Jman69

Fuck stocks, bonds GICS, retirement funds and all the other bullshit.

Real estate is the key.

Renting is a waste of money, your throwing money down the toilet. If you can't afford much buy a cheap condo (under 100K)

Pay off ASAP.
When you get it paid off, put the money you'd normally spend on mortgage into savings for 1 year.

When the year is up, use that money as down payment and buy a second house/condo. Rent it out.
Use that rent money + the monthly amount you can afford to pay off the second mortage.

That second house/condo will be paid off alot quicker, now buy a third.
With a third place you have 2 renter incomes + your own money, you can pay it off fast. Buy a forth etc...

This is no get rich quick scheme, it takes a long time but its a STABLE investment.
Houses dip in value but still always go up over time.

This is my plan for the future anyways, I'm on step 1 - paying off FIRST condo.