Hi MMM Family!
My path to financial independence started through Bigger Pockets and the Real Estate bug. I am 26 years old, single and earn about $71K/Yr in Chicago.
I have always saved a little money in an Ally Savings account for emergency but am up to around $15K now. I contribute 6% to my 401K to match the employer contribution (I have about $14K in there right now).
Basically I want to start to put my savings money to work, and I feel like I have one of 3 options:
1) Jack my 401K contribution up to ensure I max it out for the year, and use my $15K in the bank as my living expenses for anything I come up short with through my living expenses ( I spend roughly $2200/mo all inclusive )
**Is there any way to optimize my Employer Fidelity 401K for max growth?**
2) Put $11K into a Roth IRA with VTSAX stock by putting 2017-2018 contributions in and raise my 401K gradually.
3) Do the same thing as #2 with a Traditional IRA.
I'd like to make every dollar optimal at this point and have about $3K in an emergency fund (Does a taxable account in VTSAX stock count as an emergency fund??)
Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I've been listening to many podcasts, and reading a whole bunch of blogs and articles and I am VERY MOTIVATED to game the system of finance. I just know I need to make sure I start ASAP!
