This option depends more on what you want to manage. Just as you placed your opinions on real estate you will need to consider your opinions on several different options.
Some of these options are, buying/starting a business, real estate, and investing. You've already said you're not interested in one. Think about your future and what you want your life to be like and see if one of these matches up with it. Then start considering how in depth you want to be. Will you be the person that likes to manage things heavily? Do you like to pick up new skills? Do you like to have things just run in the background while you get on with whatever you happen to enjoy doing? Answering these will help you decide that depth.
An example I like to think of is if you're a person that loves managing things, likes research and learning, and are a risk taker then maybe investing in individual stocks are for you. If you want things running in the background with minimal management then index funds are great.
The smarter option won't come from the boards, only ideas. In fact that's not a bad idea either, which sections of the boards do you gravitate towards? That might help in sorting your direction.
Just my take on it.