If your trip was primarily for busi-ness and, while at your business destination, you exten-ded your stay for a vacation, made a personal side trip, or had other personal activities, you can deduct only your business-related travel expenses.

This is like the Loch Ness monster.

Quote from @Ryan Ness Nessss: Quote from @Robert Rixer: I always say investors don't spend nearly enough actually looking for deals and developing creative strategies for getting good deals.

It didn't end up serving me, and I started having to ask hard questions - who am I when all of the BUSY-NESS falls away?

Quote from @Ryan Ness: This is awesome!

@Michael Norwoodall of the things you listed are viable options, but some of them are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of time and hands-on-ness. 

With retirement sthill in mind I figure if I can save up 2k a month I can generate enough saving twice a year for down payment on a rental property, create passive income there and once I have built a ness egg for myself then start my TSP back up but at this point I will have residual coming in and my debt to income ratio will be low.

The cost is usually a fraction of google PPC.Direct mail has a longer turn around time, does not really have the "spontaneous-ness" of PPC, but when someone does reach out they are typically more qualified and tend to take action. 

Disclaimer I am an architect out in WA state so I will call out the somewhat bias-ness of my post now.

It's okay to be vulnerable about areas where you aren't an expert - good brokers will want to help you succeed and you're open-ness will be a breath of fresh air.