A pro of the FSBO would be that you could control whom you got in as a tenant while performing a thorough screening process. 

Realizing the opportunity there is in real estate I'm excited to start down this path and take control of my financial future. 

My cousin owns a aquatic weed control business with a business partner.  

Paypal (as mentioned previously), Chase Quickpay, etc. where you have control over what you accept as payment and your personal account information is not shared publicly.

Especially if you put the time into networking with other investors.Profits in this field are about data, control, and cycles.

My ideal scenario would be to own a small investment company with a partner that holds a few mid-sized rental properties for baseline income, and supplements this with a few high-profit flips every year to help grow the rental portfolio and pay for lifestyle upgrades, vacations, etc.My formal education is an Electrical Design engineer, and for the past 10 years I've worked for large companies designing complex electronic (computer) circuits for things like Medical Devices, LED lighting, etc.

Try to be in control of all investments you are responsible for until you can trust somebody else to do your improvements.  

Congress controls the purse strings, not the President.

How can you control wind?

These prices are out of control