[cdxx]

i like your portfolio. definitely get your sigoth to open an IRA. you can use it to save up for a down payment on a house too.

i have one suggestion though, instead of being caught up in an index fund, which requires no work or insight, you can use the ira to make more intelligent bets. you are already doing that in your 401k, since you picked Intl (there's a lot of markets that are much better than US market right now).

for example, a position in an energy fund would have netted you very good returns YTD. right now, i am considering a position in technology, such as BUFTX or JAGTX (the only thing that's stopping me are my huge positions in tech stocks already).

the reason to do it in your IRA is that IRAs are much more flexible than 401k. you get to buy whatever fund you want, as well as stocks and etf's, and more closely match the sectors you want, as well as asset classes.