That’s why many investors focused on the high-tech sector buy shares in the NASDAQ-100 – an ETF with a heavy focus on tech and biotech innovators – instead of buying stock in individual companies.Minimizing real estate investment risk with diversification works the same way.

I like the diversification.

The scenario of selling one and using the proceeds as down payments on multiples is a classic 1031 strategy called a diversification exchange. 

Diversification of where you are getting your business from is key!

It also frees up cash to purchase other cash-flowing properties, allowing for diversification, higher returns from debt-paydown (higher total debt = increased accruement of equity from the tenant essentially paying your mortgages), etc. 

No one can accurately predict the future without risk that's why diversification is key

•A charitable income tax deduction for the present value of the remainder gift to charity•No capital gains due on the sale of appreciated assets within the trust•The opportunity for increased income•Reduced estate tax liability•Asset diversification and professional trust management•The opportunity to make a sizable gift to one or more charities.http://cfgreateratlanta.org/Repository/Files/20141027%20Charitable%20Remainder.pdf^^^^^^^^^^^Nolo.com offers a fuller descriptionA charitable trust lets you donate generously to charity, and it gives you and your heirs a big tax break.

On the other hand, similar threads on the BiggerPockets forum advocate diversification (aka doing both REI and IRAs).That said...Should I stop contributing to my IRAs and focus solely on REI (like Grant Cardone says)?

Anything that can be done to teach kids PRACTICAL lessons, while not BORING them to death, will likely go a long way towards shaping their view of the world and the powers of relationship-building, risk-diversification, and financial-reward-sharing.  

You can play as a limited partner (passive) but get a lot of advantages you cannot get in your SFRs such as geographic diversification, professional management to find, implement and reward investors w/o a lot of involvement on your side.