Hi @Mindy JensenI would recommend @Carl Fischer to talk about Self Directed IRA Investing.I also think these guys could make for some interesting guests:- @Douglas Skipworth- @Brecht Palombo- @Paul Moore

I know experience is the most important but I'd like to supplement it with self education.

This makes Mezzanine Debt particularly suitable for self-directed IRAs as it avoids UBIT (Unrelated Business Income Tax) risk and offers easier tax reporting via 1099-INT.

Im self employed and my debt to income doesn't look good on paper.

She is already invested in this as a builder and even offering financing.This is now obviously some self promotion...

I could also ask him to provide a report from his business (he is self employed) of his P&L and transaction reports to make sure he is making money etc. 

I'm big into learning and self development so I went for it.

They have a learn as you go mentality as far as training goes so I feel you need to be a bit more self-motivated starting out as opposed to if you worked for a more well-known brokerage with a more formal training program. 

For you, it will likely be business income / ordinary income(non portfolio) where it will be deemed active / passive depending on your level of participation.There are some court cases out there where people who originate 4 or more loans in a year are moreso deemed in the trade or business of lending money.It will depend on the original poster's taxaccountant to determine how he/she will treat the income.The one con of it being business income is that it may be subject to self-employment taxes.

Normally I would remove this post as self promotion- the original poster is a lender.