401k, IRA, stocks etc?

I'd much rather have steady and reliable rental income financing my financial independence rather than trying to invest $315k into stocks and bonds to get the same outcome. 

I became interested in real estate investing after I tried my hand in the stock market and didn't come out as well as I hoped.

Or should I invest in the stock market in Amazon, Netflix, Boeing and a couple others .

If I dumped all my cash into this (I also have stocks and crypto etc, so I am diversified) I could in theory generate enough income to reach my goal, however I am nervous that buying in a different metro may have been a much better option, or buying C grade SFRs and duplexes in a peaky market will comeback to ruin me, or buying apartment buildings / complexes would have been a much better option.Also if I want to buy apartments, how do I accomplish that?

As a side note, the average stock market returns over multiple decades average ~8.5%.

We have about a 50/50 split with our funding in the stock market and in real estate so we'd be looking to maintain a similar balance moving forward.I am okay with putting off gains until further down the road, I just don't know if the expected rental appreciation over time is enough to offset the tax-free equity we can apply towards something that will pay us now. 

My grandfather has been a stockbroker for most of his adult life and semi-retired to a part time broker in his home office, living mainly on his own stock portfolio at 37 years old (1964). 

I'm using my time to learn how to identify that bargain when it walks up and introduces itself to me.I keep a couple of years of living expenses in cash savings (often recommended for retirees) so I don't panic if the stock market sells off.

Just about every state and city has its ups and down just like the stock market but people still invest.