Strength in Numbers with Marcus Crigler

Marcus Crigler
  • 5.0 (57)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

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 104: The Debt That Builds Wealth vs. the Debt That Keeps You Broke

    When managed correctly, debt is one of the most powerful tools for accelerating real estate wealth. When mishandled, it acts as an anchor that will capsize everything you've built. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler demystifies the polarizing topic of debt, explaining exactly when you should leverage it and when it becomes a toxic liability. Marcus introduces the Debt Matrix, a clear framework for categorizing your liabilities into productive, unproductive, necessary, and lifestyle buckets. You'll learn the difference between good debt (debt that pays for itself) and bad debt (debt that drains your net worth), and why even necessary personal debt like your mortgage or car loan is technically stunting your financial growth. Listen and enjoy the show! You’ll Learn How To: Distinguish between good debt that multiplies your net worth and bad debt that drains itUse the four-quadrant Debt Matrix to evaluate whether a new loan is actually worth the riskAvoid the trap of lifestyle debt like financing luxury watches or vacation homesEvaluate whether paying off your personal home mortgage makes sense for your current wealth stageStructure your business to avoid getting trapped in the middle-class business erosion zone What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (0:00) Why you should never take out debt to fund lifestyle purchases like a Rolex (0:39) Why debt is like a knife and a tool that creates opportunity but can quickly ruin you (1:45) The exact definition of Good Debt (and why it must be tied to income generation) (2:20) Why your personal mortgage and auto loans are technically Bad Debt (3:11) The Four Categories of Investing (Productive, Unproductive, Necessary, and Lifestyle) (4:39) Using HELOCs or home equity to fund high-risk stock trades (5:45) Why determining whether to stay lean or scale large requires custom forecasting and KPIs Who This Episode Is For: Real estate entrepreneurs trying to determine if they are over-leveraged or under-leveragedInvestors holding personal debt (mortgages, auto loans) who are unsure when to pay it offBusiness owners looking to build a structured financial plan to safely scale their operations Why You Should Listen:  Debt is the ultimate financial multiplier, it multiplies both your wins and your losses. If you are operating without a clear philosophy on when and why you take on debt, you are relying on luck rather than strategy. This episode provides a grounded, math-based framework to help you analyze every liability on your balance sheet so you can intentionally build long-term wealth without taking on unnecessary risk. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: BEC CFO & CPALinkedIn: Marcus CriglerFacebook: Marcus Crigler

  2. 4d ago

    Episode 103: Why Your Lifestyle Is Growing Faster Than Your Net Worth

    It is easy to get trapped in a cycle of funding a luxury lifestyle before you actually have the wealth to support it. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler introduces the Investment Matrix, a powerful framework to help you categorize your assets and stop lifestyle creep from eroding your net worth. Marcus breaks down the difference between productive investments (assets intended to create more assets) and unproductive investments (assets intended to create more lifestyle). You will learn why most people get stuck funding their daily lives and skip straight to funding their luxury lifestyle, completely bypassing the crucial wealth-building phase. You’ll Learn How To: Distinguish between productive assets that build wealth and unproductive assets that fund lifestyle.Categorize your investments into necessary vs. unnecessary buckets using the Investment Matrix.Avoid the trap of investing in high-risk, high-return ventures just to afford your living expenses.Audit your current net worth and complete a wealth-setting tool with a powerful why behind it. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ​(0:00) Why you must earn your lifestyle through wealth building rather than taking a detour to it first ​(2:30) The definition of productive vs. unproductive investments ​(3:20) The definition of necessary vs. unnecessary investments ​(4:30) Examples of productive and necessary investments (401ks, real estate, and businesses) ​(5:35) Why your cars, houses, and cash reserves are classified as unproductive but necessary ​(6:55) The danger of parking your money in unproductive and unnecessary lifestyle assets like Rolexes and vacation homes ​(9:55) Why tracking your wealth every single quarter spurs action and drives financial change Who This Episode Is For: Real estate entrepreneurs who feel stuck between their daily living expenses and their desire for a luxury lifestyle.Business owners who want a clear, mathematical framework for categorizing their assets and tracking net worth. Why You Should Listen:  If you stay on the unproductive and unnecessary side of the investment matrix, you are doomed to a life of constantly striving for wealth but never achieving it. This episode provides the exact mental and financial tools required to stabilize your living expenses, focus on wealth-generating assets, and ultimately earn the lifestyle you desire. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: BEC CFO & CPALinkedIn: Marcus CriglerFacebook: Marcus Crigler.

  3. Oct 2

    Episode 102: The Real Estate Wealth Strategy Most Investors Get Wrong

    Many real estate investors treat their rental portfolios as set-it-and-forget-it investments, only to realize years later that their properties are draining cash rather than building wealth. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler breaks down the essential wealth-building fundamentals that most operators completely overlook. From cultivating deep lending relationships and mastering the mechanics of debt to avoiding the trap of "asset-class hopping," Marcus shares insights gathered from managing the backend financials of hundreds of high-performing real estate businesses. You'll also discover how to actively manage a supposedly "passive" portfolio using a quarterly Real Estate Owned (REO) schedule to maximize your true return on equity. You’ll Learn How To: Build strategic lending relationships that keep deals funded through changing credit cyclesMaster debt mechanics, swap rates, and loan structures to safely accelerate portfolio growthAvoid shiny object syndrome by specializing in a specific real estate asset classMitigate risk by mastering private capital raising before traditional banks tighten lendingLeverage a Real Estate Owned (REO) schedule quarterly to cut underperforming assets What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (0:00) Why chasing whatever asset class is "hot" destroys long-term wealth (0:53) Lessons from reviewing the backend financials of hundreds of real estate portfolios (1:42) The relationship game: Why lender networking is a mandatory operational requirement (2:36) Studying debt: Why understanding interest structures, swap rates, and bridge loans matters (3:35) The asset class trap: Why real estate is a broad category, not a single asset class (4:57) The real reason every investor must learn how to raise private capital (5:46) The oxymoron of wealth: Why passive portfolios must be actively managed (6:34) How an REO (Real Estate Owned) schedule reveals your true return on equity (7:53) Dialing in conversion metrics and fundamentals when the market shifts Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors seeking to transition from transactional deals to scalable long-term wealthRental property owners who have never audited their actual return on equity using an REO scheduleOperators looking to build resilient lending relationships and capital-raising strategies Why You Should Listen:  Passive real estate investing does not mean passive management. If you don't understand the debt instruments you sign or monitor how your equity is performing across every property you own, your assets will quietly turn into liabilities. This episode provides the exact financial playbook needed to analyze your holdings, optimize your lending, and build real estate wealth with intention. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: BEC CFO & CPALinkedIn: Marcus CriglerFacebook: Marcus Crigler

  4. Sep 29

    Episode 101: This LLC Mistake Cost Him Hundreds of Thousands in Taxes

    Are you still running your real estate business out of a single LLC or Sole Proprietorship? Have you started throwing rental properties into your flipping S-Corp to save on paperwork? If so, you are laying a foundation that could trigger hundreds of thousands of dollars in irreversible tax penalties. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler and Kaden Hackney reveal the devastating entity structure mistakes that consistently blow up real estate investors' tax bills. They break down the Optimized Entity Structure, explaining exactly when a wholesaling business should switch to an S-Corp, the lethal danger of holding long-term rentals in an S-Corp, and why simple legal maneuvers to achieve anonymity can accidentally trigger massive tax events. Listen and enjoy the show! You’ll Learn How To: Avoid the fatal mistake of mixing active flipping income and passive rental properties in the same LLCDetermine the exact revenue threshold ($50k-$100k) where switching to an S-Corp will save you five figures in taxes annuallyUnderstand how the IRS Dealer Status classification can destroy your ability to 1031 exchange propertiesDodge the catastrophic Basis Trap that permanently locks up your real estate write-offs inside an S-CorpBuild an Optimized Entity Structure org chart that protects your assets and slashes your tax liability What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (0:00) How a simple LLC structure maneuver cost an investor hundreds of thousands in taxes (5:50) The IRS deadlines you must know for fixing your entity structure before year-end (8:59) Why moving properties between entities for legal protection often triggers massive, irreversible tax bills (13:27) Why operating as a Sole Proprietorship forces you to pay a 15% self-employment penalty (17:19) When exactly you should elect S-Corp status (the $50k to $100k rule) (18:27) How to correctly funnel your income using W-2 wages and K-1 distributions to dodge self-employment tax (19:22) Why holding rentals in your active flipping entity gets you slapped with Dealer Status and ruins your 1031 exchanges (21:13) Why your real estate losses get trapped and cash-out refinances become taxable (25:32) How an IRS clerical error saved an investor with $10 Million in an S-Corp from absolute disaster Who This Episode Is For: Real estate flippers and wholesalers currently operating as Sole Proprietors or basic LLCsInvestors buying rental properties who are unsure how to separate their active and passive entitiesEntrepreneurs preparing for a cash-out refinance who need to avoid triggering a surprise tax bill Why You Should Listen:  Entity structure is the foundation of all real estate wealth. If your foundation is cracked, no advanced tax strategy will save you. If you are buying, selling, or holding real estate in an entity structure you chose by default, you are likely overpaying in taxes or setting a trap that will lock up your equity. By listening to this episode, you will learn how to structure your active and passive businesses exactly like the wealthy do. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: BEC CFO & CPALinkedIn: Marcus CriglerFacebook: Marcus Crigler

  5. Sep 25

    Episode 100: How to Become Your Own Bank as a Real Estate Investor with Ken Majmudar

    Are you putting 100% of your wealth into your real estate business while ignoring the rest of the investment world? Many real estate entrepreneurs have wealth on paper, but lack the true liquidity required to weather market cycles. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler sits down with Ken Majmudar, Harvard Law grad, former Wall Street investment banker, and current wealth manager overseeing $300 million in assets. Ken explains the critical difference between being a real estate entrepreneur and being a true investor, and why having all your eggs in one cyclical basket is a recipe for disaster. You will learn Ken's proprietary A.L.E.R.T. wealth-tracking framework, why liquidity is the most underappreciated lever in business, and the exact strategy you can use to borrow against a stock portfolio to fund your real estate flips tax-free. You’ll Learn How To: Stop confusing entrepreneurship (running a real estate business) with true, diversified investingImplement the A.L.E.R.T. Framework (Assets, Liabilities, Liquidity, Risk, Taxes) to track your wealthCreate true liquidity so you never get caught scrambling during a real estate market downturnDollar-cost average into index funds or ETFs if you generate steady monthly business cash flowBecome Your Own Bank by leveraging a stock portfolio to fund your real estate deals tax-free What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (00:00) The danger of limiting your investments strictly to what you know best (06:23) Why entrepreneurship is only for some, but wealth-building and investing is for everyone (10:05) The real reason real estate investors are terrified of the stock market (and why it's unjustified) (14:19) Why owning a real estate business is not the same thing as being an investor (15:55) The A.L.E.R.T. Framework and the 5-lever dashboard for proactive wealth management (19:54) Why refusing to pay a wealth advisor or CPA could be costing you 40% of your net worth in leaks (24:46) How to allocate $10k-$15k a month in business cash flow into traditional investments (26:45) How a $500k nest egg compounded into an $8M portfolio (and created a $5M line of credit) (29:05) The sophisticated investor's secret: Borrowing against your stock portfolio to avoid taxes Who This Episode Is For: Real estate entrepreneurs and wholesalers looking to diversify their wealth outside of real estateInvestors who are tired of being cash-poor despite having millions in property equityHigh-income earners seeking tax-advantaged ways to be their own bank and self-fund deals Why You Should Listen: Real estate is a cyclical, highly illiquid asset class. If you reinvest every dollar you make back into your real estate business, you are completely exposed to the next market correction. By listening to this episode, you will learn how to build true wealth that exists outside of your business operations. Ken reveals exactly how to build a liquid, compounding portfolio that you can borrow against to become your own hard money lender. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: BEC CFO & CPALinkedIn: Marcus CriglerFacebook: Marcus Crigler Connect with Ken Majmudar: Website: Ridgewood InvestmentsLinkedIn: Ken MajmudarInstagram: @kenmajmudar

  6. Sep 22

    Episode 99: The 3 Bank Accounts Every Real Estate Business Should Have

    Are you generating revenue in your real estate business, but constantly feeling stressed about where your cash actually went when a sudden opportunity arises? Without a proper cash management structure, even successful real estate entrepreneurs can feel broke. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler and Kaden Hackney break down Part 2 of the (Cash Discipline System), revealing the exact three bank accounts every real estate business needs to operate with total clarity and peace of mind. Marcus and Kaden explain why keeping too many sub-accounts causes a system to fail, how a proper reserve account transforms your ability to seize sudden deals without stress, and the simple 5-minute framework for reading your monthly financial statements. Plus, get expert advice on year-end tax strategy timelines and what to look for on your P&L and Balance Sheet. Enjoy the show! You’ll Learn How To: Structure the 3 essential bank accounts (Operating, Tax, and Reserve) to gain total financial controlMaintain optimal capital levels in your operating account to avoid constant cash callsSafely siphon away funds for taxes before they get accidentally spent on operationsGrow a reserve account that funds unexpected opportunities and gives you ultimate peace of mindAnalyze your balance sheet and P&L in just 5 minutes using a streamlined, high-level framework What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (00:00) How proper cash discipline transformed a real estate entrepreneur's business and peace of mind (07:59) The power of saying "no" to good deals to protect your liquidity and long-term stability (13:58) The Operating Account and why you should avoid overcomplicating with too many sub-buckets (18:10) The Tax Account and why setting aside capital is essential even when buying real estate (18:43) The Reserve Account and how building a 6-month runway changes your decision-making (22:21) What real estate investors need to do right now for year-end tax savings (24:58) A simple 5-minute framework for reading your Balance Sheet and P&L statements Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors, flippers, and wholesalers who struggle with cash visibility despite generating strong revenueEntrepreneurs tired of feeling stressed or broke despite having equity on paperBusiness owners who want a simple, repeatable framework for managing operational and tax cash flow Why You Should Listen:  Cash flow chaos is one of the leading killers of growing real estate businesses. If you are constantly scrambling for capital or guessing where your money went, you are operating without a system. By listening to this episode, you will learn the exact three-account architecture required to secure your tax liabilities, fund your operations seamlessly, and build the financial reserves needed to sleep soundly at night. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: BEC CFO & CPALinkedIn: Marcus CriglerFacebook: Marcus Crigler

  7. Sep 18

    Episode 98: How Much Should You Actually Pay Yourself From Your Business

    Many real estate investors believe they should only pay themselves after the business is profitable. According to Marcus Crigler and Kaden Hackney, this is the exact reason why 90% of entrepreneurs never build actual wealth. Marcus breaks down Part 1 of the Cash Discipline System, explaining why the business owner is the most important person to feed and how to mathematically determine your exact monthly salary. You will learn how to build personal cash reserves, why you should only take profit distributions quarterly, and the One-Way Gate rule that permanently protects your family's finances from your business's volatility. Enjoy the show! You’ll Learn How To: Calculate the exact monthly salary you need to pull from your business (Actual Living Expenses x 1.2)Stop intermingling your personal and business bank accountsBuild a 3 to 6-month personal cash reserve to protect your familyEstablish a consistent payout rhythm to avoid cash flow panic at homeImplement the One-Way Gate rule to prevent your personal funds from bailing out business mistakes What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (01:33) Why having millions in real estate equity can still leave you feeling completely broke (06:51) The myth of paying yourself last and why the business owner must get fed first (08:58) The exact mathematical formula for calculating your required owner's salary (12:00) Why your family should not have to suffer the financial ups and downs of entrepreneurship (16:09) How to stack a proper $36k to $72k personal reserve cushion (18:43) The defining difference between a true entrepreneur and a gambler (20:47) Why you must establish a strict weekly or bi-weekly cadence for your owner's draw (21:30) Why real estate investors must take profit distributions quarterly instead of monthly (22:30) The One-Way Gate rule and why money taken out of the business should never go back in Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors, wholesalers, and flippers making $300,000 to $5M a yearEntrepreneurs struggling to pay themselves a consistent, predictable salaryBusiness owners ready to stop funding business emergencies with their personal savings Why You Should Listen:  Running a business without a cash discipline system starves the most important asset, which is you. If your personal finances are chaotic, your business decisions will be driven by desperation. By listening to this episode, you will learn the step-by-step formula to secure your personal income, build an impenetrable reserve cushion, and create a healthy separation between your family’s livelihood and your company’s balance sheet. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: BEC CFO & CPALinkedIn: Marcus CriglerFacebook: Marcus Crigler

  8. Sep 15

    Episode 97: Why Your Real Estate Deals Aren’t Making What You Think

    Does your gut tell you that your real estate deals are highly profitable, but your bank account completely disagrees? Revenue does not equal profitability, and profitability does not equal cash flow. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler brings on his very own Accounting Director, Melissa Dickens, to expose exactly why your deals are leaking money and how bad accounting is likely to blame. Melissa breaks down the unique complexities of real estate accounting, why keeping a spreadsheet of your rehab costs is completely useless if it doesn't reconcile with your official books, and the exact areas where most real estate investors are bleeding cash without even knowing it. You will also learn what a healthy, collaborative relationship with an accountant actually looks like (small hint, they shouldn’t just be a storage facility for your receipts). Enjoy the show! You’ll Learn How To: Stop confusing top-line revenue with actual, bottom-line profitability and cash flowTrack your profitability down to the exact property (not just the overall LLC)Reconcile your internal rehab spreadsheets with your official accounting softwareIdentify the hidden leaks in your business (like poor debt management and excessive subscriptions)Build a highly collaborative and profitable relationship with your accounting team What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (02:47) Melissa’s journey from hospitality to virtual real estate accounting (07:14) Why a business can have massive revenue but still be completely broke (08:10) Why waiting until tax season to review your financials is the worst mistake you can make (10:05) The importance of By-Deal Clarity and why tracking the LLC is not enough (11:41) Why your project managers are giving you inaccurate rehab cost estimates (14:05) Why real estate is arguably the most difficult industry for accountants to navigate (18:17) Where investors are losing the most money (poor expense tracking, late fees, and debt) (23:17) How to treat your accountant like a management partner instead of a receipt storage facility Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors, flippers, and wholesalers who feel a disconnect between their revenue and their bank accountBusiness owners looking to transition from gut-feeling financial tracking to actual dataAnyone struggling to track the exact profitability of individual properties or deals Why You Should Listen: In real estate, numbers do not lie, but spreadsheets often do. If you are managing your rehab costs and property profits on a side spreadsheet that doesn't perfectly reconcile with your accounting software, you are operating blindly. By listening to this episode, you will learn exactly how to tighten up your cost-tracking, identify hidden cash leaks across your portfolio, and establish the level of financial clarity required to actually build lasting wealth. Connect with Marcus Crigler: Website: BEC CFO & CPALinkedIn: Marcus CriglerFacebook: 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.

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