Strength in Numbers with Marcus Crigler

It is the boring part of the business that has to be done, and has to be done successfully, as it could destroy every other part of the business: bookkeeping.

In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler explains why ignoring the “boring” side of your business can quietly destroy everything you’re building. He also walks us through a real client story where bad bookkeeping caused over seven figures of income to be reported incorrectly, leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary taxes and years of cleanup, amendments, and potential IRS scrutiny. This is a wake-up call for any business owner who thinks bookkeeping is easy or not worth investing in. Listen and enjoy!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Understand why bookkeeping is the foundation of a long-lasting business
• Spot the hidden risks of inaccurate financials
• Avoid bad books that lead directly to bad tax returns
• Avoid paying taxes on income you never made

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(02:26) What defines a “sophisticated” business with longevity

(03:04) Why bookkeeping should be consistent

(03:53) A real client story: millions in revenue, messy books

(04:41) Discovering inaccurate financials going back 18 months

(05:54) Cleanup work is expensive but avoidable

(06:35) Reporting over $1M in income that never existed and paying taxes on income the business never earned

(08:14) Why incorrect books always lead to incorrect tax returns

(09:53) Bookkeepers are the heartbeat of the business

(11:08) When to bring in higher-level accounting oversight

(12:00) The importance of multiple review points in accounting

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs who want their business to last
• Owners relying on one bookkeeper or a low-cost solution
• Investors who feel like they are overpaying in taxes but don’t know why

Why You Should Listen:

If you think bookkeeping is something you can ignore or deal with later, this episode will change how you see your entire business. 

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

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

Sometimes the clearest lessons come from right inside your own home.

In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler shares a story about his 12-year-old son, Carter, a tough, hard-working seventh grader who decided to try wrestling for the first time. What started as a new sport turned into a reminder about consistency, discipline, and doing the hard things even when they don’t feel good.

Marcus breaks down how watching Carter grind through practices, get beat, show up again, and finally start winning mirrors what real estate entrepreneurs struggle with in their financials.

Enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Stay consistent even when the work feels uncomfortable
• Build confidence by showing up daily
• Strengthen your financial “muscles” so you can scale
• Apply real-life lessons to how you manage profits, cash flow, and metrics

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(01:39) Introducing Carter and how his story ties back to business

(02:23) Daily practices, training, and the jump to school sports

(03:52) First matches, early setbacks, and getting beat

(06:33) Building confidence through repetition

(07:38) The bridge between Carter’s consistency and business success

(08:29) Skills you never lose once you learn them

(09:21) Financial understanding is non-negotiable for business owners

(09:53) Lessons aren’t always from gurus; they are in your everyday life

Who This Episode Is For:

• Entrepreneurs who struggle to stay consistent with their numbers
• Real estate investors who want more confidence around financials
• Operators who feel stuck in the painful part of learning
• Anyone who needs a simple reminder that success comes from showing up

Why You Should Listen:

If you know your financials are weak or you are avoiding them because they feel uncomfortable, this episode will give you a practical, relatable push to strengthen the skills that make you money.

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 chase cash flow, flip for quick money, and think a high bank balance means they are rich.

In this episode, Marcus Crigler sits down with Jimmy Vreeland to unpack how he built his rental portfolio backward and why that wrong path taught him the most valuable lessons.

Jimmy shares how he went from buying rentals while deployed in Iraq, to building 100 poorly structured lease-option rentals, to nearly wiping out his business during COVID, and finally transforming everything once he understood liquidity, balance sheets, tax planning, and smart rental acquisition.

This is one of the most honest conversations about wealth, risk, tax pain, and building rentals the right way. Enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Understand the difference between being rich and being liquid
• Build a rental portfolio without creating dangerous debt and tax exposure
• Use bonus depreciation and cost segregation the right way
• Choose rental properties that appreciate, attract good tenants, and build long-term wealth

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(04:00) Doing everything backwards and why it both helped and hurt him

(06:50) COVID hits: liquidity panic, market uncertainty, and the turning point

(09:07) The CG talk that pushed Jimmy to build $1M+ in liquidity

(10:48) Marcus explains switch-tasking vs multitasking

(12:10) The painful $250k tax bill

(13:00) Most investors didn't understand bonus depreciation

(17:32) The four ways real estate pays you

(18:46) What Jimmy buys today

(19:25) Why C-class rentals fail to appreciate and drag down long-term returns

(21:47) The truth about cash flow

(22:13) High-income earners don’t need cash flow

(23:24) Bad debt is any debt that doesn't pay for itself

(24:44) Why buying only for tax savings is a terrible idea

(27:19) The BRRRR but smarter approach

(28:08) The difference between turnkey and what Jimmy offers

(30:02) Every stage must work: buying right, scoping right, contractors, management, tenants

(34:46) Why every real estate entrepreneur should buy rentals no matter what

(35:55) Two greatest threats to anyone's wealth

(37:28) History lesson: how America beat the British with a hyperinflated currency

(38:08) Why hyperinflation has always rewarded people who own hard assets

(39:05) Buying real estate is a wealth savings account

(42:19) Why syndications frustrate many operators

(44:25) Jimmy’s final advice: plan your taxes 15–18 months ahead

Why You Should Listen:

Jimmy lays out the lessons most investors only learn after losing money. If you want a rental portfolio that appreciates, reduces taxes, builds wealth, and doesn’t drain your time, this episode gives you the blueprint.

Connect with Jimmy Vreeland:

• Website: https://jimmyvreeland.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyvreeland/ 

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

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

Partnerships are one of the most common ways real estate businesses get started and one of the biggest reasons they fall apart. In this episode, Marcus Crigler breaks down why most partnerships fail, what causes the friction, and how you can protect yourself before emotions get involved.

Marcus explains why partnerships often work during the startup phase but break down once the business grows, money increases, and each partner’s goals start going in different directions.

If you are currently in a partnership, thinking about starting one, or trying to exit one, this episode is for you!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Identify the early warning signs that a partnership is drifting apart
• Strengthen your operating agreement so it protects you
• Decide whether you should hire someone or make them a partner
• Communicate clearly so both sides walk away without destroying the business

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(01:58) Most real estate businesses start as partnerships

(02:46) The hidden reason good partners eventually grow apart

(03:31) How a CPA sees partnership problems six months early

(04:17) The poorly written operating agreements

(04:47) What happens to money, leases, assets, and employees during a split

(06:47) What should be inside a real operating agreement

(07:34) How to avoid making your exit expensive and ugly

(08:23) The truth about giving equity vs. hiring talent

(10:06) Employees vs. partners: the cleanest way to grow your team

(11:19) Where to start if you are trying to leave a partnership

(12:51) Three scenarios Marcus sees most often and how to handle them

Who This Episode Is For:

• Business partners who want to protect their relationship and their company
• Entrepreneurs who are thinking about bringing on a partner
• Operators who are stuck in a partnership that no longer works
• Founders who want a clean, fair, and legally sound exit strategy

Why You Should Listen:

A partnership can be the best thing you ever do or the most expensive mistake you ever make. If you want clarity and confidence in how you work with or separate from a partner, this episode is worth your time.

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

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

It is not about working harder or smarter; it is about working right. Working hard is important, but if you are doing bad habits, it doesn't matter.

In this episode of the Strength in Numbers Podcast, Marcus Crigler talks with Chris Miles, founder of Money Ripples, cashflow expert, and the man known as the Anti-Financial Advisor.

Chris has retired twice and now teaches real estate investors how to build passive income through non-traditional paths like lending, land notes, oil and gas, and other alternative investments that outperform the typical 401(k) model.

Listen as he breaks down mindset traps, the dangers of hustle culture, why most entrepreneurs overwork from fear, and how to build a stable financial life with liquidity, reserves, and cash flow that continues even when business slows down.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Shift from hustle mode to “work optional” living
• Build passive income without relying on constant deal flow
• Use lending, raw land notes, and oil & gas for double-digit returns
• Avoid the common money traps real estate entrepreneurs fall into

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(06:47) The athlete mindset and why many entrepreneurs come from competitive backgrounds

(09:00) How fear and trauma secretly drive many high achievers

(10:07) Hustle is a season, not a lifestyle

(11:53) Helping people become “work optional.”

(13:24) Chris’ wake-up call: breaking down his dad’s finances

(14:51) The realization that mutual funds and 401(k)s weren’t producing freedom

(16:51) Why liquidity is what protects you

(18:27) The danger of relying only on active income streams

(19:29) Diversifying portfolio through lending, oil, and gas

(22:46) Your business is your number one investment

(23:46) Profit First mindset and why reinvesting everything means you’re not profitable

(24:06) The trap of buying a lifestyle too early

(26:01) Liquidity creates opportunity, and opportunity creates profit

(26:34) What “retirement” really means

(30:55) Why “high risk = high returns” is Wall Street’s biggest lie

(31:54) The myth of tax benefits

(35:29) The danger of deferring time with your kids, family, and life experiences

(36:05) Why the 401(k) and IRA are among the worst places for entrepreneurs to trap money

(39:17) Infinite banking explained: a tax-free high-yield savings account with a death benefit.

(41:48) The importance of avoiding commission-focused agents

(43:51) Tax-free growth, liquidity, and access without penalties

(49:51) How high-net-worth investors store millions in cash value for safety

(54:14) Why wealthy families and politicians have used this strategy

(58:31) Chris introduces the “Work Optional Blueprint.”

(59:01) Final advice: Better decisions come from following your gut

Why You Should Listen:

If your business makes good money but you are still stressed, grinding, or feeling like you can’t slow down, this episode gives you the freedom, stability, and passive income that pays you whether you work or not.

Connect with Chris Miles:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@moneyrippleswithchrismiles 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriscmiles/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscmiles/ 
• Chris Miles’ The Work Optional Blueprint

What does it take to quietly build one of the most consistent, disciplined, and competitive real estate operations in the country without bragging, without noise, and without burning out your team? 

In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler interviewed Adam Devine, founder of PurchRock, to unpack the mindset and mechanics behind a business closing 50 deals per month.

Listen as Adam shares how humble competitiveness drives his daily habits, why he treats every month like a new season, and how top performers evolve before they’re forced to.

Enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Recognize and fix performance gaps
• Shift from virtual to in-person acquisitions to boost deal flow
• Build a competitive, aligned sales culture rooted in humility and discipline
• Make smarter financial decisions 
• Use coaching, masterminds, and outside voices to accelerate business growth

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(03:41) How PurchRock grew from humble beginnings to 50 deals/month

(04:34) Putting the company in the right place to succeed

(07:28) Athlete mindset vs. entrepreneur mindset

(07:58) Luck, timing, and staying grounded after big wins

(09:53) The issues they found under the hood after their record month

(10:40) Reducing the fallout rate and increasing deal flow

(11:52) Switching to face-to-face appointments 

(13:46) Why capital position matters more than rental count

(14:56) Analogy of a baseball player

(15:55) Building a business around what you believe in

(20:47) Why clean books are non-negotiable for scaling

(22:12) Importance of having the right leadership in the accounting and finance world

(24:44) Fundamentals > KPIs

(27:59) Why conversations outside the meeting room create the biggest breakthroughs

(29:05) How community, masterminds, and collaboration fuel innovation

(30:23) Making better decisions for better long-term results

(31:11) Failure is a necessary part of refining your decision-making

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs who want to scale without losing control of their business
• Business owners who need clarity around sales, finance, or team structure
• Anyone who wants to grow through fundamentals, discipline, and better decision-making

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re serious about becoming a better leader, making better decisions, and building a stronger business, this conversation will give you the blueprint.

Connect with Adam Devine:

• Website: https://perchrockmanagement.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadamdevine/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-devine-499151bb 

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 underestimate how much money slips through the cracks simply because they don’t plan. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler breaks down why year-end planning, specifically tax planning, can easily be a $10,000-an-hour activity for anyone buying and selling real estate.

The decisions you make right now directly shape your financial future in 2026, 2027, 2028, and beyond.

Listen as he explains how the best operators create a financial plan, build “if/then” scenarios, and use the tax code to protect and redeploy more capital. Enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Build a simple but powerful financial plan for next year
• Use “if/then” planning to make emotion-free decisions
• Identify the tax strategies top operators use before year-end
• Avoid paying unnecessary taxes by planning ahead

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(01:14) How planning now impacts 2026–2028

(02:07) The one word that changes your entire financial future: planning

(03:35) Focus on business and financial planning

(03:51) How to forecast revenue, labor, marketing, and expenses

(04:39) A real example: When to hire your next acquisitions person

(05:13) Using financial plans to make smarter, emotionless decisions

(05:54) How business planning and tax planning work together

(06:22) The tax problem entrepreneurs run into at year-end

(06:58) Understanding your potential tax liability before it hits

(08:30) Tax savings = “found money” to reinvest in your business

(09:20) Liquidity vs. future tax increases

(09:59) Understanding the “70,000 pages” of exceptions

(10:26) The compound effect of planning + strategy

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs who want to keep more of the money they earn
• Operators who are tired of surprise tax bills
• Business owners who want a predictable financial plan for next year
• Anyone who wants to legally reduce taxes and reinvest more into wealth-building

Why You Should Listen:

Tax planning isn’t exciting, but it might be the highest ROI activity in your entire business. Marcus breaks down how simple planning, smart decisions, and understanding the rules can add tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to your bottom line.

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 think they need more rentals, more revenue, or more marketing to break through. But often the real issue is hiding in their numbers.

For today's episode of Strength in Numbers Podcast, Marcus Crigler sits down with Felipe Bossans, co-founder and head of sales at 8020 REI, to talk about why so many investors stall out.

Felipe shares how 8020 REI went from wholesaling in Miami to building one of the most powerful predictive-data companies in the industry, what most investors get wrong about lead flow, and why understanding your numbers will determine your success.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Diagnose why your business growth has stalled
• Use predictive data to find better leads
• Stop wasting time and payroll on the wrong leads
• Identify “bad revenue” drifting your business off track

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(03:26) Why 8020 REI was born and how data gave them an edge

(05:33) The biggest marketing mistakes investors make

(07:43) Cost per acquisition vs. cost per appointment

(08:42) Why inconsistent leads create inconsistent cash flow

(10:55) The cost of chasing the wrong lead

(12:03) “Bad revenue” and why not every deal is worth doing

(14:19) How CFO review changed their investment strategy

(16:33) The real return on equity inside your rental portfolio

(19:02) Reasons to hate owning rentals

(24:03) Strong data = consistent leads = consistent profitability

(25:43) Take the cash and start reinvesting in things that drive longer-term value

(27:07) The three steps to wealth building

(29:26) Impact moments: building homes and building better teams

(30:37) The four levels of connection

(32:25) Healthy conflict, aggressive goals, and coordinated execution

(35:06) Educate yourself in financial literacy

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs who feel stuck
• Investors with inconsistent lead flow or cash flow
• Operators who want higher profits
• Business owners who want to make better decisions based on data

Why You Should Listen:

If you feel like you are working twice as hard for half the results, you must listen to this episode. Felipe breaks down the real reasons businesses stall and how data, clarity, and financial literacy can create a breakthrough.

Connect with Felipe Bossans:

• Website: https://8020rei.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felipebossans/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felipebossans/ 

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

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

There are many CEOs with a big heart. They want their people to be successful, have this big vision, and drive within them, but they don't hold themselves accountable. There is a big difference between being a jerk and being accountable.

In today’s episode of the Strength in Numbers Podcast, Marcus Crigler sits down with Nathan Brooks, entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Arch Capital, to talk about the wake-up call that forced him to rethink everything: open-heart surgery.

Nathan also shares how his community showed up massively, and why that experience pushed him to rebuild his companies around tracking, accountability, and culture. Listen and enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Build a business that can operate without you
• Use tracking systems to diagnose problems
• Create accountability without hurting culture
• Raise capital through a debt fund the right way

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(02:18) Who is Nathan Brooks and the businesses he leads

(03:52) His open-heart surgery and the moment everything stopped

(06:26) The support he received from friends and the entrepreneur community

(11:19) Being a CEO vs operating inside those businesses

(12:00) The importance of tracking everything

(14:13) Why most entrepreneurs “ready–fire–aim” into problems

(16:21) Balancing accountability with culture and core values

(17:02) Using core values to lead hard conversations

(19:00) Why accountability must start with the CEO

(19:53) The power of clear numbers vs. emotional expectations

(21:05) Mission-driven teams vs. money-driven teams

(23:58) Why you must track numbers daily

(25:46) Real-world examples of time value, deal size, and ROI

(27:54) Cash flow is the foundation of every business

(29:13) Why cash conversion cycles determine who survives and who doesn’t

(32:16) Cash is the true backbone of any business

(34:25) The discipline of putting business profits straight into holding accounts

(36:01) Raising capital in a debt fund

(38:42) Why pooled funds reduce risk and simplify the process

(41:39) Nathan’s final advice on becoming a better decision-maker

Who This Episode Is For:

• Entrepreneurs who want a business that runs without their constant involvement
• Business owners who struggle with accountability
• Operators who are looking to build sellable, scalable companies
• Anyone wanting more liquidity, stability, and peace in their business

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re still running your business on gut instinct and endless hustle, this episode will show you what changes when you finally start tracking, delegating, and leading like a real CEO. The right systems don’t just save your business, they give you your life back.

Connect with Nathan Brooks:

• Website: https://archcapital.ai/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbrooksrei/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbrooksrei/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NathanBrooksRei 

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 South Carolina shut down wholesaling overnight, many investors were caught off guard. Caleb Pearson was one of them. Practically overnight, he had to rebuild his entire business model and deal with the cash flow chaos that came with it.

In this episode, Marcus Crigler talks with Caleb about what it took to survive that shift, the lessons learned from running multiple real estate companies, and how he built real security by focusing on liquidity, leadership, and lifestyle.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Navigate sudden market or legal changes without losing everything
• Manage long cash flow cycles and survive the liquidity squeeze
• Protect your business with the right structure, reserves, and insurance
• Build systems that allow your business and your life to stay balanced

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(04:15) How Caleb’s role evolved into overseeing major real estate companies

(05:43) From grinding solo to leading teams

(06:41) Joining Collective Genius and learning to scale through coaching

(08:51) The scarcity and long-term value of mobile home parks

(11:59) The difference between creating cash and multiplying cash

(14:04) Why coaching and mentorship shortcut success

(15:49) How Caleb shifted from chasing status to building stability

(18:53) Guardrails that protect your business and peace of mind

(20:26) How his wife inspired smarter financial habits

(23:53) Costly lessons from lawsuits, bad lots, and risk exposure

(25:49) Why legal and insurance protection are non-negotiable

(26:54) South Carolina bans wholesaling overnight

(28:41) Managing cash flow when flips take 180 + days to close

(31:10) Planning your business exit before it’s too late

(32:50) Building sellable side businesses and true wealth

(35:26) Why bigger isn’t always better

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs facing cash flow crunches
• Investors who are shifting from wholesaling to fix-and-flip or buy-and-hold
• Business owners who are ready to build security
• Anyone who wants to protect what they’ve built and still sleep at night

Why You Should Listen:

If your business keeps growing but your bank account doesn’t, this episode is for you. Caleb’s story will show you how to survive massive industry shifts, avoid burnout, and build a business that creates wealth and peace of mind.

Connect with Caleb Pearson:

• Website: https://calebpearsonteam.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecalebpearsonteam 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecalebpearsonteam

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

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