Thank y'all for the replies so far.
@thesis I have about 95k in non-retirement funds. $45k is in a CD earning 2%; I plan to use it for a 20% down payment on a house which I plan to buy in 3.5-4 years, but almost certainly not before. I am considering reducing the amount I have set aside, putting some of that money into a taxable account, and then replenishing it with savings over the next few years.
The other $50k is just sitting in a money market right now, but I have started the process of opening a taxable account and plan to invest at least half of it in ETFs (don't facepunch me; I know it shouldn't be in cash, but despite being an econ major, I have a fairly limited knowledge of investing strategy and have been trying to wrap my head around all of it while getting on my feet in the workforce).
I also didn't know Roth 401k contributions were taxed pro rata, and I've always gotten the match % on my before-tax wages even though it was contributed after tax.
@Boofinator The reason I'm balking at Traditional is twofold:
1) How much I/my spouse make in Barista FI. What if he opens his own business? What if we have rental properties? What if I work part time, but rather than being a barista, I work as a management consultant and pull in big $$? What if none of that happens and I actually do make $20k/year?
I dislike the corporate grind but I love side hustling, so those could go any way. If I understand correctly, if I make too much, then backdooring the Roth will work out to be more expensive...is that right?
2) How much our expenses will be in 10-15 years. Lifestyle inflation won't be a problem; unexpected life events might be. How much a kid will cost, whether we will have one/adopt, when...etc.
I feel like if I could say for sure that we would stop working at X age, that we would never have kids, etc. then it would be an easier decision. At this point I'm not 100% certain I *can* reach FI at 35 or 40, but I'm damn sure going to try.