I'm learning as much as I can in the time I have outside of work and am definitely excited to get into the investment realm and move towards a life where my kids and my wife and I are a little more secure in our financial situation.

I prefer to pay the tax anyway and invest as much as I can in a ROTH IRA.My ROTH IRA owns 6 houses so far.

if this is the case buy the nicest properties you can in the city you live in and get the top tenants not the bottom of the tenant pool.. if you go bottom fishing your anxiety will go through the roof.

Can you better protect and grow this portion of your savings in a mix of alternative assets than you can in conventional stocks in funds? 

If you're not picky you'll probably end up with 3 or 4.Now go buy some blank yellow coroplast from a local sign shop and a big fat black permanent marker from an office supply store and write in big letters on the coroplast:RENT TO OWN3br 2ba$2000555-1234Stick a bunch of those signs up around the neighborhood where the house is located.Record this on your voicemail:Rent to own your dream home with no bank qualifying!

Some unsolicited advice: I am here in Las Vegas as well and I advise my clients to install a ceiling fat in the primary bedroom and fixed above lights in the secondary bedrooms, do not install an RO system, and make sure to install window treatments. 

Like I tell my wife if the chef is fat the food is going to be great!

My biggest advice is get extra jobs, or whatever you have to do to earn as much as possible, and SAVE money while learning as much as you can.  In

Call as many as you can in the area and you should find one.

To find property auctions in your area, try your local city or county website or browse a local newspaper.We suggest going to as many events as you can in different areas to capture a diversity of leads.