I've been thinking about whether investing in index funds is really the best move for young people right now, especially with inflation eating away at purchasing power. A friend of mine put everything in a total market ETF and just watches it grow, but another friend diversifies into real estate and crypto, claiming higher returns. Given that the S&P 500 has averaged around 10% annually but had flat years like 2022, wouldn't a more active strategy—including international stocks or even commodities—be worth considering for someone with a 30-year horizon? I'm not sure if passive investing is too complacent or if trying to beat the market is just overconfident noise.