The following video is part of our "Motley Fool Conversations" series, in which advisor Andy Cross and senior analyst Jeremy Myers discuss topics across the investing world.

Andy and Jeremy get into the details of real estate investing and discuss why every investor should allocate a percentage of their portfolio to the strategy. They conclude with their favorite real estate idea that has the backing of a big fish out there: Bill Ackman of Pershing Square Capital.

The financial heavies are getting a lot of press these days. And much of it is negative. But there's one small bank that's flying under the radar. It has some of the best operational numbers you'll ever see. The Motley Fool featured it in its brand-new free report: "The Stocks Only the Smartest Investors Are Buying." We invite you to download a free copy. Just click here to find out the name of the bank Buffett would be interested in if he could still invest in small banks.