And if you're wondering, I am not affiliated with Fortune Builders in anyway.

No affiliation with them. 

I, my company or my affiliates are in no way or form operating outside of the NYC regulations.

Here, only licensees are allowed access accounts, there are affiliate members like title folks, appraisers and others showing a need. 

In my state, once you pass your test to become a Realtor you have a certain time to affiliate with a Broker. 

Disclaimer: not affiliated with the site, I just use it for rough numbers

In my market in the residential space it is very hard to find a brokerage that is not affiliated with NAR but there are many agents out there who are not affiliated with NAR.About 2 Million agents in the U.S.

actually if what you say is true it could be a respa violation, affiliate business associates have to be disclosed, it could imply kick back arrangements, big fines 

I'm not finding any information not affiliated with the company.

If you are doing #1-3 having never tried #4, better get a darn good referral from a disinterested 3rd party whose only affiliation is having a long track record of successful investments with the provider/sndicator, since you will not be a good judge and will be entirely reliant on these "boots on the ground".