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should i be more aggressive in a roth ira, 401k, or taxable account?
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i think you may be drawing the wrong conclusion about why you put what type of investment in a taxable vs. tax-advantaged account. it is not so much about risk, but type of return. if you're investing both tax-advantaged and taxable accounts, you can benefit by putting more tax-inefficient investments inside your tax-advantaged accounts. some aggressive asset types, like real estate, can throw off a lot of taxable income. if your asset allocation calls for investing in real estate, holding it in a 401k or ira can allow more of your money to remain invested, rather than having to use it to pay for taxes. and if you're holding in a roth ira, you get that tax free. but bonds, a decidedly non-aggressive asset, also throw off a lot of taxable income. you're able to hold them in a tax-advantaged account and not pay taxes on the income until you withdraw it from the account (or tax free in the case of a roth account.) an aggressive stock fund that is primarily expected to provide returns via price appreciation would do well in a taxable account because there's likely little tax consequence to you until it is sold.
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