Business

Raising Awareness and Funds: Help Us Protect Our Family-Owned Business from Being Taken Over

Published

6 months ago

October 29, 2024

Image credit: Samantha Karagianis

For most, family is a solid bedrock, a safe sanctuary offering love and support. But what happens when a family member, or even a parent, darkens this haven with manipulation and betrayal? The story that surfaces in Samantha Karagianis’s GoFundMe campaign exemplifies the devastating impact that one person’s Narcissistic Personality Disorder can have on the rest of the family.

Samantha Karagianis is raising awareness about the importance of setting boundaries with a close narcissistic family member. By sharing her example, she hopes to spare others from their emotional turmoil.

“Narcissists gain power over you by engaging in manipulative behaviors like gaslighting, guilt-tripping, and controlling,” Samantha observes. “Recognizing these behaviors is the first step in safeguarding yourself and those you love.”

Caught in the shadow of a narcissistic father’s betrayal

Samantha devoted years of her life to helping her husband build a business from the ground up, and they dreamed of creating a lasting legacy. Sadly, someone who should have been Samantha’s strongest ally is now the bitter antagonist in her story.

Two years ago, a promising chapter opened with Samantha’s father offering to invest in her husband’s business. She was overjoyed, interpreting this as an endorsement of their hard work. However, as time unfolded, her father failed to honor his duties and commitments, causing internal strife and jeopardizing the business’s reputation.

Tensions reached a breaking point when Samantha’s husband restricted her father’s involvement until he was willing to take a step back and respect his role. This decision, meant to protect the company’s integrity, was met with severe backlash. Feeling insulted and sidelined, her father gave his wounded ego free reign.

The importance of recognizing narcissistic behavior disorder early

Narcissism often goes unnoticed in families until an incident brings it into sharp focus. “As soon as you recognize narcissistic behavior, enlist the support of friends, other family members, or a therapist,” Samantha urges. “A support system provides validation and reinforces your efforts to maintain boundaries.”

Unfortunately, Samantha’s wake-up call came far too late. Her father’s first move was to steal $104,000 from their business line of credit, effectively crippling their company. His manipulative schemes escalated as he tried to convince Samantha to leave her husband, falsely claimed ownership of her husband’s intellectual property, and used every opportunity to belittle and undermine their efforts.

The true depth of his betrayal came to light when he set a trap under the guise of a reconciliation meeting at their warehouse. Instead of seeking a resolution, he ambushed her husband with his attorney, pressuring him to sell the business. When they refused, her father escalated his vendetta by creating a nearly identical business entity and convincing the bank to sell him their line of credit, financially crippling Samantha and her family.

“When you set boundaries, expect resistance, increased manipulation, and attempts to guilt you into changing your stance,” Samantha warns. “Be prepared to stand firm. In some cases, it may be necessary to limit or even cut off contact with the narcissistic family member, especially if they refuse to respect your boundaries and their presence is overwhelmingly detrimental to your well-being.”

In the lowest form of betrayal, Samantha’s father forged an alliance with another abusive figure from Samantha’s past: her eldest son’s father. This resulted in a temporary protective order that separated Samantha’s husband from her son, using her child as a pawn in a vicious game of manipulation.

Weeks have turned into anguished months of legal battles. The strain on Samantha’s family is not just over future financial concerns — it has seeped into the fabric of their daily lives, threatening their stability and emotional health.

Why awareness is crucial

Samantha’s heart-wrenching story mirrors the experiences of many who have had their lives upended by narcissistic family members. This toxic behavior manifests as manipulation, emotional abuse, or outright betrayal, leaving victims in states of hopelessness and despair.

Narcissistic family members excel in creating an environment of psychological distress. The constant gaslighting and emotional manipulation erodes self-esteem and fosters a perpetual state of anxiety.

Because narcissistic family members routinely appear engaging and charismatic to those outside the family dynamic, victims often endure this harsh, belittling treatment for years. They may feel isolated or blame themselves, unaware that they are dealing with a narcissist whose primary goal is to control and dominate.

When narcissistic family members retain control, the ripple effect of their actions spreads throughout the family unit, affecting spouses, children, and other relatives. These dynamics lead to strained relationships, mistrust, and even estrangement.

While society understandably prefers to emphasize the inviolable nature of familial bonds, it is crucial to recognize and address the harm that narcissistic family members can inflict. Victims of this psychological trauma must seek help and find the strength to prevent toxic relationships from harming the next generation. Standing up against such injustice requires courage, resilience, and community support.

Samantha’s GoFundMe story is a powerful message to others facing similar situations. It’s about finding the courage to set boundaries, prioritize personal well-being, and stand up against unjust behavior, even when that behavior comes from close family members.

“Setting boundaries with a narcissistic family member is not a one-time event,” Samantha concludes. “Most of the time, it is an ongoing process. However, continually maintaining those boundaries is the only way to preserve your emotional health and protect the ones you love.”

Business

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

Published

5 days 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.