I am a huge fan of using 0% credit cards, as long as you can pay it off before the 0% promotion expires.

As far as a good contact goes, not self promoting here, but Marcus and Millichap would be a good contact.

@Mike GiallanzaI agree with what you wrote, but would just like to point out that some of the online resources you mentioned will favor, promote, and even push down negative reviews for their paying customers.

I think I have a pretty solid understanding of them, and I do promote (index funds) as being part of one's investment life in a variety of vehicles. 

There are subsiderary companies of Comed and People’s Gas that are set up to promote energy effeciency and that might be a place to start.  

If I were to keep my job, I would likely be up for a promotion sometime soon and could possibly increase my income close to 60k.

What "real world" situations they face, and how much time and money is spent on the different aspects of their business (marketing & promotion, prospecting for leads, appointments, paperwork, emails, etc). 

This model also promotes a lack of skill and knowledge on behalf of the intermediary party.

I really think that most people promoting LLCs are selling something.

I'm not looking for your self-promotion or "I heard these guys are good".