So, having a local agent who is knowledgeable is where you will get the best guidance. 1.

Do that for a couple of years and then you'll have all the systems and knowledge to start your own firm.

I’m a lifelong learner and exactly doing what you have all suggested- reading, researching, attending meetups, plan to attend conferences etc so I can continue to grow and be knowledgeable in this industry.

If you choose not to show up, he would almost certainly be awarded a judgement.Of course, you could choose not to pay the judgement, but then he can send it to a collections agency and your credit score will be trashed.I don't see a scenario here where you get through this cleanly.  

In the Reno market, we have access to hyper-localized and up-to-date rental data and local knowledge of different areas, providing a more accurate picture.Remember, buying real estate is a liability until you sell it, at which point it becomes an asset.

Good question to ask when screening a PM is if they are real estate investors themselves.If you want a PM to be proactive or knowledgeable on where/when to add value (asset management assistance), find one that is an investor.

Don’t be afraid to use your knowledge and jump in and do that first deal.

He has tons of knowledge about that area and manages a lot of STRs there.

During his speech I researched his background and found out that he's a professional speaker hired by agencies to give presentations, and has no ties to RE.

R&D is like split testing, trial and error is "I'll be damned to spend the time investing in knowledge so let's just hope we survive the guessing".