Core Insights - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are nearing all-time highs, with many popular stocks and ETFs appearing expensive, particularly mega-cap technology stocks [1] - There are still relatively cheap areas in the market, specifically small-cap stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs), which may present investment opportunities for long-term investors [2] Small-Cap Stocks - The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 index, which consists of 2,000 small-cap companies with a median market cap of $3.4 billion [4] - The ETF is highly diversified, with no single stock accounting for more than 0.74% of its assets, making it a suitable option for investors seeking exposure to smaller companies [4] Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - The Vanguard Real Estate ETF invests in an index of REITs that own various types of commercial real estate, including retail properties and data centers [5] - This ETF is more concentrated, with the 10 largest holdings comprising 39% of total assets, indicating that some REITs are significantly larger than the average in the sector [6] - The Vanguard Real Estate ETF is designed as an income investment, offering a yield of nearly 4% through dividends passed from its components [6] Investment Timing - The current valuation gap between small-cap and large-cap stocks, along with a likely falling-rate environment, could favor small-cap stocks and rate-sensitive sectors like real estate [9] - Both the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF and the Vanguard Real Estate ETF are positioned as attractive entry points for long-term investments [8]