Can anyone tell me where in this book I can find the rules for starting wealth and equipment? I can see where obligation can potentially boost starting credits, but I can't find the normal starting wealth a character receives.

I believe it is in the table at the bottom of p. 31. Under "Default" the table states that the Gear Bonus is 500 starting credits.

Yikes, a blaster pistol alone costs 500.

But you can always take on more obligation!

The feeling I get is that you don't want too much obligation. But that's a subject for another thread,