A millennial retired early by investing in real estate and one index fund. He explains why he likes owning both assets.

Todd Baldwin with his wife, Angela, and their two children. Courtesy of Todd Baldwin Todd Baldwin used house hacking to jump-start his real estate portfolio. He later invested over $1 million in Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF, VOO. Real estate offered control and cash flow, while index funds let him grow his wealth passively. Todd Baldwin got an early start on investing, buying his first property at 23. He put $19,000 down on a $506,000 six-bedroom house outside Seattle, moved into the primary bedr...