TorchtheFlyingTiger

Arrest made this am but police havent released further details.

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still would just do a traditional ira (tax deferred) in addition to her Roth IRA

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You cant do that. The Roth and traditipnal IRA contribution limit is combined. OP already maxes both Roth IRAs.

What is your current allocation? Do you have other income in retirement? Is retirement savings adequate to meet needs or do you need to take on more risk in hopes of growing it but also potential to lose? What is your expected retirement duration and withdrawal rate? Is leaving an inheritance a priority or spending during your lifetime?

I'd go 100% index funds if it were me. Fidelity 2055 has 15%/bonds/short term debt which seems conservative given long time horizon. I'd consider a US index and Intl for some diversification.

529 is just an account type (for education expenses) with tax advantaged growth and potential tax benefits for contributions. You can choose safe or riskier investments in it. If not used for education it can be rolled over to Roth IRA for child up to $7k per year and $35k total (or something close to that #)

I'd consider taking on at least some risk on a portion of the assets. The 11 yr old won't start college for approx 7 yrs and another 4+ years before all expenses are realized so you have time to recover. A decade is a long time to sit out of the market and barely keep up with inflation or worse.

Might also consider funding their Roth IRAs when they start working and pull the contributions for car and expenses if needed. Again you can choose your level of risk in the account but it grows tax free just can't touch the growth without tax or penalty until they retire but there is an exemption for education expenses just pay tax on growth w no penalty (529 is no tax on growth for education expenses)

Could also fund yours and spouse's Roth IRAs and pull contributions for their college or cars but keep the growth for your retirement. Not ideal but better than not funding Roth IRAs for yourselves.

Remember you can borrow for cars or education but not for your retirement. Put on your oxygen mask first then take care of kids or you'll be a burden

McDonald's has $5 burger or chicken sandwich plus nuggets fries and drink. Wendys has similar biggie bag deal so did BK but havent been in awhile. We only order from.

Growing up in 80s fast food was a treat. Now it's many families' normal routine. Plus you now have many folks ordering fast food delivery. I'd guess fast food is here to stay and will continue to increase prices as long as their customers arent price sensitive.

Once it's in the Roth there is no tax on the gains (unless you withdraw them early). That's the whole point.

How long until you retire isnt the deciding issue. Your Roth can continue to grow well into retirement. The primary factor is marginal tax rate versus effective tax rate.expected when you draw it down in retirement.

Roth balance is great for tax diversification to augment traditional and other income sources. It is particularly useful to boost spending without triggering higher rates, SS benefits tax, IRMAA or tonqualify for ACA subsidies etc... I plan to touch our Roths last unless a big spending event happens and it saves a lot to augment that year with Roth and minimize AGI. Otherwise, I hope to pass it tax free to heirs and/or use it when one of us is widowed paying higher single tax brackets.

If in high bracket now but expect lower in retirement consider sticking w traditional then do Roth conversions after you retire and income drops.

28% is just the max tax rate (plus NIIT 3.8% potentially).
Physical precious metals are taxed as collectibles at the the tax payers marginal rate.
So, unless OP's mom would be in the 32% bracket or higher she should pay less than 28%.

That is the capital gains rate for collectibles not in addition.

Does she need the $ or have another better investment in mind? If no compelling reason to sell, consider holding and passing to heirs with stepped up cost basis.

If she intends to make charitable contributions might be able to donate precious metals in lieu of cash so charity gets full value.

Would holding a few more months until you actually needed the $ have made the short term gains long term? I'd hold off on the purchases if possible to avoid the extra tax hit. If in 22% bracket that's an extra 7% versus 15% LTCG. If lower bracket, you may even qualify for zero LTCG rate rather than paying your income tax rate on short term gains.

I think you're supposed to pay estimated quarterly taxes but as others have said pay 100 or 110% of last year and you should avoid underpayment penalty due to safe harbor rule.