Sat Jun 21 2025, by Tyler Gardner

How Married Couples in Their 30s or 40s Can Save for Retirement Without a Roth IRA

If you're a married couple in your 30s or 40s, and you make too much money to contribute to a Roth IRA, here's what you need to do. If any of this is helpful, sign up for my free newsletter by clicking the link in my bio.

1. Invest in a Taxable Brokerage Account

Start by investing $2,000 a month in a taxable brokerage account. You just said you made too much for a Roth IRA; this means you can afford it.

2. Choose Your Investment

Now invest that money in a low-cost index fund or a target date retirement fund, or whatever works for you.

3. Long-Term Growth Projection

Keep this up, and in 30 years, you'll be projected to have about $2.4 million in that account.

4. Safe Withdrawal Rate

In retirement, you can safely withdraw about 5% of that money, roughly $126,000 a year.

5. Tax Benefits

If you take the married filing joint deduction of $30,000 a year, you can tell the government you only made $96,000 of capital gains, which means you pay zero in taxes because you're in the 0% tax bracket. Enjoy your life tax-free without having to worry about Roth contribution limits, withdrawal limitations, or conversion headaches.

Conclusion

And again, if any of this is helpful, sign up for my free newsletter by clicking the link in my bio.

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