Since only the first $3k of losses can be claimed against ordinary income in a year, isn't there a clear cap on the usefulness of TLH during the accumulation period? During the drawdown stage you can use your loss carryforward to offset gains realized in retirement, but if you're in the 10% or 15% marginal income tax brackets there's no tax on long term capital gains, so unless you have short term gains you have to realize, I see little benefit to TLH in retirement. Am I missing something there?
Overall then, wouldn't someone be less concerned with TLH on a decent sized portfolio? If you have a decent 'stache as you build towards FIRE it only takes a small loss to hit $3k a year, even if much of the basis is older and likely still in positive territory, as discussed above in the thread. My taxable account isn't very large at this stage but the recent Greece wobble was almost enough for me to max out my $3k of income offset for the year.
Based on the above, wouldn't someone pursuing FIRE cap out the TLH benefits of the robo advisers fairly early in their path to FIRE, and would lose that offset against the fees they charge, thereby making the robo advisers a worse deal?