If you are in the highest tax bracket you can not contribute to a Roth IRA.
But you can and should contribute to a backdoor Roth. And you and your wife should do it every year before funding taxable IMO.
A stealth IRA or HSA is also a no brainer. Here are my thoughts on both of those.
http://www.milesdividendmd.com/the-back-door/
http://www.milesdividendmd.com/stealthy-healthy-wealth/
As to betterment, I'm a huge fan of it for taxable accounts and this is how I choose to manage my taxable savings personally.
I have already made several years fees back in TLH, and it is quite easy to figure out your total tax savings and total fees each year.
As long as your fees are more than are offset by tax savings you will not beat betterment with a comparable portfolio from vanguard. No reason to switch now.
Great articles, thanks!
I looked into backdoor Roths a few months ago and, like your article mentions, it was not good idea due to having a sizeable traditional IRA already funded. I would have had to pay taxes on the conversion, which made it a wash.
HSA gives me pause due to the fact that, a.) I spend about $5/yr at the doctor, b.) I don't plan for that to change, and c.) I need a fund that I can withdraw from early. Waiting until 65 does not fit that bill.
Thanks for the leads, but I think my best option is going to be a tradition IRA, then use substantially equal periodic payments (I'll call them SEPP, 'cause lots of words) withdrawals along with taxable accounts to fund my life.
Thoughts on the SEPP? How much can I expect to withdraw? With a worse case anticipated $40k/yr COL, will I be able to fund that?