But, with a thorough understanding of notes as an instrument -- including the legal, finance and math concepts behind them -- you could figure out hundreds of effective ways to structure notes.What is more valuable long-term -- three or four ways?

Reminds me when the music industry was going after sites like Limewire and Bearshare back in the day because they provided an instrument for people to illegally share their copyrighted music.

The enforcement of the security instrument and note for the loan can result in a foreclosure auction, where the bank still does not own the property but causes the property to be sold.

Any notes or mortgage security instruments recorded, that are not the usual bank mortgage?

I would rather keep them in cash of some liquid stable instrument than roth IRA.

Not completely related, but after reading this carefully, is it safe to assume that if the LLC was to own bonds, debt instruments, dividend generating stocks or was to generate capital gains via selling appreciated assets (e.g.: stocks), the revenues made from those instruments wouldn't qualify for the 20% deduction?

So I'd pick totally passive instruments like Buffet type stocks (nothing sexy, just tried and true staples), RE investments where you would be more active, and also something I was totally passionate about in a day to day business!

The CME Group offers Gold futures that can be used to invest in the gold market without holding the gold physically, these financial instruments can be used to speculate.  

Investors whether individual or institutional and regardless of their level of sophistication will alway face the probability of investment loss because investments generally have an element of risk to it and you can't regulate a risky investment into a riskless instrument. 

That being said, my attorneys have been incredibly instrumental in helping me get deals closed, reduce and or mitigate my risks, and frankly have saved me a ton of money.