Rigs to Riches

Casey Gregersen

From oilfields to financial freedom. Rigs to Riches is all about helping hardworking W2 earners—especially in oil & gas—build true wealth through strategic real estate investing. Follow along for real deals, creative financing, and the unfiltered journey from the rig to real estate riches.

  1. EP16: How to Build a Remote Real Estate Empire in 44 States & Survive a Market Crash

    21h ago

    EP16: How to Build a Remote Real Estate Empire in 44 States & Survive a Market Crash

    Most investors are afraid to buy a property two towns over—Paul Lizell has bought in 44 different states. In this deep-dive episode, Paul breaks down the "Virtual Investor" model, showing you how to leverage REO agents and online auction platforms to find deals anywhere in the country while working a full-time job.What you’ll learn in this episode:The 2008 Survival Guide: How Paul paid back every private lender after the crash to protect his reputation and future funding.The "Unicorn Agent" Strategy: How to find high-performing REO agents using HUD Home Store to act as your boots on the ground.The Co-Living (PadSplit) Pivot: Why converting single-family homes into 8-bedroom co-living spaces is doubling his cash flow in Florida.Remote Underwriting: Paul’s exact process for vetting a deal in a brand-new market without ever visiting the property.Bitcoin as a Wealth Hedge: Why Paul is dollar-cost averaging into Bitcoin and borrowing against it to fund more real estate.🏔️ JOIN THE REVIVE NETWORK:We are on a mission to help 1,000 families reach financial freedom. If you’re a high-performer ready to stop trading your time for a paycheck and start building a legacy like Ryan and Casey, apply today.👉 Apply for the Revive Network or the Revive Summit here: https://go.caseygregersen.com/join-re... INVEST PASSIVELY WITH BIGHORN CAPITAL FUND:If you're a high-W2 earner who wants real estate exposure without operating the deals yourself, this is the path we built for you. Apply to invest and let's see if we're a fit.👉 Apply here: [Link in Bio/Description]Connect with Paul:Instagram:   / paullizell  Website: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast....Connect with Casey Gregersen:Instagram: @caseygregersenWebsite: bighorncapitalfund.com🎙️ Subscribe to Rigs to Riches — the podcast for oil & gas professionals and high-W2 earners building real estate wealth.

    50 min
  2. EP15: Chai Phansalkar - The W-2 to GP Pivot Most People Never Make

    1d ago

    EP15: Chai Phansalkar - The W-2 to GP Pivot Most People Never Make

    Most people want the freedom of being their own boss, but few are willing to walk away from the certainty of a steady paycheck. In this episode of Rigs to Riches, Casey Gregersen sits down with Chai Phansalkar, a real estate operator and GP who left the W-2 world to build his own portfolio from the ground up. Chai shares the unfiltered reality of the pivot — the fear, the first deals, and the lessons that only show up once your own money is on the line. In this episode, we dive into: The Leap: Why the salary was the easy part to leave behind. The First Deals: How early wins built confidence — and how the losses sharpened the operator inside him. The Mindset Shift: The internal change most W-2 earners never make, and why it's the real barrier to entry. The W-2 Advantage: Why your paycheck isn't the trap you think it is — it's actually your biggest weapon when you know how to use it. The Long Game: Building a team, scaling beyond your own time, and what Chai would tell himself on day one. 🚀 INVEST PASSIVELY WITH BIGHORN CAPITAL FUND:If you're a high-W2 earner who wants real estate exposure without operating the deals yourself, this is the path we built for you. Apply to invest and let's see if we're a fit. 👉 Apply here: [Link in Bio/Description] Connect with Chai Phansalkar: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiphansal... Website: https://stepup-capital.com/?utm_sourc... Connect with Casey Gregersen: Instagram: @caseygregersen Website: bighorncapitalfund.com 🎙️ Subscribe to Rigs to Riches — the podcast for oil & gas professionals and high-W2 earners building real estate wealth.

    43 min
  3. EP14: Tim Bratz - Why I Sold 5,000 Units to Buy Back My Time

    2d ago

    EP14: Tim Bratz - Why I Sold 5,000 Units to Buy Back My Time

    Most people want the "hockey stick" growth curve, but few are willing to endure the 20-year lead-up. In this episode of Rigs to Riches, Casey Gregersen sits down with Tim Bratz of Legacy Wealth Holdings. Tim reveals the raw reality of scaling a massive real estate empire, from his first $14k flip to managing a portfolio of over 5,000 units—and why he eventually chose to scale back. In this episode, we dive into: The 3-Year Principle: Why most investors quit right before the harvest. The Portfolio Trim: Why the bottom 10% of your units are killing your growth. Controlling the Controllables: Transitioning from 3rd-party to in-house management. The Future of Affordable Housing: Why 1970s/80s vintage assets are a goldmine. The Wake-Up Call: How a phone call from his daughter changed how he views "success." WANNA LEARN IN PERSON? 🔥 If you want to hear more stories like this and learn the exact strategies we use to scale, our next Revive Summit is coming up very soon! Don’t miss your chance to get in the room with investors like Tim Bratz. 🔗 Check the link in bio to register for the Revive Summit! CONNECT WITH CASEY GREGERSEN: 🎙️ Rigs to Riches Podcast:    / @caseygregersen   🌐 Revive Summit: https://caseygregersen.com/events/ 📧 www.caseygregersen.com Connect with Tim Bratz: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timbratz?ig... Website: www.smartmanagement.com LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult with qualified tax and financial professionals before making investment decisions. Tax benefits discussed are general guidelines; individual situations vary.

    53 min
  4. EP13: Oil & Gas Investing for EVERYONE? 🛢️💰 How Tokenization Changes the Game!

    2d ago

    EP13: Oil & Gas Investing for EVERYONE? 🛢️💰 How Tokenization Changes the Game!

    Have you ever dreamed of "mailbox money" from oil and gas but felt priced out? 📬💸 Traditionally, these deals required six-figure minimums, but Tokenized Energy is changing the rules. In this deep dive, Chip and Adrian break down how blockchain is opening doors for everyone: The Access Problem: Why oil and gas has been hard for the average person to enter [04:15]. What is Tokenization? Moving beyond "crypto" to digital stock certificates backed by real-world assets [13:03]. Low Barrier to Entry: How you can start investing in major operators like ConocoPhillips with as little as $500 [06:33]. Stablecoin Distributions: The magic of getting paid in USDC directly to your digital wallet [14:02]. Risk vs. Reward: Understanding the difference between new drills, PDP (producing assets), and royalties [23:01]. Tax Advantages: How intangible drilling costs (IDC) and depletion can benefit your bottom line [21:47]. Don't wait for a quarter-million-dollar check to start your energy portfolio! 🚀🛢️ CONNECT WITH CASEY GREGERSEN: 🎙️ Rigs to Riches Podcast:    / @caseygregersen   🌐 Revive Summit: https://caseygregersen.com/events/ 📧 www.caseygregersen.com CONNECT WITH Adrian and Chip: https://www.tokenizedenergy.com LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult with qualified tax and financial professionals before making investment decisions. Tax benefits discussed are general guidelines; individual situations vary.

    59 min
  5. EP12: Building a Real Estate Empire with Your Spouse: Vin & Michelle’s Secret

    2d ago

    EP12: Building a Real Estate Empire with Your Spouse: Vin & Michelle’s Secret

    New Episode: Rigs to Riches with Vin & Michelle! 🎙️🏠 What happens when a 22-year real estate veteran and a construction-pro-turned-investor join forces? You get a masterclass in Debt Investing and relationship building. Vin and Michelle aren't just doing deals; they are changing the game for "Main Street" investors. By leveraging fractional models, they’re helping families get their capital working with lower entry points and high-impact results. In this episode, we dive into: ✅ How to shift your mindset from "borrowing" to "providing opportunity." ✅ Why "Debt Investing" is the ultimate hands-off play for busy professionals. ✅ Building a legacy through impact-driven real estate. 🔥 WANNA LEARN IN PERSON? 🔥 If you want to hear more stories like this and learn the exact strategies we use to scale, our next Revive Summit is coming up very soon! Don’t miss your chance to get in the room with investors like Vin and Michelle. 🔗 Check the link in bio to register for the Revive Summit! CONNECT WITH CASEY GREGERSEN: 🎙️ Rigs to Riches Podcast:    / @caseygregersen   🌐 Revive Summit: https://caseygregersen.com/events/ 📧 www.caseygregersen.com CONNECT WITH Vin and Michele: https://michelleandvin.com/ LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult with qualified tax and financial professionals before making investment decisions. Tax benefits discussed are general guidelines; individual situations vary.

    1h 7m
  6. EP11: Jimmy Vreeland on Applying Ranger Discipline to a $2.5M Real Estate Mission

    2d ago

    EP11: Jimmy Vreeland on Applying Ranger Discipline to a $2.5M Real Estate Mission

    Think you need a six-figure salary to buy your first home or start investing in real estate? Think again. In this video, we’re breaking down the exact roadmap to homeownership and wealth building for anyone earning between $40,000 and $60,000 a year. Most people are told to "just save more," but on a modest salary, inflation moves faster than your savings account. We’re flipping the script by looking at the "Burky" Method (Buy, Rehab, Refinance, Keep) and how to leverage passive investing through networks like Revive to bridge the gap. The Burky Strategy: How to get into a home with $10k-$20k instead of $50k. The "Forgotten Man" Advantage: Why the government actually rewards investors in your income bracket. Passive Accelerants: Using the Revive Network to make your money work while you keep your W2. The 10-Year Plan: How 2 houses a year leads to $2.5M in equity. [Timestamps] 00:00 - The $40k-$60k Homebuying Myth 04:20 - Why your W2 is your "Cash Machine" 09:48 - Passive vs. Active: When to start flipping 26:46 - The "Burky" Method Explained 33:50 - Your Patriotic Duty: Leveraging Government Loans CONNECT WITH CASEY GREGERSEN: 🎙️ Rigs to Riches Podcast:    / @caseygregersen   🌐 Revive Summit: https://caseygregersen.com/events/ 📧 www.caseygregersen.com CONNECT WITH Jimmy Vreeland: https://jimmyvreeland.com/   / jimmyvreeland85   LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult with qualified tax and financial professionals before making investment decisions. Tax benefits discussed are general guidelines; individual situations vary.

    53 min
  7. EP10: Leon Barnes on Shifting from "The Grind" to an Unstoppable Mission

    2d ago

    EP10: Leon Barnes on Shifting from "The Grind" to an Unstoppable Mission

    "When you focus on leadership, you grow people instead of growing businesses. And when you grow people, businesses automatically grow." In Episode 10 of Rigs to Riches, Casey Gregersen sits down with Leon Barnes, a staple of the Collective Genius community and a powerhouse in the real estate world. Leon shares his journey from an 11-year corporate career to becoming a leader who manages a massive real estate portfolio while coaching youth sports and prioritizing his family. Building a dream team isn't easy. As Casey and Leon discuss, the road to recruiting and finding the right people is often paved with challenges. But when you find that alignment, you become unstoppable. This episode is a masterclass in shifting from "the grind" to having a true impact on other families and helping them craft the life they’ve dreamed of. In this episode, we dive into:The "Cash Machine" Strategy: Why you should stay in your W2 longer than you think. Recruiting the Right Seats: The struggle of finding "your people" and why it’s worth it. Leadership over Systems: Why A-players won’t follow B and C leaders. The Dad Hat vs. Coach Hat: How Leon balances his "ministry" of coaching basketball with high-level business. The Collective Genius: Behind the scenes of the nation’s top real estate mastermind. Connect with Leon Barnes: Website: The Collective GeniusConnect with Casey Gregersen: Instagram: @caseygregersen Website: Gregersen Properties Timestamps: [00:00] Leadership grows people, not businesses. [01:44] Introduction to Leon Barnes and the Collective Genius. [05:20] Why high active income is the fastest way to passive wealth. [08:14] The "unspoken" truth about rental property expenses. [13:30] Leon’s transition from corporate advertising to real estate. [20:25] Curating a "Go-Giving" culture in high-level masterminds. [24:35] Why A-players leave B and C leaders. [34:00] Using coaching as a ministry and life lesson for your kids. [48:15] Scheduling quality time: The secret to marriage balance. [54:30] The "Dad Hat" vs. "Coach Hat" distinction. CONNECT WITH CASEY GREGERSEN: 🎙️ Rigs to Riches Podcast:    / @caseygregersen   🌐 Revive Summit: https://caseygregersen.com/events/ 📧 www.caseygregersen.com CONNECT WITH Leon: https://www.instagram.com/leongbarnes... LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult with qualified tax and financial professionals before making investment decisions. Tax benefits discussed are general guidelines; individual situations vary.

    1h 3m
  8. EP09: Math Brain vs. Sales Machine – Steve Trang’s Framework for the AI Era

    2d ago

    EP09: Math Brain vs. Sales Machine – Steve Trang’s Framework for the AI Era

    In this episode, Casey sits down with Steve Trang, founder of Real Estate Disruptors, to discuss how his engineering background helped him "reverse engineer" the sales process. Engineering to Real Estate: Steve explains how he left a cushy job at Intel in 2007, right before the market crash, and realized that being "smart" was actually a hindrance in sales [03:04]. The Logic Trap: Steve breaks down why mathematical and logical arguments fail when buying houses, and why you must tap into the seller's emotions to win [08:02]. The Power of NLP: A deep dive into Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and how to use "hypnotic selling" to get sellers to negotiate against themselves [24:06]. The AI Revolution: Steve reveals his goal to have an AI bot capable of buying a house over the phone by 2026 and why he has a "dystopian" outlook on the future of employment [32:45]. Asymmetric Bets: Steve discusses the concept of "low downside, high upside" investments, using Richard Branson’s founding of Virgin Atlantic as the ultimate example [46:58]. CONNECT WITH CASEY GREGERSEN: 🎙️ Rigs to Riches Podcast:    @caseygregersen   🌐 Revive Summit: https://caseygregersen.com/events/ 📧 www.caseygregersen.com CONNECT WITH STEVE TRANG: @steve.trang LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult with qualified tax and financial professionals before making investment decisions. Tax benefits discussed are general guidelines; individual situations vary.

    51 min

About

From oilfields to financial freedom. Rigs to Riches is all about helping hardworking W2 earners—especially in oil & gas—build true wealth through strategic real estate investing. Follow along for real deals, creative financing, and the unfiltered journey from the rig to real estate riches.