Find an ethical mentor and use some of that money to work towards bringing in business to work on together; real experience structuring and working a deal trumps all. 

As for ethics or gimmicks or credibility...

I really don't know anything about it.although I have seen Brian  over the 3 years I have been here give some detailed information for free on this site.. and unlike many guru's I actually agreed with his ethics and following the law. as an aside my daddy taught me day one in sales punctuality is the key... so blowing off appointments or being late or what have you is not good.. unless you call ahead of time and explain you may be a little late.

Ethics are a huge part of it as well. 

I grant you that some homes have had their prices somewhat inflated by ethically challenged agents in a listing presentation in order to get the listing, but regardless of the list price, the market still decides at what the house sells for.

If I price at 95% of value today's and tomorrow do the same on a second property based upon my prior sale I justify that by buying at a value based upon that same sale.Until they outlaw capitalism and as long as we answer the ethics question who is to blame...BTW when you are granted a deed without constructive notice market that puppy at a price less then what you're willing to sell and at a largely reduced value and two economic strategies begin to play out..Happy huntingMichael

Recently I parted ways with them do to ethics conflicts and now... very little business for me....Does direct mail work anymore?

Here we go again.We need to stop classifying broker/agents as REALTORS.Not every broker/agent is a REALTOR.That doesn't mean they are less competent just that they got tired of paying bloated fees to the old NAR.The real estate commissions for each state give a rat's #ss about the NAR.All they care about is license laws and protecting the interests of the public.REALTOR designation is subscribing to their CODE OF ETHICS.Doesn't mean you have no ethics if you are a broker or agent an not a REALTOR.Theoretically you could also argue banks could lose their shirts not having qualified brokers on the ground level handling their assets.What banks pay is cheap in commissions compared to the infrastructure that would be needed to do everything in house.Whether that buyer buys direct with the listing broker or uses a buyers broker the cost is the same BECAUSE the bank allocates for the total commission payout at the time the asset manager assigns the listing to the broker/agent.It will just be xx percent on the HUD to 1 brokerage or split between the buyers broker and the sellers broker.I am talking about the REO side in general and not short sales,etc.

Things like ethics and morals should trump it.

Guess she read Josh's post.Here is Ms Rhodes as her alter ego, Rich Lady Business Partner, spouting off about ethics http://sta.rtup.biz/profiles/blogs/what-are-your-ethics-saying.