Best of all I have enough of a work-life balance to enjoy life, pursue real estate investing, and build an extraordinary future with my wife (real estate investing helps a lot too).  

My balance sheet is being net 'paid' $200/mo not including appreciation and the freedom to not have to ask the landlord if I can paint a room or have a dog and the freedom from rent raises and leases not being renewed.I could rent out my main house portion for more than my payment, easily. 

Remember that this is a fund (portfolio of properties) which means that your investment is in a pool of real estate, similar to a REIT, and your returns are a balance of all properties in the portfolio.

If money equaled happiness in an uncomplicated balanced equation, then why do they so often take just a whole pharmacy worth of very expensive drugs just to feel better about themselves and escape their reality?

When I send out FMVs, I send all my investors a balance statement showing the balance on the investment.

Investor leverage with local banks can also be found in the capacity to move significant deposit accounts their way that maintain high balances +$100,000. 

And on the rare occasions when a tenant leaves owing a balance we’ve generally had good success collecting from the guarantor.

I think there is a balance and/or threshold on what requests are granted and what are not granted.

@Tim LaRiviere If you are 100% certain that you want to be passive, then I'd suggest you try to balance that with the type of returns you'd consider decent. 

Balancing all areas of life is a skill in it's self and will never feel balance for very long.