If it is trapped in the employer plan provider and conventional stocks, then you would have in the future a nice chunk you have saved up, that can then be moved into a self-directed plan of your choosing once you leave this employer.

This usually works best for something that's mass produced and has a predictable lifespan.

So I started my own software development company 7 years ago, this allowed me to work from home and stock away a decent savings, but I knew I didn't want that long term, and rentals was always the end goal.

So I started my own software development company 7 years ago, this allowed me to work from home and stock away a decent savings, but I knew I didn't want that long term, and rentals was always the end goal.

Save up, pay cash, get reliable but a good value...the best rule of thumb to live buy is put as little of your money into things that go down in value as you can...which is basically everything EXCEPT Real Estate....and maybe stocks...but basically you are only authorized to buy real estate from now on haha..I am half kidding...half.Pay off the debt, cut the expenses, save money like a crazy person and keep doing what you are doing...Live in flips are one of my favorites....even better, live in flip plus AirBNB for part of the year in a hot market airbnb market

I don't necessarily have the personality to be able to hold an asset like a stock for long term.

The TSP, like any other retirement account, is great until the stock market tanks and your money disappears because you didn't have it invested in a real, tangible asset. 

I'm relatively new to real estate so I'm hoping you can offer some useful insight.Applicant 1: Excellent credit, low debt-to-income ratio, upper-middle-class income, very little available cash in bank account (cash is mostly in stock and retirement accounts)Applicant 2: Mediocre credit, better-than-average debt-to-income ratio, middle-class income, enough cash available to almost buy home outright.

You should talk to a financial advisor and seriously think about putting the money into the stock market if your investment horizon is long.  

So if you invest in Real Estate, Stocks with Dividend, even your JOB to be a Cash Flow.These Cash Flows provide the seed money for your Investments.