This is your first line of defense.

It's clear Antoine is defensive for a reason.

Just the interest on the debt is more than $1.1 Trillion / yr,more than we spend on our entire defense budget.

Would the renters insurance pick it up as the first line of defense?

Networking within real estate investment clubs, attending industry conferences, and engaging with online forums can help you connect with like-minded individuals.Apart from partnerships, continue focusing on education and self-improvement.

On that playing field, everyone's costs go up just to stay in the game, only to end up in exactly the same place competitively.Better to spend the money on acquiring (or trading up to) properties with really defensible differentiators like a great view, great location, or lots of bedrooms.  

It's really hard for me to do speaking and conferences (though I try because I know networking is good for business), but these other (written) outlets I'm perfectly comfortable with.

People think it's playing just defense on one side, it's both.

Another option is to go to investor groups in your area (investor conferences, seminars, etc.). 

Curious as to what anyone else’s experience with them has been.I have not worked with them but heard Jeff speak at a conference last week.