What other industry dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars of people's money lets people become licensed in three weeks and no formal education? 

There should be an amortization schedule created prior to contract signing so people understand what the payments should be on a monthly basis with no confusion.

A lot of people seem to think it can be a side hustle.

Learn from people with 30+ years of experience, not the YouTube gurus that bought all their investments in an ideal market.1.

If I was your brother getting my REI portfolio started, is there any advice, strategies, links, literature, articles, or people to follow that you would recommend for someone extremely leery of financial risk?

People get busy and forget.

I look forward to engaging with many of you and contributing to this community.

There are people here with extensive experience in the area. 

I just joined the BiggerPockets forum and I am excited to be part of such a dynamic and intelligent group of people.

I would also love any advice people have from working with creative financing in similar situations.