Strength in Numbers with Marcus Crigler

Marcus Crigler
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Strength in Numbers with Marcus Crigler is the #1 podcast for real estate entrepreneurs who make good money but struggle with cash flow, tax planning, and building real wealth. If you're tired of living deal to deal, wondering where your money goes, and paying too much in taxes, this show will transform how you manage your real estate business finances.Host Marcus Crigler, CEO of BEC CFO Services, helps real estate investors escape financial stress by implementing proven wealth-building systems, advanced tax strategies, and cash flow management techniques that turn chaotic finances into predictable profit machines.Real estate wholesalers, fix and flip investors, and rental property owners making six or seven figures but still living paycheck to paycheck will discover how to stop constantly chasing the next deal. If you're overwhelmed by bookkeeping, financial management, and paying massive tax bills without knowing how to reduce them legally, you're ready to stop surviving and start building generational wealth.Every episode delivers actionable strategies on real estate tax planning, business cash flow optimization, wealth building for entrepreneurs, and financial systems that create freedom. Learn real estate tax deductions, legal tax avoidance strategies, cash flow forecasting, business budgeting for real estate investors, profit and loss analysis, entity structuring for tax benefits, and wealth building strategies beyond closing deals.Most real estate entrepreneurs focus on deal flow but ignore money flow. They hire accountants who only file taxes instead of providing proactive tax planning. Marcus shows you how to keep more of what you make, reduce your tax burden legally, and create financial systems that work whether you close one deal or ten deals per month.Listen to case studies of real estate investors who've saved $50K+ in taxes annually, built seven-figure net worth, and achieved financial freedom. Learn from entrepreneurs who've transformed their businesses from cash-hungry operations into wealth-generating machines.This isn't just spreadsheets and tax codes. It's about creating a real estate business that supports your lifestyle, reduces financial stress, and builds lasting wealth. Marcus addresses the mindset shifts, business systems, and financial habits that separate successful real estate entrepreneurs from those stuck in survival mode.If you like The BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Money Rahab with Nicole Lapin, The Dave Ramsey Show, or The Rich Dad Radio Show, you'll love Strength in Numbers.Subscribe now and join thousands of real estate professionals who've discovered that true wealth doesn’t come from closing more deals, but from keeping more of what you make. Stop living deal to deal. Start building wealth that lasts.

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 38: Why Time Isn't Money (But Timing Is) - The 4-Phase Formula to Go From Broke to $5M in Equity

    Providing value is a requirement for making money. If you can't provide value, the rest of it doesn't matter. But you also have to understand that the concept of timing is money. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler explains why time isn’t what creates wealth but timing. He walks through his own journey from financial stress and six figures of debt to building a business that runs without him, and lays out the four-phase framework that helps real estate entrepreneurs build wealth faster and with less burnout. Listen and enjoy the show! You’ll Learn How To: Stop confusing effort with progressFocus on timing instead of chasing more hoursMove through the four phases of wealth in the right orderBuild toward a clear exit instead of endless growthWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: (01:15) Why “time is money” is the wrong mindset for entrepreneurs (02:09) Providing value is required, but not enough (03:09) Focusing on your economy instead of the economy (03:49) Marcus’ early career and financial struggles (06:32) Why getting closer to revenue is the first real shift (08:48) The moment finances finally came under control (10:16) The pattern every entrepreneur goes through (11:51) The straight-line wealth framework explained (14:01) Phase 1: Hustle and finding one repeatable profit model (16:37) Personal financial stability comes first (17:31) Phase 2: Secure. Why does skipping it create chaos? (20:35) Phase 3: Expanding based on reserves, not revenue (23:23) Phase 4: The exit phase (23:54) Why $5M in equity is the real finish line for most investors Who This Episode Is For: Real estate entrepreneurs who are feeling stuck in a constant hustleInvestors who want financial peaceBusiness owners who are ready to scale without burning outAnyone who wants a clear path to long-term wealthWhy You Should Listen: If you are working harder every year but feel like you are running in circles, this episode will show you how the right timing and the right order can help you reach real financial freedom. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: https://beccfo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler

    25 min

  2. 4D AGO

    Episode 37: No Accountability No Wealth - Why Most Real Estate Investors Stay on the Income Roller Coaster

    Many real estate investors blame the market or timing when the numbers don't hit. More often than not, the real issue is a lack of accountability. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler breaks down why a lack of accountability keeps investors stuck living deal to deal. He explains the difference between being accountable to actions versus being accountable to results, and why that distinction determines whether your business creates stability or constant stress. You’ll Learn How To: Stop blaming uncontrollable factors for missed numbersShift from action-based accountability to results-based accountabilityIdentify where accountability breaks down in your businessHold yourself and your team to higher standardsWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: (02:01) A real-world example of failed leadership under pressure (02:41) Why being the “better team” doesn’t guarantee winning (03:36) Blaming uncontrollables destroys accountability (04:28) The hidden cost of ignoring execution failures (05:08) Why uncontrollable factors are never an acceptable reason (06:27) Accountability to results vs accountability to actions (07:31) The long-term cost of ignoring repeated performance issues (08:39) Why CEOs lose businesses despite being “good at their job.” (10:15) The importance of accountability Who This Episode Is For: Business owners who are tired of missing financial targetsLeaders who want better execution and better resultsEntrepreneurs who are ready to take full ownership of outcomesWhy You Should Listen: If you feel like your income keeps rising and falling no matter how hard you work, this episode will show you how true accountability creates stability, clarity, and long-term wealth. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: https://beccfo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler

    12 min

  3. JAN 30

    Episode 36: The Real Cost of Running Your Own Property Management (It's Not What You Think)

    Property management is one of the most misunderstood and most demanding businesses in real estate. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler breaks down what it really takes to manage your own properties or run a property management company profitably. He explains why most property management companies struggle and the hidden costs that investors often overlook. You’ll Learn How To: Decide whether managing your own properties makes senseUnderstand the real skill sets required to run property managementAvoid the common financial mistakes property managers makeKnow when a property management business becomes profitableWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: (01:30) The most common question investors ask about property management (02:40) The key questions to ask before starting a management company (03:01) The two very different skill sets in property management (04:24) Why owners rarely rave about outsourced property managers (04:47) Where the property management industry falls short (06:07) Property managers don’t operate as fiduciaries (06:44) The truth about profitability in the first 300 units (08:44) Why property management is not a get-rich-quick play (09:12) Buying vs starting a property management company Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors who are considering self-managing their portfolioOperators who are planning to start a property management companyBusiness owners who want more control over their assetsWhy You Should Listen: If you have ever wondered whether running your own property management is worth the effort, this episode gives you the unfiltered truth. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: https://beccfo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler

    12 min

  4. JAN 27

    Episode 35: Why Real Estate Investors Making $500K+ Always Feel Broke (The Cash System That Fixes It)

    Why do real estate entrepreneurs always feel broke even if they are making money? In this solo episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler breaks down why that feeling is so common among high-earning investors and how a simple cash management system can fix it. Marcus shares the mindset traps that keep investors stressed about money, even at $500K+ in income, and explains the exact structure he’s seen successful investors use to build wealth and peace of mind. Listen and enjoy! You’ll Learn How To: Build a cash system that removes financial stressStop feeling broke even as your income growsSeparate lifestyle, business, and investment moneyUse reserves to stabilize your business long-termWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: (01:26) Why do real estate entrepreneurs always feel broke? (03:00) How "feeling broke" affects your decision-making capabilities (04:25) Why draining bank accounts keeps stress high (04:51) Why a cash system removes decision fatigue (05:33) A real client story: high net worth, constant cash stress (06:30) “Stay broke, stay hungry.” (07:41) The three financial entities every investor must separate (08:15) Why cross-pollinating cash causes long-term problems (09:08) Why investment money should never go back to the business (10:18) Why lifestyle money should never fund the business (12:08) How active and passive income work together correctly (12:25) Discipline makes the system work Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors who are earning high income but still feel brokeEntrepreneurs who are tired of living from deal to dealBusiness owners who want clearer rules around moneyWhy You Should Listen: If you are making more money than ever but still feel broke, this episode lays out a simple cash system that helps you overcome this feeling, make better decisions, and build real wealth with confidence. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: https://beccfo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler

    14 min

  5. JAN 23

    Episode 34: Start With Profitability, Not People - The Reverse-Engineering Framework - Matt Viebrock

    Most real estate investors try to solve growth problems by hiring more people. Joining us in today's episode of Strength in Numbers is Matt Viebrock, real estate operator, founder of Let’s Grow COO, and owner of AcquisitionReps.com. Matt shares why profitability has to come first before you add headcount, and how reverse-engineering your financial goals creates clarity around hiring, operations, and growth. They also break down when to hire an assistant, why marketing should be protected early, how to structure your team in the right order, and what it takes to build a scalable acquisition team. This episode will bring a clear framework to follow. Enjoy the show! You’ll Learn How To: Start with profitability instead of hiring reactivelyReverse-engineer your financial goals into clear KPIsDecide the right order of hires as you growWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: (03:06) Matt’s background and experience across 2,000+ real estate transactions (06:38) Why most investors don’t actually need a true COO (07:53) The real role of an executive assistant in a growing business (09:24) When to hire overseas VAs vs U.S.-based EAs (11:48) Reverse-engineering net profit into KPIs and strategy (14:14) What business tune-up is all about (14:49) The ideal hiring order: EA, marketing, sales (16:22) Why TC is a sales-protection role (18:16) The real job of a title company vs a transaction coordinator (20:08) Why marketing needs an internal owner and not just agencies (23:49) Matt's advice when hiring an acquisitions manager (26:17) The structured hiring process Matt uses to filter A-players (28:56) Why onboarding and sales management matter as much as hiring (32:07) The true cost of a bad hire in acquisitions (37:12) The CEO only does three things: People, numbers, culture (38:34) “Two is one, one is none.” (40:43) Connect with Matt Viebrock Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors who are struggling with profitabilityBusiness owners who are unsure when or who to hire nextOperators building or rebuilding their sales teamWhy You Should Listen: If you are hiring out of pressure instead of clarity, this episode will help you slow down, start with the numbers, and build your team the right way. Connect with Matt Viebrock: Website: https://acquisitionreps.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattviebrock/ Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: https://beccfo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler Additional Resources: Matt's recommendation for TC: Atlas TC Services

    45 min

  6. JAN 20

    Episode 33: Why Most CPAs Won't Tell You About Self-Directed IRAs (And How They Work)

    Most investors are doing exactly what their CPA told them to do, and still paying far more in taxes than they should. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler joins the show to break down how self-directed IRAs and 401(k)s work, why most traditional CPAs never bring them up, and how real estate investors can use them to build long-term, tax-advantaged wealth. The conversation delves into real-world use cases, including private lending, real estate investing, Roth conversions, and the rules you absolutely cannot ignore. Listen and enjoy the show! You’ll Learn How To: Understand what a self-directed IRA really isUse retirement funds to invest in real estate and private lendingAvoid prohibited transactions that trigger penaltiesDecide when a Roth conversion actually makes senseWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: (02:41) Introducing Marcus Crigler and his approaches to accounting (05:14) Why tax strategy must happen before the year ends (08:28) What “self-directed” actually means for retirement accounts (09:25) Why real estate fits so well inside self-directed IRAs (11:53) When and how 401(k) money can be used for private lending (12:39) Why most W-2 employees can’t self-direct their 401(k) yet (17:03) When a Roth conversion is worth paying taxes upfront (22:02) The real friction points with self-directed accounts (26:51) Common IRS rules and prohibited transactions to avoid (29:27) What Financial Liberation University is and who it’s for (33:35) Connect with Marcus Crigler Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors who are tired of reactive tax planningInvestors who are curious about self-directed IRAs and Roth strategiesAnyone who wants more control over their retirement moneyWhy You Should Listen: If you’ve ever felt like your CPA only looks backward instead of helping you plan ahead, this episode will change how you think about taxes, retirement accounts, and long-term wealth strategy. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: https://beccfo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler

    35 min

  7. JAN 16

    Episode 32: If You're Not Getting 3X Return on People Cost, Your Business Won't Survive

    If you have a position that is salary only, you are going to get salary-only effort. You have to provide an upside for each position; it is mission-critical. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler breaks down one of the most important rules in business: your people costs must generate at least a 3X return, or the business eventually breaks. Listen as he explains how to measure return on people, why sales roles must outperform that benchmark, and how bad compensation structures kill good companies. Enjoy the show! You’ll Learn How To: Measure return on people cost the right wayStructure compensation plans that drive performanceUnderstand why sales roles must outperform support rolesAvoid overpaying while still rewarding great employeesWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: (02:57) Most businesses can’t survive without a 3X return on the people they spend (03:34) What counts as “people cost.” (04:29) Owners must include their own salary in the math (05:52) Revenue-generating roles vs support roles (06:38) Why sales teams often need a 5X return (07:53) Why total payroll should stay under one-third of revenue (10:09) How compensation plans create accountability (11:05) Every role in your company should be able to win when the business wins (12:32) Real examples of bonus structures for non-sales roles (13:30) How to structure comp plans for managers and executives (15:49) Why you can’t overpay a great employee Who This Episode Is For: Real estate entrepreneurs with growing teamsBusiness owners who are questioning their payroll and marginsOperators who are struggling to stay profitableLeaders who are redesigning compensation plansWhy You Should Listen: If payroll feels heavy, margins feel tight, or your team isn’t producing what you expected, this episode gives you a clear framework to fix it. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: https://beccfo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler

    19 min

  8. JAN 13

    Episode 31: How My Client's Tax Savings Paid for Their Entire $1.5M Car Wash Down Payment

    What if your tax savings could cover the down payment on your next investment? In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler breaks down a real client example where smart tax strategy, specifically cost segregation and bonus depreciation, generated over $300,000 in tax savings. Those savings didn’t just lower a tax bill; they paid for the entire down payment on a $1.5 million car wash. Listen as he explains why these assets work, how depreciation plays a role, and what real estate entrepreneurs should consider when looking beyond traditional property deals. You’ll Learn How To: Use depreciation to reduce your tax billTurn tax savings into investment capitalEvaluate alternative investments beyond traditional real estateCombine cash flow and tax strategy for faster wealth buildingWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: (02:06) Why alternative investments deserve a closer look (03:18) Investing in vending machines for cash flow and tax write-offs (05:32) How bonus depreciation boosts first-year returns (07:05) Why car washes can be powerful income-producing assets (08:09) How cost segregation works in simple terms (08:44) Breaking down the $1.5M car wash example (09:10) How tax savings covered the entire down payment (11:09) Why car washes hold up in any economy (12:09) Laundromats: Business with assets that can depreciate heavily in the first year (12:52) Using SBA loans and depreciation in laundromat deals Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors who are looking to lower taxesEntrepreneurs with high tax bills and high incomeInvestors who are curious about alternative asset classesBusiness owners wanting cash flow and tax leverageWhy You Should Listen: If you are paying big taxes every year and wondering how to turn that money into assets instead, this episode shows what’s possible when tax strategy and investing work together the right way. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: https://beccfo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler

    16 min
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Strength in Numbers with Marcus Crigler is the #1 podcast for real estate entrepreneurs who make good money but struggle with cash flow, tax planning, and building real wealth. If you're tired of living deal to deal, wondering where your money goes, and paying too much in taxes, this show will transform how you manage your real estate business finances.Host Marcus Crigler, CEO of BEC CFO Services, helps real estate investors escape financial stress by implementing proven wealth-building systems, advanced tax strategies, and cash flow management techniques that turn chaotic finances into predictable profit machines.Real estate wholesalers, fix and flip investors, and rental property owners making six or seven figures but still living paycheck to paycheck will discover how to stop constantly chasing the next deal. If you're overwhelmed by bookkeeping, financial management, and paying massive tax bills without knowing how to reduce them legally, you're ready to stop surviving and start building generational wealth.Every episode delivers actionable strategies on real estate tax planning, business cash flow optimization, wealth building for entrepreneurs, and financial systems that create freedom. Learn real estate tax deductions, legal tax avoidance strategies, cash flow forecasting, business budgeting for real estate investors, profit and loss analysis, entity structuring for tax benefits, and wealth building strategies beyond closing deals.Most real estate entrepreneurs focus on deal flow but ignore money flow. They hire accountants who only file taxes instead of providing proactive tax planning. Marcus shows you how to keep more of what you make, reduce your tax burden legally, and create financial systems that work whether you close one deal or ten deals per month.Listen to case studies of real estate investors who've saved $50K+ in taxes annually, built seven-figure net worth, and achieved financial freedom. Learn from entrepreneurs who've transformed their businesses from cash-hungry operations into wealth-generating machines.This isn't just spreadsheets and tax codes. It's about creating a real estate business that supports your lifestyle, reduces financial stress, and builds lasting wealth. Marcus addresses the mindset shifts, business systems, and financial habits that separate successful real estate entrepreneurs from those stuck in survival mode.If you like The BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Money Rahab with Nicole Lapin, The Dave Ramsey Show, or The Rich Dad Radio Show, you'll love Strength in Numbers.Subscribe now and join thousands of real estate professionals who've discovered that true wealth doesn’t come from closing more deals, but from keeping more of what you make. Stop living deal to deal. Start building wealth that lasts.

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