@Tom BurnsThe are two easy solutions to the liability issue you note:Option 1 would be to have a self-directed IRA with the $100K property and a separate IRA at a conventional brokerage. 

Doesn’t mean your brokerage can’t receive referral fees for clients though.

I'm also licensed at 3 different brokerages in 2 states (NY and NJ) with over 1,400 agents total.

I have planned for years to start as a Real Estate agent while saving and investing until I saved enough to start a Real Estate brokerage. 

Do you mind elaborating a bit on why your property manager should be a licensed real estate brokerage?

I went to class one night a week at a local brokerage close to me and studied the rest online at home with my text books and online practice tests and video classes

We have $25k for emergencies, and another $65k either in brokerage accounts or high interest savings/checking accounts, though we're pretty far behind in retirement savings due to some debt I had from the only other time I've been a landlord (a long story about getting screwed by a RE attorney/property manager from a home from my previous marriage), which has been paid off since 2013.I've known about my unemployment since Thanksgiving and am trying to move up the corporate ladder, but am finding it difficult to progress to in-person interviews for job titles that are above anything I've had yet, but I am getting initial interviews for VP/EVP/SVP roles with recruiters.

I invest in a brokerage account, but would also like to buy rental property.

Then they risk being released from their brokerage and losing their license.

I work at a brokerage with one of the people I met in my class and it has been great.