Asset allocation: Which bucket to put which fund?

[FIREin2018]

My asset allocation is:
40% Total Bond Fund + cash (currently 4% yield money market)
20% Total Intl (Roth IRA)
35% Total Market
5% Reit

I'm think of reducing Total market to 30% and adding 5% of a Blue chip dividend etf.

I have 3 buckets: IRA, Roth, After tax brokerage
The only thing i remember is that my Roth is all Total intl for simplicity.
For tax efficiency, which fund is best in which bucket?

Thx

[NotJen]

This is what I studied before I starting buying funds in my taxable brokerage account.  Changing what's in there after the fact will (obviously) have tax consequences.

Bogleheads tax efficient fund placement article: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Tax-efficient_fund_placement

[Silrossi46]

Still working.  Done 12/2025

457b tax deferred = 100% s&p 500
Taxable = 100% vtsax
Roth = 50% vtsax 50% schd

Contemplating the post fire AA and tax strategy as well……..

[ATtiny85]

Still working.  Done 12/2025

457b tax deferred = 100% s&p 500
Taxable = 100% vtsax
Roth = 50% vtsax 50% schd

Contemplating the post fire AA and tax strategy as well……..

What is the overall allocation? What percent of your overall portfolio is in each bucket? That will have a large influence on things.

We have around 40% taxable, 55% tax deferred (tIRA and 401k), 5% tax-free (Roth). Easy enough to be able to keep Roth and taxable 100% VTSAX since there is plenty of room in the tax deferred accounts for fixed income. We will be starting Roth conversions in a year or so, and eventually there might be a need to get somewhat creative depending on the market. I would like to get that Roth percent up into something like 25% or more.

[Silrossi46]

Still working.  Done 12/2025

457b tax deferred = 100% s&p 500
Taxable = 100% vtsax
Roth = 50% vtsax 50% schd

Contemplating the post fire AA and tax strategy as well……..

What is the overall allocation? What percent of your overall portfolio is in each bucket? That will have a large influence on things.

We have around 40% taxable, 55% tax deferred (tIRA and 401k), 5% tax-free (Roth). Easy enough to be able to keep Roth and taxable 100% VTSAX since there is plenty of room in the tax deferred accounts for fixed income. We will be starting Roth conversions in a year or so, and eventually there might be a need to get somewhat creative depending on the market. I would like to get that Roth percent up into something like 25% or more.

Valid point.  I am at 58% tax deferred and 35% taxable 5% Roth  2% cash.  1,866,000 total invested also considering Roth conversions but haven’t done all the math yet since there is a pension involved for me.