It’s awesome to see your excitement @Joe —this journey can truly be life-changing.As someone who started out while serving in the military, here’s some advice I wish I had early on: take action, even if it’s small.

I have read multiple books on the subject but I am lacking someone in my life that has already walked through the process. 

We would like to learn about how we should have went about it so that we can purchase more properties, minimize mistakes, and reduce our reliance on corporate life.

Not much has changed in my life, but if I now have to finance a rental property vs primary home, my options change. 

Another idea that we have been exploring is using the cash value of whole life insurance funds for emergencies. 

Explore my personal favorites, Set For Life by Scott Trench or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, for invaluable financial insights.3.

Getting greedy tends to cause investors to be sloppy and I 100% agree with @Ken M. no good deed goes unpunished in all areas of life. 

Would you mind telling us what you spend per month on life? 

I need some real life advice, I want to house hack but I want to build a duplex.

Each has its pros and cons, but starting with House Hacking can be a great way to ease into real estate while keeping your living expenses low—perfect for someone just starting their career.Here are a few suggestions to get started:Education: Books like Set for Life by Scott Trench (sounds like you’re familiar with him!)