Business

Interested In Commercial Real Estate? Get Started With Rob Finlay’s 5 Keys to First-Time Investments

Published

4 years ago

June 8, 2021

Despite being battered through 2020 due to the pandemic, commercial real estate is back and as lucrative and viable as ever. Investor sentiment is sweetening as deal processing time has doubled its rate when compared to last year, and secondary markets are garnering unprecedented attention.

Everyone knew the $10 billion industry wouldn’t stay down forever, but commercial real estate is coming back in a big way that should excite anyone interested in getting in on the action.

For first-time investors looking to expand their portfolio in one of the traditionally most stable markets, it’s helpful to have a few keys handy before you reach the door. One man happy to share the secrets of the industry is Rob Finlay, founder and CEO of Thirty Capital, whose services for years have been the solution for many looking to break into commercial real estate.

1. Identify an Expert

Flying blind is a risky strategy no matter what game you’re playing, and one that can lead to unnecessary disaster. While some might be tempted to forge a path out on their own without outside advice, this kind of thinking can land one in the gutter just as often as it might to the top.

By identifying the experts and weighing their advice appropriately, you can ultimately save yourself both crucial time and money. “We’ve had our fair share of setbacks over the years,” says Finlay.

“But these missteps are precisely what led to our current success. We’ve experienced it all over the years, commercial real estate is a multi-faceted and constantly evolving industry. We are here to help guide our clients towards profitable CRE investments that are based on our robust collective experience rather than just theory and guesswork.”

Having an experienced ally in the field is invaluable, and for those looking to seriously invest, it’s all but essential to first learn the ropes via an industry leader.

2. Rally All Resources

Before making any major moves, it is essential you know exactly what you have at your disposal. This includes everything from your network of experts to credit lines. “A well-defined budget does two main things for any first-time investor,” notes Finlay.

“First, it provides a sense of order to your overall situation and goals. And second — and perhaps most importantly — it allows you to decide whether additional funding is needed or not, based on the best available information at the time. Investing isn’t something to be done half-heartedly, and information is everything in making the best move.”

Organization is key to have a clear understanding of what is within your current reach, and once you have this kind of view, you can then make decisions with confidence.

3. Consider Your Options

Today’s market is a far cry from that of last year and almost an entirely different animal to that of twenty or even ten years ago. There are still traditional apartment rentals and retail spaces, but now there are a plethora of tech-based options that simply didn’t exist in years past.

“When looking at an area of investment,” says Finlay.

“It’s helpful to imagine the variety of ways you could make the location ideally function. What role it fills in the market now, and how this might change over the years. Properties need to be efficient, reliable, and ultimately quite flexible in what it can provide if you truly want it to remain profitable long-term.”

These kinds of thought exercises are helpful in mentally identifying a potential investment’s strengths and weaknesses, and determining the estimated timeline of the investment.

4. Toe Before Foot

Before you build out your commercial real estate empire with multiple properties occupying different roles, it can be helpful to start small. “While we encourage our clients to be aggressive in their research when it comes to actual investing, it’s best to begin with a walk rather than run,” advises Finlay.

“Getting used to the feeling of owning commercial space is a skill in itself, and one that for most requires time. Once you have some experience, then it’s time to branch out, but it’s important to not overwhelm yourself right out of the gate.”

As with any new endeavor, there will inevitably be some growing pains to begin. It’s best to go through these on a smaller scale where the damage is mitigated but the lesson is still learned.

5. Polish and Prepare

Once you have a property or two running to the point where they no longer needs as much direct attention, at that point, it might be time to prepare for the next steps. Polish your current holdings, everything from your website to your internal team.

You should be making regular assessments of your properties’ total cost vs. income, lead generation, and fine-tuning the process as you go until you get a feel for things. With polished systems in place, you are then better prepared for the future.

“We know how intimidating it can be as a first-time investor,” comments Finlay.

“Commercial real estate is a challenging but immensely rewarding investment opportunity. We are here to help people make the most of a historically unique market and substantiate their ambitions in physical spaces.”

Business

13 Reasons Investors Are Watching Phoenix Energy’s Expansion in the Williston Basin

Published

4 hours ago

April 23, 2025

Matthew Wiles

As energy security becomes a growing priority in the United States, companies focused on domestic oil production are gaining attention from investors. One such company is Phoenix Energy, an independent oil and gas company operating in the Williston Basin, a prolific oil-producing region spanning North Dakota and Montana.

Phoenix Energy has established itself as a key player in this sector, expanding its footprint while offering structured investment opportunities to accredited investors. Through Regulation D 506(c) corporate bonds, the company provides investment options with annual interest rates ranging from 9% to 13%.

Here are 13 reasons why Phoenix Energy is attracting investor interest in 2025:

1. U.S. energy production remains a strategic priority

The global energy landscape is evolving, with a renewed focus on domestic oil and gas production to enhance economic stability and reduce reliance on foreign energy sources. The Williston Basin, home to the Bakken and Three Forks formations, continues to play a critical role in meeting these demands. Phoenix Energy has established an operational footprint in the basin, where it is actively investing in development and production.

2. Investment opportunities with fixed annual interest rates

Phoenix Energy bonds offer accredited investors annual interest rates between 9% and 13% through Regulation D 506(c). These bonds help fund the company’s expansion in the Williston Basin, where it acquires and develops oil and gas assets.

3. Record-breaking drilling speeds in the Williston Basin

Phoenix Energy has made significant strides in drilling efficiency, ranking among the fastest drillers in the Bakken Formation as of late 2024. By reducing drilling times, the company aims to optimize operations and improve overall production performance.

4. Expansion of operational footprint

Since becoming an operator in September 2023, Phoenix Energy has grown rapidly. As of March 2025, the company has 53 wells drilled and 96 wells planned over the next 12 months.

5. Surpassing production expectations

Phoenix Energy’s oil production has steadily increased. By mid-2024, its cumulative production had exceeded 1.57 million barrels, outpacing its total output for 2023. The company projected an exit rate of nearly 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by the end of March 2025.

6. High-net-worth investor offerings

For investors seeking alternative investments with higher-yield opportunities, Phoenix Energy offers the Adamantium bonds through Reg D 506(c), which provides corporate bonds with annual interest rates between 13% and 16%, with investment terms ranging from 5 to 11 years, and a minimum investment of $2 million.

7. Experienced team with industry-specific expertise

Phoenix Energy’s leadership and technical teams include professionals with decades of oil and gas experience, including backgrounds in drilling engineering, land acquisition, and reservoir analysis. This level of in-house expertise supports the company’s ability to evaluate acreage, manage operations, and execute its long-term development plans in the Williston Basin.

8. Focus on investor communication and understanding

Phoenix Energy prioritizes clear investor communication. The company hosts webinars and provides access to licensed professionals who walk investors through the business model and operations in the oil and gas sector. These efforts aim to help investors better understand how Phoenix Energy deploys capital across mineral acquisitions and operated wells.

9. Managing market risk through strategic planning

The energy sector is cyclical, and Phoenix Energy takes a structured approach to risk management. The company employs hedging strategies and asset-backed financing to help mitigate potential fluctuations in the oil market.

10. Commitment to compliance

Phoenix Energy conducts its bond offerings under the SEC’s Regulation D Rule 506(c) exemption. These offerings are made available exclusively to accredited investors and are facilitated through a registered broker-dealer to support adherence to federal securities laws. Investors can review applicable offering filings on the SEC’s EDGAR database.

11. Recognition for business practices

As of April 2025, Phoenix Energy maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and is a BBB-accredited business. The company has also earned strong ratings on investor review platforms such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews, where investors often highlight clear communication and transparency.

12. A family-founded business with a long-term vision

Led by CEO Adam Ferrari, Phoenix Energy operates as a family-founded business with a focus on long-term investment strategies. The company’s leadership emphasizes responsible growth and sustainable development in the Williston Basin.

13. Positioned for long-term growth in the oil sector

With U.S. energy demand projected to remain strong, Phoenix Energy is strategically positioned for continued expansion. The company’s focus on efficient drilling, financial discipline, and structured investment offerings aligns with its goal of building a resilient and growth-oriented business.

Final thoughts

For investors looking to gain exposure to the U.S. oil and gas sector, Phoenix Energy presents an opportunity to participate in a structured alternative investment backed by the company’s operational expansion in the Williston Basin.

Accredited investors interested in learning more can attend one of Phoenix Energy’s investor webinars, which are hosted daily throughout the week. These sessions provide insights into market trends, risk management strategies, and investment opportunities.

For more information, visit the Phoenix Energy website.

Phoenix Capital Group Holdings, LLC is now Phoenix Energy One, LLC, doing business as Phoenix Energy. The testimonials on review sites may not be representative of other investors not listed on the sites. The testimonials are no guarantee of future performance or success of the Company or a return on investment. Alternative investments are speculative, illiquid, and you may lose some or all of your investment. Securities are offered by Dalmore Group member FINRA/SIPC. Dalmore Group and Phoenix Energy are not affiliated. See full disclosures.

This article contains forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, assumptions, and beliefs about future events and market conditions. These statements, identifiable by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “expect,” “plan,” “should,” and similar expressions, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that may impact these outcomes include changes in market conditions, regulatory developments, operational performance, and other risks described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and Phoenix Energy undertakes no obligation to update them except as required by law.