Doesn't hurt to think outside the box and get wildly creative with the Internet and various other social platforms.

When a platform was created that provided the capabilities to each independent investor first, it reduced the cost significantly, and then the industry grew by more than ten times.

Im young and know I can really give myself a head start before I even get into my 20's if I dedicate as much time as possible into this craft!

Asking to pay off-platform, ESPECIALLY via check, is super shady - not to mention his story was nonsense.  

Be willing to go where the deals are not just sit back and expect the deals come to you although that can be a good startegy but you need to make yourself be in demand which also takes an awful lot of dedication, and is a part of working smarter.

I seem to recall folks who appeared on Shark Tank who created an STR platform for this purpose.

I've dealt with BS reviews of my work place on YELP and its not fun....they are often very one side lies and there is near ZERO I can do about it....but YELP is just the platform, not the one making the reviewYou are essentially making a formal private blacklist.... and if it becomes public in some way, you will be the one left holding the bag.Cities are making lists of people based on legal documents...evictions, fines, arrests, judgments...all documented legal cases.... not personal reviews...huge difference.

The goal is to create an all-inclusive platform for collaboration amongst stock traders.

I've had great outcome using their platform.

This platform is helping me do that.