# Can you explain Roth IRA's to me in idiot terms?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-roth-iras-to-me-in-idiot-terms/665016>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 31, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-roth-iras-to-me-in-idiot-terms/665016 "2013-07-31T19:46:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-roth-iras-to-me-in-idiot-terms/665016/41 "2018-07-31T15:55:52Z")

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> [@Surreal](#):
>
> No. Historically a 90/10 portfolio has not outperformed 100% equities over the long term, and a 80/20 portfolio certainly did not outperform

I stand corrected. I really thought this was true, but I confirm from your cite and others that it’s not.

> [@](#):
>
> It’s also worth noting that the “rebalancing bonus” is a zero-sum game. We can’t all achieve higher returns simply by rebalancing.

Sure, but we’re not all going to. Those of us who rebalance can.

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