A Roth IRA and a taxable brokerage account are both useful, but they solve different problems. The Roth is more efficient for long-term tax sheltering. The taxable account is more flexible for money that may need to stay accessible.
A simple priority order
If you have an employer match, that often comes first. After that, a Roth IRA is usually strong for long-horizon money if you qualify and can keep the funds invested.
Where taxable still wins
Taxable accounts have no contribution ceiling tied to IRA rules and no age-based withdrawal framing. They are easier to use for goals that are earlier, larger, or less predictable.