This is a low-cost index fund that invests in a portfolio of real estate investment trusts, or REITs. REITs are income-focused stocks, but they also have lots of potential to generate market-beating total returns over time.

A seemingly unstoppable flood of money has Vanguard Group Inc. on the brink of claiming a crown that State Street Corp. has held for decades.

Vanguard exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a fantastic choice for retired investors looking to play the long game with their portfolios. Undoubtedly, Vanguard is a name that passive investors can put their trust in.

Because it's weighted by market cap, the fund's top holdings are identical to the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF's (all of the so-called "Magnificent Seven" stocks are in the group). Unsurprisingly, the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF's performance correlates highly with the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF.

Investment management firm Vanguard offers a variety of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that allow investors to target a specific theme or sector at a low cost. With just 0.04% expense ratios, meaning $0.