This is just an opinion, but you can start under your name, and once it gets bigger, you can put your assets in LLC or something else.

If your goal is to retire and have a great asset that kicks of 300-500 per month until you sell it then I would refinance the property. 

Hey Craig,I'm based out of Kansas City and work across the nation helping provide asset protection services. 

Do you have a particular asset class in mind? 

It's also good from an asset protection standpoint that you're establishing an LLC in advance.

My goal by end of 2019 is to be entirely out of single family, have 1 or 2 NNN properties valued at $5MM, and to have $1M in equity deployed into passive syndications.Having a payed off asset 30 years from now is not as enticing as the prospect of not having to deal with tenants ;)

Its not like the "city" areas in obtaining comps, or knowing what to do to maximize profits; unless thats your bag. 

Most of the scenarios proposed to us by potential clients for such joint ventures would likely create a benefit between the parties and not pass scrutiny in an audit.There are many ways to safely and productively grow your IRA investing in non-traditional assets such as real estate in a standalone fashion,  There is no need to take unnecessary and foolish risks with your retirement savings.

Join some free REI clubs, find a mentor, make a plan, make some goals....Inventory current assets to see if your goals are realistic.I would start by finding a mentor and setting some goals to determine which direction to go in.

I have even heard very smart asset protection attorneys who have their clients take out debt on properties for this very reason.