LA has great long-term fundamentals. 

I would suggest reading up on the fundamentals of the REI craft in a book like Gary Keller's "Million Dollar Real Estate Investor" (and there are many more good ones out there but that's just the one I've read), and even a precursor book like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" to get a firmer foundation of general financial acumen, and then once you get a general idea, strike out and buy a property. 

That being said, it doesn't do you any good if you don't try and apply what you've learned so far by taking daily, focused action.Study the basic to learn the fundamentals.

If you haven't already, go to yellowletters.com and order @Michael Quarles Fundamentals of Success program.

But fundamentally, what is being taught is the same.

To that end, the IDFPR has authority to initiatedisciplinary proceedings against licensees for violations of the Illinois Real Estate Act of 2000.The IDFPR may “refuse to issue or renew a license, may place on probation, suspend, or revokeany license, reprimand, or take any other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as theDepartment may deem proper or impose a fine not to exceed $25,000 upon any licensee underthis Act . . . for any one or combination of” the grounds for discipline set forth in §20-20 of theAct, 225 ILCS 454/20-20.Additionally, a licensee may be subject to both civil penalties and criminal liability for theunlicensed practice of real estate brokerage:Any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds oneselfout to practice as a real estate broker, real estate salesperson, or leasing agentwithout being licensed under this Act shall, in addition to any other penaltyprovided by law, pay a civil penalty to the Department in an amount not to exceed$25,000 for each offense as determined by the Department. 225 ILCS 454/20-10(a).Any person who is found working or acting as a managing broker, real estatebroker, real estate salesperson, or leasing agent or holding himself or herself out asa licensed sponsoring broker, managing broker, real estate broker, real estatesalesperson, or leasing agent without being issued a valid existing license is guilty ofa Class A misdemeanor and on conviction of a second or subsequent offense theviolator shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. 225 ILCS 454/20-22.It is a fundamental principle under Illinois law that parties can agree to any terms, and can contract in any situation, as long as there is no legal prohibition or public policy that dictates otherwise.Contracts for the sale of lands, tenements, or hereditaments or any interest in or concerning them for a term longer than one year must be in writing to satisfy the Frauds Act.

You are not limited to putting it into real estate, which is a fundamental difference between this particular tax exclusion.  

Since you don't know what problems to solve, maybe you should learn what the problems look like first in order to solve them later (after you have studied real estate fundamentals)?

A fundamental component of being a successful real estate wholesaler is understanding the laws governing the conduct of real estate agents and the laws that govern your conduct as an unlicensed individual.Do your homework.

They are fundamentally different things.Note:  I would argue that owning residential rentals is only investing if you are paying for property management.