You have a good credit score, also focus on lowering the debt to income ratio.At 3k a month, I imagine you have used much discipline to save 30k.

I will hire experience over a degree every time; a "workings man Ph.D. is more valuable than any university degree.A newly minted degree is just a piece of paper that indicates someone may have been provided basic knowledge and a toolset in a particular discipline and were able to complete a task.

Your RE investment advisor can't offer objective insurance advice, nor can your your attorney counsel you on accounting matters.Instead, I'd recommend you begin assembling a small team of best-in-class professionals with expertise in a single discipline and a willingness to engage with you and other members of the team.

After spending several years of being a dedicated W2 employee (in engineering and marketing) and a disciplined saver, I want to apply my work ethic and self-discipline to an endeavor that will not only provide me financial freedom, but will also help others.

It is most probable you lack the knowledge and discipline to run an LLC properly.

In other words I really need to improve my self discipline/focus.  

Discipline During A SlowdownIf you’re focused long, what do you do in the meantime?

., The two most disciplined actions you will take in real estate investing are to not wait until the top of the market to sell. 

My wife is crazy for The 4 Disciplines of Execution now.

To piggy back on to your other post as to how successful investors got to where they are, a consistent theme is setting a minimum criteria to buy the asset class they want and maintaining discipline to execute that plan.