Roth IRA Growth Investment Logic

[RunningintoFI]

TL;DR: Investor knows the market goes up and down but questions logic when the market does what the market will do. 

I have had a Roth IRA for the last 6 years and invested consistently in the VWUSX fund (US Growth Fund) throughout this time period.  My logic being that since the Roth IRA heavily rewards greater investment returns, I am better served chasing slightly higher returns in this account.  This plan looked great for the first 5 years and has been a bit more iffy the last 6 months as growth funds struggle.   

The lackluster recent returns does not change my day to day life and won't really alter my long term investing success unless the fund completely collapses so it is really about my ego at this point. 

I guess what I'm asking here is if my plan is still logical (or if it ever was) given the longer time horizon for my investments (10-15 years) and the general tax rules behind Roth IRAs?? Is it even reasonable to expect that something like a growth fund would outperform VTSAX by enough to make it worthwhile to ride more of the VWUSX rollercoaster?

[Telecaster]

Your basic reasoning is sound.  The question comes down to if you believe VWUSX will outperform VTSAX over some reasonably long period of time.

If yes, then stay the course.  If no, then do something different.

The general advice to buy VTSAX and forget it is great advice for this very reason.  You don't have to wonder and you don't second guess.  You just own the market with the belief the overall market will prevail over time. 

[boarder42]

Large growth is historically one of the worst performing asset classes. So are you choosing to let recency bias help set your opinions here. You want higher returns based on history put just about any other asset class in your Roth. Or as above stick with VTSAX.

Growth in general by definition should and has historically underperformed other classes. 

[boarder42]

See attached also this link to historical returns of 4 major us asset classes since 1928 and tell me again why you expect growth to be the best performer? 

https://paulmerriman.com/90-years-of-evidence-shows-investor-patience-leads-to-better-returns/

[JoePublic3.14]

So are you choosing to let recency bias help set your opinions here.

Agree, and OP, it’s important to break this thinking now. Chasing performance will not get performance.

[cool7hand]

So are you choosing to let recency bias help set your opinions here.

Agree, and OP, it’s important to break this thinking now. Chasing performance will not get performance.

+1. I'm also afraid that your concerns feel like market timing.