I never really messed with actively managed mutual funds because I'd always read that very few beat the market and even fewer do it consistently.

I've also tried being an active stock investor but I realized that I don't have the time or temperament necessary. I'd rather casually track the market and a handful of stocks and make a couple trades a year than track a list of stock and make several trades a day.

So my portfolio has evolved into 90% Vanguard total stock market index (or equivalent) and the rest in a handful of blue chippers (JNJ, BRK.B, CHV), tech darlings (AMZN for now, AAPL and FB in the past), a bond ETF and some overseas indexes.

Outside of that, I also invest in real estate. I was fortunate/unfortunate enough to start investing during the bubble over 10 years ago. I've learned more than I've earned over that time period but I'm re-applying that experience towards a more focused strategy.

The goal is to completely replace my work income with real estate income in the next 10 years through investing in multi-family properties.

So I've been listening to alot of podcasts from biggerpockets.com, reading books and getting my savings together so I can make my first NEW purchase next year.

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