55M/F - First-time investor with $5k lump sum + $2k/year. Want 100% tax-free growth. Am I on the right track with a Roth IRA?

55M/F - First-time investor with $5k lump sum + $2k/year. Want 100% tax-free growth. Am I on the right track with a Roth IRA? Hi everyone, I am 55 years old and entirely new to investing. I have **$5,000** in cash ready to put into the market right now, and I can commit an additional **$2,000 per year** ($166/month) moving forward. Because I am starting later, I want to chase a **high rate of return**, and I am completely comfortable taking on **moderate-to-high risk** to make that happen. This money is entirely separate from my short-term emergency cash. Since this is after-tax money and I want to completely avoid paying taxes on my investment gains when I withdraw it later, my plan is to open a **Roth IRA** with a firm like **Fidelity or Vanguard**. A few questions for the group: 1. Since I want aggressive growth, should I put 100% of my initial $5,000 and monthly additions into a low-fee S&P 500 ETF (like **VOO** or **FXAIX**), or split it with a growth fund like **SCHG**? 2. What is the smartest way to deploy the ongoing $2,000 yearly addition? Should I set up automatic monthly contributions of $166, or just drop a $2,000 lump sum once a year? 3. At 55, is a "Target Date 2035" fund (**VTTHX**) going to be too conservative for someone who explicitly wants high risk for higher returns? Appreciate any guidance you can give a beginner!