We ended up paying property taxes on all of our properties and still had to pay private tuition to get a decent education for the kids.

Look up their NMLS or real estate broker license number for a good starting point that'll weed out 90% of the scammers.For NMLS, it's centralized: http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/ Some private/HML type lending, depending on state, will be under the auspices of the state real estate broker licensing entity.

Please feel free to private message me for anyone who doesn’t wish to speak publicly.

Trying to determine how to structure a deal with a family private lender until next year when I can get a mortgage to buy out the loan.

However, when it comes to retirement account you should consider passive investment options such as private lending, investing in a syndication or private placement, buying a trust deed or investing in a note fund. 

If none of that works you may need Private Money or Hard money to get in but could possibly refi out in 6-12 months. 

You didn't ask about this, but be careful with putting private info like SSN in them, they are not very secure.

Private message me, if you do! 

I am now being approached by private money investors (friends and family) about investing.

There is also something to be said for having a hedge, some degree of diversification, as @Tara Wright has noted.I think you can find 5 or 6 really super proven flippers, right here in Houston or wherever you live, and go in with them as private lenders and probably outperform average returns from any mutual fund you might own.