@Joe Funari An agent certainly does Not have to tell a buyer why a seller is selling, neither legally or ethically ....if anything, that might open up the agent to not fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility to the seller. 

Ethically!!!

Possible ethical misconduct:I listed a house for my spouse and his brother that was an estate.

If not, how can I find a CPA who knows how to maximize real estate tax savings but is ethical?

Just be aware that, no matter how ethical we all try to be, there is a lot of room for perceived conflicts of interest.  

He shared a significant amount of real life experience from his investing career, which would probably pair very well considering you're looking for info on Bigger Pockets already.Either way, don't expect to learn much about the actual business of selling real estate - you'll mostly be learning the laws and ethics during the class.Good luck!

If I want to do my own marketing - say direct mail, or even set up a lead-catching website - am I obligated (ethically or legally) to list my brokerage with those marketing materials?

@Daniel Sisto  that is my assessment and also the foreign buyer has gotten a very very expensive education at the hands of some pretty tough  marketing companies and not so ethical resellers.

That way, as you work with them and they get to know you, you can ask them to refer people to you.As far as the legalities of paying them a referral fee, THEY will know and understand better than you how to structure such an arrangement so it doesn't violate any laws or ethics.

Is there any way to legally and ethically have my girlfriend purchase a small multi-family property with an FHA loan even though she lives with me in my primary residence?