The Real Estate Professional status is a designation given by the IRS based on the number of hours that you work in real estate activities versus other activities.
It doesn't mean that you have to become a real estate sales agent or broker. You don't need to drive around showing people houses or putting out “for sale” signs.
Before you can become rich, you must decide whether you want to be secure, comfortable, or rich. These are called core values, or the reasons you want to invest.
The first reason most people invest is because they want to feel more secure. That’s why Social Security or a retirement plan is very popular with people whose core value is the need for security. Security is a very important aspect of investing. You don’t want to be a destitute out on the streets with nobody taking care of you.