I have been a merchant banker, senior executive in crowdfunding operations of yesterday, PM me I can tell you numerous stories of success and failures if that helps.I have been following AL market for quite some time and some of my investor friends admit their mistakes.

I know it is a nominal yearly fee, but I am bothered by the failure to disclose on the MLS listing and all offer documents/contract.  

Yet, later in his life, when he was interviewed, he tearfully claimed his life was a failure.

Conversely failure isn't not getting a good deal. 

They became successful because they learned from their failures. 

They didn't have any sort of professional education, but learned through success and failure how to go about creating a successful investment strategy.

There was no malice, just failure to plan properly.    

That 15-month build-up was a real slow-motion event, not an illusion.But the panic returned in the spring with the failure of Bear Stearns in March 2008, followed by the collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in June.

The failure of others does make succeeding easier.

I tend to stay away from single points of failure as a habit.