I ultimately prefer online rent for the automation by requiring recurring payments with erent.

The ultimate goal is to own a small portfolio of around 10 homes (current goal of 1 a year) that will produce good cash flow and leave me with a nice retirement plan.

And if you're just starting out, The Ultimate Beginner's Guide is a great read. 

A couple days ago I started writing out our business plan while using The Ultimate Beginner's Guide as a roadmap.  

If anything, if you're talking about CONVERTING pre-tax funds into Roth (ultimately tax-free) funds, doing this with significant gains is the WORST time to do it (although if job loss = lower income, this COULD potentially offset some of the impact.

At the same time my ultimate goal is own over 30 rental properties in the next 15 years.

That is the ultimate goal of ours and should be for every TK provider.I know my POV is very bias as a TK provider, but I do know we spend at least $25,000 on homes that need roofs, furnaces and AC units.

And the broker does most of the work (with my due diligience in the background I assume)Hard money and private lending are something that I knew I wanted to eventually move into as my ultimate long term passive strategy, but this just sounds too good to be true.  

http://www.biggerpockets.com/startherehttp://www.biggerpockets.com/meetSetting up Keyword AlertsHow to Use @Mentions on BiggerPocketshttps://www.biggerpockets.com/ruleshttps://www.udemy.com/biggerpockets-real-estate-investing-course/ (video with 64 lectures and approx 6hrs of material)https://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investing (Ultimate beginner's guide to REI)REI can be very daunting, but, before you go searching for that 1st buy, please take a few minutes to bone up on the tips in link below.https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/12/19/real-estate-investing-success-smart-tips/REI books suggested by BPershttps://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/11/13/7-real-estate-books-beginner-investors/ (7 absolute must read books for beginner REI)http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/04/14/best-real-estate-books/?

REI ultimately allows you to spend your time doing what you want to do (like helping out in Pakistan) instead of trading your time for money to make other people rich.