Having multiple streams of income are key! I️ don’t know if one is better than the other, they all have their place.
1: real estate gives you a ton of options such as: refi cash out (which is TAX FREE), sell units if necessary, have paid off real estate cash flow, seller finance, pass on properties to family, etc etc.
2: Roth IRA / 401k. Setting aside the fact that Roth IRA is tax free at retirement and 401k is taxed, both give you the opportunity for compound interest which is so extremely powerful, especially for young investors who socked away any amount they can in their 20’s. Earning several hundred thousand a yr in the market by the time you retire in compound interest allows you to be more aggressive in risk taking before retirement because you have a fall back.
3: business ownership. Now, you can put your real estate business here but I️ was thinking more of another form of income outside of real estate. Again, if you have been building your real estate and 401k then you can take a risk and try to run a business that you area really passionate about and make additional income from I️t.
When I️ review the wealth building in the world, other than generational wealth, I️t comes from 3 areas: stocks, real estate, and business ownership. So, why not try all three!!