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

Most investors are doing exactly what their CPA told them to do, and still paying far more in taxes than they should.

In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler joins the show to break down how self-directed IRAs and 401(k)s work, why most traditional CPAs never bring them up, and how real estate investors can use them to build long-term, tax-advantaged wealth.

The conversation delves into real-world use cases, including private lending, real estate investing, Roth conversions, and the rules you absolutely cannot ignore.

Listen and enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Understand what a self-directed IRA really is
• Use retirement funds to invest in real estate and private lending
• Avoid prohibited transactions that trigger penalties
• Decide when a Roth conversion actually makes sense

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(02:41) Introducing Marcus Crigler and his approaches to accounting

(05:14) Why tax strategy must happen before the year ends

(08:28) What “self-directed” actually means for retirement accounts

(09:25) Why real estate fits so well inside self-directed IRAs

(11:53) When and how 401(k) money can be used for private lending

(12:39) Why most W-2 employees can’t self-direct their 401(k) yet

(17:03) When a Roth conversion is worth paying taxes upfront

(22:02) The real friction points with self-directed accounts

(26:51) Common IRS rules and prohibited transactions to avoid

(29:27) What Financial Liberation University is and who it’s for

(33:35) Connect with Marcus Crigler

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate investors who are tired of reactive tax planning
• Investors who are curious about self-directed IRAs and Roth strategies
• Anyone who wants more control over their retirement money

Why You Should Listen:

If you’ve ever felt like your CPA only looks backward instead of helping you plan ahead, this episode will change how you think about taxes, retirement accounts, and long-term wealth strategy.

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

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

If you have a position that is salary only, you are going to get salary-only effort. You have to provide an upside for each position; it is mission-critical.

In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Marcus Crigler breaks down one of the most important rules in business: your people costs must generate at least a 3X return, or the business eventually breaks.

Listen as he explains how to measure return on people, why sales roles must outperform that benchmark, and how bad compensation structures kill good companies.

Enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Measure return on people cost the right way
• Structure compensation plans that drive performance
• Understand why sales roles must outperform support roles
• Avoid overpaying while still rewarding great employees

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(02:57) Most businesses can’t survive without a 3X return on the people they spend

(03:34) What counts as “people cost.”

(04:29) Owners must include their own salary in the math

(05:52) Revenue-generating roles vs support roles

(06:38) Why sales teams often need a 5X return

(07:53) Why total payroll should stay under one-third of revenue

(10:09) How compensation plans create accountability

(11:05) Every role in your company should be able to win when the business wins

(12:32) Real examples of bonus structures for non-sales roles

(13:30) How to structure comp plans for managers and executives

(15:49) Why you can’t overpay a great employee

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs with growing teams
• Business owners who are questioning their payroll and margins
• Operators who are struggling to stay profitable
• Leaders who are redesigning compensation plans

Why You Should Listen:

If payroll feels heavy, margins feel tight, or your team isn’t producing what you expected, this episode gives you a clear framework to fix it.

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

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