Americans believe real estate, gold are the best long-term investments. They're wrong, advisors say

Some U.S. adults prefer real estate and gold as their primary long-term investments over stocks, with 37% choosing real estate and 23% selecting gold, both higher than in previous years, while only 16% favor stocks. Experts attribute this trend to the tangible appeal of these assets, though they may lack the liquidity or potential growth rates seen in stocks. Advisors suggest considering diversified investment options like REITs for real estate and precious metal ETFs for gold, rather than relying on their traditional perceived safety.