Investment Returns Overview - The total returns of five major investment categories over the last five years have been reviewed, highlighting significant performance differences among them [5]. Stocks - The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) has achieved a total return of 87.11% over the past five years, outperforming other major asset classes [3][5]. Bonds - The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) has reported a total return of -1.57% over the last five years, indicating a loss in this category [4][5]. Real Estate - The Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) has delivered a total return of 27.70% over the past five years, reflecting a positive performance in the real estate sector [6]. Precious Metals - The Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF (GLTR) has shown a remarkable total return of 115.29% over the last five years, driven by strong commodity performance [7][5]. Cryptocurrency - The Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) has a total return of -6.90% over the last year, as it does not have a five-year track record [8].