Roth IRAs are the ultimate retirement account: Contributions go in after-tax, but everything grows tax-free forever.
With the 2026 contribution limit set at $7,500 for most people, deciding how to invest that money matters
So I asked ChatGPT and Gemini the same question: How should someone invest their Roth IRA in 2026? Read Next: 9 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work) Both artificial intelligence assistants agreed on the fundamental building blocks, but their approaches revealed interesting philosophical differences about timing, specificity and market conditions. Let’s dive in!
Where They Agreed: Index Funds Are King Both ChatGPT and Gemini immediately pointed to low-cost index funds as the foundation of a Roth IRA portfolio. This wasn’t surprising, but the consistency was reassuring. ChatGPT recommended a Total Stock Market ETF as the foundation, suggesting 40% to 60% of the portfolio go into funds like VTI, FSKAX or SWTSX.