So one can be on either side of this equation - they can be the mom and pop investor who's grown his business over some period of time or they can be the fresh faced banker with the pedigree and the backing of a huge depth of resources at the bank to help them access the capital markets to either issue equity raise debts or help them with an M&A transaction.

While I understand the reasons for checking pedigree, there is also the growing problem of data theft from major players on the internet, the latest in a long line being Ashley Madison (expect a few divorces when this data is leaked). 

On the one hand, you have Clayton Morris, debonair, tailored, imperially slim, the good face, the good voice, proper media pedigree, presentable media wife, suavely selling the big-picture dream of hands-off, passive real estate investing for financial freedom to the masses.

@Nicholas BradyThere’s value to your degree in the sense it can teach critical thinking skills and provides some credibility to a certain pedigree.

Then, he'll pour in capital to fix them up, and resell in them in five years of so with their pedigrees fully restored.Auction dot com is a classic real estate auction, real estate auction have been around for a long time.

Obviously I'm not going to post DOBs, Passport photos, SSNs (the pedigree info) but I'd like to feel comfortable posting about my families hike down a certain trail without putting us at risk or being paranoid.

But, I am ready to give myself permission to think & work outside the box (outside of what educational pedigree says I should be doing),  which is precisely why I am here.  

its a LOOOOONG game.. at your age I would do one of two things.. either get your license and get with a brokerage that does commercial type transactions the veteran agents will be the ones you want to learn from.Or get a job with a building development company so you have some pedigree on your resumé'  reality is you will not get anywhere in the development business unless you have the ability to borrow 5 to 25 million dollars and attract capital investors by the millions of dollars.

The rest would depend on your pedigree. 

@Jules Semanchuk I like the durability of @Douglas Larson suggestion.I am going to be tearing out the laminate (Home Depot pedigree) of a new purchase because of the wear & buckled end joints after 3 years (older tenant).