STCE
Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF
stock NYSE ETF

I started funding the IUL and brokerage account 4-5 years ago.
My partner and I have money in a .01% bank account which is losing money to inflation. I wanted investment ideas so I asked AI which suggested the following: set aside money for taxes, pay off debt, emergency fund, retirement accounts, low cost ETFs, diversified portfolio (stocks, bonds, REITs, alternative commodities like gold), real estate, and fun/enjoyment.
It'll be great if we can grow some of the money that we'll need to pay for taxes since I have some penalties this year for Roth IRA excess contribution. My financial goal is to grow our wealth to live comfortably and possibly retire early. In terms of risk, I am comfortable playing with 5-10%. I don't own any gold yet and had $150 in STCE which did well so I was going to buy more.

Hi Bogleheads,
I've been reading posts in this community and finally had enough courage to post. My husband and I are in our mid-40s, no kids, minimal debt. Joint AGI is $200k-$250k+. We've made investment mistakes, including letting significant money sit in a 0.01% bank account. We now have some in a 3.5% HYSA. My 401k and Roth IRA are roughly 85% stocks/15% bonds. We don't have any MMA/CDs. Our goal is to increase our wealth to live comfortably.
My taxable brokerage (opened 2021, $16k current value) has lost $4,216.70 (-21.14% cumulative return, -3.28% annualized). YTD return is 8.87%, 1-year is 17.71%. It holds 70% ETFs (16 funds) and 30% MFs (9 funds). I've previously over-diversified for my Roth, 401k, and taxable brokerage (20-30 funds, some overlaps like having VOO, IVV, and SPY), ignored expense ratios, rebalanced, and panic sold. I have capital losses from my taxable account. For funds that do well, I hold and haven't sold yet so I don't have any realized gains. I also don't DCA.
A few years ago, a financial advisor sold us a Transamerica IUL. He said we currently have a 12.3% average 5-year return (not reflective of this year's return yet). We're only contributing the minimum and thought of max funding it, but I trust the brokerages like Schwab, Fidelity, and Vanguard over Transamerica. However my Roth, 401k, and taxable brokerages have been lower than 12.3% for 5-year return (Roth: 1 year 13.5%, 3 year 21.3%, 5 year 5.4%, 10 year 6% while 401k: 1 year 7.6%, 3 year 12%, 5 year 8.9%, 10 year 7.6%).
I've maxed my Roth for the year. I'm considering opening a new brokerage account to try a new brokerage and hoping for better returns than my HYSA (3.5-4%); more than 12.3% would be great. I plan to start with $20k+ from my HYSA to a taxable brokerage and am thinking of holding less funds in this new account. Friends who mainly held one fund (VTSAX) have outperformed me.
Can you please share some ETF advice and allocations?
I currently hold VOO, QQQM, and VT. I'm considering increasing these positions and/or buying new funds. I want more crypto exposure (STCE, IBIT, ETHA) and maybe my first gold etf (GLDM). Other funds I'm considering include GPIQ, SPMO, DHS, SCHD, PFIX, and SCHX. My selection criteria are often 4+ Morningstar stars or silver/gold rating and positive 1 year/5 year/max returns.
I'm also thinking about buying and holding NVDA and MAIN stocks in my taxable brokerage; I've only had stocks in my Roth.
Are SGOV or BND better than a HYSA? What exactly does "short-term" mean for SGOV (do people hold and sell after 3 months)?
Thanks for any advice!

I started funding the IUL and brokerage account 4-5 years ago.
My partner and I have money in a .01% bank account which is losing money to inflation. I wanted investment ideas so I asked AI which suggested the following: set aside money for taxes, pay off debt, emergency fund, retirement accounts, low cost ETFs, diversified portfolio (stocks, bonds, REITs, alternative commodities like gold), real estate, and fun/enjoyment.
It'll be great if we can grow some of the money that we'll need to pay for taxes since I have some penalties this year for Roth IRA excess contribution. My financial goal is to grow our wealth to live comfortably and possibly retire early. In terms of risk, I am comfortable playing with 5-10%. I don't own any gold yet and had $150 in STCE which did well so I was going to buy more.

Hi Bogleheads,
I've been reading posts in this community and finally had enough courage to post. My husband and I are in our mid-40s, no kids, minimal debt. Joint AGI is $200k-$250k+. We've made investment mistakes, including letting significant money sit in a 0.01% bank account. We now have some in a 3.5% HYSA. My 401k and Roth IRA are roughly 85% stocks/15% bonds. We don't have any MMA/CDs. Our goal is to increase our wealth to live comfortably.
My taxable brokerage (opened 2021, $16k current value) has lost $4,216.70 (-21.14% cumulative return, -3.28% annualized). YTD return is 8.87%, 1-year is 17.71%. It holds 70% ETFs (16 funds) and 30% MFs (9 funds). I've previously over-diversified for my Roth, 401k, and taxable brokerage (20-30 funds, some overlaps like having VOO, IVV, and SPY), ignored expense ratios, rebalanced, and panic sold. I have capital losses from my taxable account. For funds that do well, I hold and haven't sold yet so I don't have any realized gains. I also don't DCA.
A few years ago, a financial advisor sold us a Transamerica IUL. He said we currently have a 12.3% average 5-year return (not reflective of this year's return yet). We're only contributing the minimum and thought of max funding it, but I trust the brokerages like Schwab, Fidelity, and Vanguard over Transamerica. However my Roth, 401k, and taxable brokerages have been lower than 12.3% for 5-year return (Roth: 1 year 13.5%, 3 year 21.3%, 5 year 5.4%, 10 year 6% while 401k: 1 year 7.6%, 3 year 12%, 5 year 8.9%, 10 year 7.6%).
I've maxed my Roth for the year. I'm considering opening a new brokerage account to try a new brokerage and hoping for better returns than my HYSA (3.5-4%); more than 12.3% would be great. I plan to start with $20k+ from my HYSA to a taxable brokerage and am thinking of holding less funds in this new account. Friends who mainly held one fund (VTSAX) have outperformed me.
Can you please share some ETF advice and allocations?
I currently hold VOO, QQQM, and VT. I'm considering increasing these positions and/or buying new funds. I want more crypto exposure (STCE, IBIT, ETHA) and maybe my first gold etf (GLDM). Other funds I'm considering include GPIQ, SPMO, DHS, SCHD, PFIX, and SCHX. My selection criteria are often 4+ Morningstar stars or silver/gold rating and positive 1 year/5 year/max returns.
I'm also thinking about buying and holding NVDA and MAIN stocks in my taxable brokerage; I've only had stocks in my Roth.
Are SGOV or BND better than a HYSA? What exactly does "short-term" mean for SGOV (do people hold and sell after 3 months)?
Thanks for any advice!