Creating Series LLC with Private Investors and Equity Partners

[Drew Oberholtzer]

I've been trying to deconstruct the LLC beast and need some clarification on a few aspects of my situation.

I'd like to create a series LLC with my wife, who's an architect. We will be investing primarily in Pennsylvania, but will eventually expand to California and other parts of the country. Our strategies are a mix of buy and holds and fix and flips. We have private investors (passive), a contractor (equity partner), lawyer (equity partner - still looking), and a financial advisor (equity partner - still looking). This is where I've been hitting a roadblock. If I set up a series LLC with my wife do I have to include the equity partners as part of that LLC or can I just have a joint venture agreement set up for each property. If my wife and I form our own LLC how do we make sure our equity partners have equity if they're not part of the LLC that holds the title? For example, if I purchase a $100K house with private investor money under my LLC and partner with a contractor, lawyer, and financial advisor how do I bring them into the deal? Is a joint venture agreement enough or do they need to become partners within the LLC?

Thanks!

Drew