<prompt> Human: Looking for some help understanding what the reasoning is behind investing in an IRA if you are making over the deductible limit 72k. Assuming your 401k is maxed out already, it looks like you would have 3 options. 1. Put 5,500yr in a traditional IRA. However, making over 72k would exempt you from taking any tax breaks on it, so essentially it would be the same as putting it into any other taxable account since with traditional IRAs you still get taxed on your gains in the account. Additionally, would you get double taxed if you missed the deduction when you put money in, but had to pay tax to take it out?2. Put it in a Roth IRA, where you would pay your taxes on it now, but not be taxed on any gains and not be taxed upon withdrawal. This would only make sense in one of two scenarios...either you anticipate having a higher tax bracket during retirement, or you anticipate having the money in the account for long enough 20 years? in order for the tax-free capital gains to offset the tax paid when you put it into the Roth. 3. Put it in a regular ol taxable account and pay taxes on income and capital gains normally.Im not exactly getting why the traditional or Roth options are particularly advantageous. The Traditional doesnt seem any different than the regular taxable account, and the Roth seems like the right move only if you are confident that your tax rate during retirement would be higher than present day which seems unlikely in most circumstances. What am I missing?  <response>: If you have no more options for pre-tax contributions, why would future tax rates factor into the decision to contribute to a Roth over a taxable account? Contributions to both are post tax but one accrues tax free. Unless you might need to withdraw the gains before retirement, the Roth IRA is unequivocally the superior option. 