The Ramsey Show

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The Decisions You Make Now Shape Your Success

Explore episode Jul 20, 2026
Business
Roth IRA Allocation: The 4-Fund Strategy Explained

The Decisions You Make Now Shape Your Success · Jul 20, 2026 Business

Split Roth IRA contributions across four mutual fund types: large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and international. Avoid single stocks, target-date funds, and bonds. A broad S&P 500 index fund is a solid starting point, but splitting across four types can help balance performance when different markets move in opposite directions.

Where this was said

Roth IRA Allocation for a 23-Year-Old on Baby Step 4 and 3B

At 1:39:40 · chapter starts 1:37:00

Alex is everything a Ramsey host could hope for in a caller: 23 years old, Baby Step 3 complete, Roth IRA open, maxing his 401k, asking about mutual fund allocation. His combined household income (he and his girlfriend) will eventually reach $13,000/month net, making the math for a Tampa home workable if they stay patient. George lays out the 4-fund approach: split Roth IRA contributions across large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and international mutual funds. An S&P 500 index fund alone is fine as a starting point. Target-date funds, single stocks, and bonds are explicitly called out as things to avoid. On the down payment: 20% on a $450K home still leaves a $3,200/month payment at 50% of Alex's solo income — so George suggests 25–40% down, achievable at $3,000–4,000/month savings over 2–3 years. Alex wins a free ticket to Investing Essentials as a reward for his impressive financial discipline.

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