of unique spot in that I was dumb enough to sit by to many explosions overseas so I have a VA rating that will grow with social security cost of living adjustments and act as a sort of floor. So torn between just sticking to the basic 3 fund % comp or trying to be a bit more aggressive to now while decades from retirement.

Lastly, I do have an HSA available. My plan is to pay off my car and then try to up my Roth IRA contributions until maxing. But should I be dumping money into an HSA if I already have free healthcare through the VA? From what I've been reading, it looks like you can pull from it after 65 even without it being healthcare-related.

Any advice/input to get me researching more in the correct direction is appreciated. I figured I'd look for feedback here before consulting like PlanVision or someone later on as a one-time deal to be sure I am not misunderstanding and going to end up eating unnecessary taxes, etc., later on.

Posted Apr 5, 2026, 10:13 AM UTC

77
Loading comments…