Strength in Numbers with Marcus Crigler

If you are a full-time real estate investor doing 10 deals a month and you want to get to 20, you need to get in a room with someone doing 20.

In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler sits down with Leon Barnes, VP of Membership at The Collective Genius, to break down what a mastermind really does.

Listen as he shares how Collective Genius grew from a single-tier group of 100+ operators to over 500 members across four tiers, and why most entrepreneurs think they need more strategies when what they actually need is better systems, stronger leadership, and the right room.

Enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Choose the right room for your current level of business
• Focus on revenue-producing activities
• Use peer groups as protection against regulatory and market shifts
• Build leadership systems that support long-term growth

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(02:32) How Leon went from corporate sales to real estate operator to CG leadership

(09:27) Joining Collective Genius and were humbled fast

(11:38) Growing from 100+ members to 500+

(14:24) Attracting the individual you wanted to attract

(17:05) What a mastermind actually is and why most investors misunderstand it

(19:14) Why you should be in a room slightly ahead of you

(22:28) How CG monitors the “pulse” of the industry in real time

(24:03) The growing regulatory pressure on wholesalers and investors

(28:05) Real examples of laws that could shut businesses down overnight

(31:27) The real “secret sauce” members want right now

(34:25) Entrepreneur vs. business owner

(36:37) The "gunslinger" trap

(39:11) The “Valley of Death” most operators hit in years 3–5

(41:52) Get around like-minded individuals

(43:13) The simple acquisition metrics that drive predictable growth

(45:15) Why CEOs are back to running appointments

(47:11) How to make better decisions using your own board of advisors

(49:17) Connect with Leon Barnes

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate investors who want to level up
• Operators who are stuck in the hustle phase
• Entrepreneurs navigating market shifts
• Investors considering joining a mastermind

Why You Should Listen:

If you want better decisions, better systems, and better long-term results, this episode will show you why you shouldn’t try to build alone.

Connect with Leon Barnes:

• Website: https://go.thecollectivegenius.com/explorecgmembership/ 
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leon-barnes-79a71652 

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

• Website: https://beccfo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler 

In this episode of the Strength in Numbers podcast, David Shaw shares how he went from international real estate development to scaling a high-volume fix-and-flip business and eventually transitioning into private lending. But the real takeaway isn’t just the evolution of his business but the philosophy behind it.

Listen as he breaks down the simple wealth formula that every real estate investor needs to understand. He also explains why lifestyle matters more than ego, the investor avatar that should shape your business decisions, and the Deferred Sales Trust to simplify your portfolio while compounding returns in the long term.

Enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Use debt strategically to accelerate wealth
• Build scale the right way in a buy-and-hold portfolio
• Turn active income into long-term passive income
• Simplify your portfolio without triggering massive taxes

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(02:38) Introducing David Shaw and his background

(04:54) How David made more money passively than his corporate job and decided to go all in

(06:57) Scaling a fix-and-flip business

(07:42) Why lifestyle has always been the priority

(10:36) How investors naturally evolve through different financial phases

(12:24) Why owning too many small rentals eventually creates fatigue

(13:27) Lending produced higher returns than rentals

(16:29) Making money vs managing money

(18:30) Why most investors eventually transition into lending

(21:00) Designing your life first, then building the business around it

(23:01) The real monthly income number most families need

(26:21) The rule of 5 million bucks

(30:53) The wealth formula: Debt × Time × Scale

(31:35) Debt is the real asset

(35:14) How a Deferred Sales Trust works and why he’s using it

(41:29) Pivoting quickly when interest rates killed the flip model

(42:46) Listening to your investor base instead of forcing a product

(46:23) Success is a marathon, not a sprint

(49:16) The key to better decisions: educate yourself

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate investors who are focused on buy-and-hold wealth
• Fix-and-flippers who are thinking about their long-term exit
• Entrepreneurs who want freedom
• Anyone building toward financial independence through real estate

Why You Should Listen:

David’s story is a full-cycle example of what a real estate career can look like, from hustle to expansion, to passive income to strategic investing.

Connect with David Shaw:

• Website: https://fullcyclefunding.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidshaw_rei/ 

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

• Website: https://beccfo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler 

When things are great, everybody likes to stare at the P&L because it looks pretty. Revenue is up, profit looks solid, and things feel good. But according to Marcus Crigler, that’s exactly when entrepreneurs get into trouble.

In this episode, he breaks down why the real danger isn’t on your profit and loss statement, but it’s on your balance sheet. Specifically, it’s your cash position and liquidity that determine whether you stay secure or slide backward into survival mode.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Improve your liquidity and current ratio
• Avoid skipping the “secure” phase before expanding
• Know when to slow down and strengthen your foundation
• Use a CFO to make forward-looking decisions

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(03:18) What Marcus is seeing in today’s capital markets

(05:28) Buy-and-hold looks different with today’s interest rates

(06:44) Shorter hold times and lower risk strategies in uncertain markets

(08:05) More equity is required in today’s deals

(11:22) Marcus on financing real estate properties

(14:06) The market’s shift toward strengthening balance sheets

(14:43) What the current ratio is and why it matters

(16:16) The four phases: Hustle → Secure → Expand → Exit

(16:56) The secure phase is the most overlooked step

(19:02) The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make before expanding

(20:02) How bad debt keeps you stuck in a cycle

(23:32) Important role of a good CFO

(25:06) Why you need a KPI dashboard with green, yellow, red indicators

(28:51) Why you can’t delegate wealth building to a financial advisor

(30:20) Understanding the tax consequences of investments matters

(30:53) The fear entrepreneurs face during exit

(33:21) The expand phase is the right time to prepare for exit

(55:39) The power of masterminds and surrounding yourself with strong operators

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs who are focused on revenue but tight on cash
• Business owners who are preparing to scale
• Operators who have grown quickly but lack financial structure
• Entrepreneurs thinking about long-term wealth and exit

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is a reminder that real wealth is built on a strong foundation. If you skip the secure phase, ignore liquidity, or expand without structure, you risk undoing years of progress.

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

• Website: https://beccfo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler 

The people who win in the business think and live in net, they don't talk about gross. They live in simplicity, not complexity, and they treat hustle as a season, not a lifestyle.

In this episode, Marcus sits down with Tom Krol to unpack a hard truth most entrepreneurs don’t want to hear: if you don’t know how to keep money, earning more of it will only amplify the problem.

This conversation goes deep into money habits, pressure, scaling myths, stewardship, diversification, and why most entrepreneurs are chasing the wrong metrics.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Stop obsessing over gross revenue and start thinking in net
• Avoid the “income trap” that keeps entrepreneurs stuck
• Use simple allocation instead of complicated budgeting
• Build wealth without scaling yourself into stress

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(02:43) Who is Tom Krol?

(04:28) The biggest mistake young entrepreneurs make with money

(05:55) Data, not drama: Why your P&L tells the real story

(09:27) Being a good steward of money

(11:02) Tom’s personal wealth allocation model (50-20-20-5-5)

(12:15) Why diversification matters

(13:39) Debt is often misunderstood

(14:15) Speak, think, and live in the net

(17:15) The number one predictor of entrepreneurial success

(17:46) The difference between success and wealth

(23:15) Most online flexing is financial smoke and mirrors

(24:19) Hustle is a season, not a permanent identity

(28:06) You can’t exit hustle without mastering money basics

(28:59) The shift from chasing and convincing to attracting and repelling

(31:18) Scale vs leads

(32:28) What makes someone a great coach

(36:27) Coaching business is more scalable, sellable, and profitable

(39:10) Things to consider if you want to be a coach

(41:23) The simple daily order of operations: Revenue → Fulfillment → KPIs

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate investors who are stuck in the "make more” cycle
• Entrepreneurs who are scaling revenue but not building wealth
• Business owners living deal-to-deal
• Coaches or aspiring coaches who want to build it the right way

Why You Should Listen:

If your lifestyle rises with your income, you’ll always feel behind. But if you master allocation, stewardship, and simplicity, you can build real wealth without building a monster business that owns your life.

Connect with Tom Krol:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coaching_inc/ 
• Website: https://coachinginc.com/ 

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

• Website: https://beccfo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler 

Most real estate entrepreneurs expand too fast and pay for it later. They add expenses, hire people, and scale operations before their cash position can support it.

In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler breaks down the 3X Rule: why you should have at least three times your fixed monthly expenses in cash before you expand.

He explains how skipping this step can lead to stress, poor decisions, and fragile businesses, and why cash is essential for growth.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Build a cash buffer that protects your business
• Decide when you are actually ready to expand
• Stop confusing expenses with growth
• Think about spending as ROI

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(03:43) What tax strategy really is

(06:49) Why year-end tax scrambling no longer works

(07:53) Understanding marginal vs effective tax rates

(10:15) The simplest bookkeeping setup for new investors

(11:31) Separating personal and business finances is non-negotiable

(14:43) How experienced operators are shifting in today’s market

(17:26) Flipping remains essential to housing supply

(21:15) When new construction actually makes sense

(24:53) Cash creates opportunity in every market

(26:04) Smart places investors are parking cash today

(28:18) The four phases of business: Hustle, Secure, Expand, Exit

(29:15) You are not a real business owner until you pay yourself consistently

(30:19) The 3X Rule explained using real numbers

(31:45) “Low is smooth. Smooth is fast.”

(32:27) How ROI thinking simplifies every business decision

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate investors who are trying to scale responsibly
• Entrepreneurs who are feeling cash pressure despite growth
• Operators who want a predictable income

Why You Should Listen:

If you have ever felt stretched thin after expanding or unsure when to take the next step, this episode gives you a simple, practical rule to grow 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 

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 progress
• Focus on timing instead of chasing more hours
• Move through the four phases of wealth in the right order
• Build toward a clear exit instead of endless growth

What 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 hustle
• Investors who want financial peace
• Business owners who are ready to scale without burning out
• Anyone who wants a clear path to long-term wealth

Why 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 

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 numbers
• Shift from action-based accountability to results-based accountability
• Identify where accountability breaks down in your business
• Hold yourself and your team to higher standards

What 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 targets
• Leaders who want better execution and better results
• Entrepreneurs who are ready to take full ownership of outcomes

Why 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 

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 sense
• Understand the real skill sets required to run property management
• Avoid the common financial mistakes property managers make
• Know when a property management business becomes profitable

What 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 portfolio
• Operators who are planning to start a property management company
• Business owners who want more control over their assets

Why 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 

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 stress
• Stop feeling broke even as your income grows
• Separate lifestyle, business, and investment money
• Use reserves to stabilize your business long-term

What 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 broke
• Entrepreneurs who are tired of living from deal to deal
• Business owners who want clearer rules around money

Why 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 

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 reactively
• Reverse-engineer your financial goals into clear KPIs
• Decide the right order of hires as you grow

What 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 profitability
• Business owners who are unsure when or who to hire next
• Operators building or rebuilding their sales team

Why 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