Hire talent and expertise. 

The general public needs a governing body to oversee this stuff to protect the public's interests.

The reason is that I will setup an LLC with a partner per "flip", so the entity will only last a few months, but I would like to protect retirement funds in the meantime.Thanks,-Mike

I’ve owned certain companies outside Canada and would do all finance/cashflow myself, but real estate is a new field to me as well as doing finance in a country which is not tax free.Example questions: Under which entity should I be under before purchasing real estate to protect myself and my family from bankruptcy?

@Nik Moushon In addition to tax strategies I would also consider asset protection as your journey forth with rental properties. 

The agent value comes in analyzing the value, neighborhood trend/knowledge, how to read/research the seller as to motivation, protective and trap clauses in the wording of the contract, which lenders actually perform, which title companies to avoid, which inspectors to use/avoid, how to negotiate when problems occur prior to closing, etc, etc.....all of which You you are not experienced/competent in.So, You decide.

In a normal sale with a lender the P&S protects against financing not being secured.

I'm curious, from your expertise, what makes this option more realistic than the others?

Yes , we do a mortgage and promissory note for each deal to protect them- but the attorney prepares that included in her closing cost. 

Nope, no way to protect yourself unless you already have a property under contract.