"...I don't have money, but what I do have *are* a very particular set of skills." Is this correct?
If you are looking for ransom I can tell you I don't have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills.
I'm talking about that verb in italics, because I'm not sure if I'm an idiot or my 'friend' is. Because I think it's supposed to be is instead of are.
The object you have is singular (a set), so... my sentence just answered your question. What you have is a set of skills.