Freedom Mentor Cost – Is The Program Legitimate?
Real estate investing is a hugely profitable venture when done right, so it makes sense that there’s a course on how to get started. If you’re interested in how to get involved in the real estate business, then you’ve probably come across Freedom Mentor, a course built by a man named Phil Pustejovskys to help you get started in the business.
While Freedom Mentor sounds promising, does it stand up to legitimate business practices?
How does the student success rate look?
How does the Freedom Mentor cost reflect what you can expect in returns?
All these questions (and more) are answered in this article from IBuyIReview.
P.S. – in no way am I affiliated with Freedom Mentor, so you’re getting a completely honest review based on my opinion of the program. This review is meant to help you make your own decision about the program!
Table of Contents
What is the Freedom Mentor Program?
The Freedom Mentor program is dedicated to teaching you how to make money in the real estate industry.
Real estate is known for being highly profitable and, if done correctly, it can help you gain a financial foothold into another lifestyle. If you know the market well enough, it’s not a far-off dream to start making deals in the millions, potentially increasing your net worth to something you could only dream of before.
This, however, isn’t to say that it’s a market free from risk, volatility, or competition. Just the opposite; because of its renown as a lucrative industry, the market is flooded with investors looking to make deals left and right the moment the stock market opens for the day.
The Freedom Mentor program positions itself as an educational mentorship program that will equip you with the necessary skills to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes, and help guide you through the industry by revealing Phil Pustejovsky’s – the founder’s – secret to success in the real estate industry.
The course boasts its investing and house flipping expertise in a free course that includes hours upon hours of course material, each taught by Phil himself. While house flipping is seen as one of the easier ways to get into real estate, it still requires a significant amount of work. (1)
The site itself looks dated when you first enter it, with autoplay videos and a narrow-width design that is filled to the brim with long-form content about Phil and the real estate course. The text is too small to read without squinting, which is never a good sign when you’re looking for a modern educational resource.
Once you get to the courses, the site begins to look a little more modern, showcasing a variety of tropical, palm beach houses on poolside summer days. At least that has been updated, giving me a little more faith in the potential for updates to the courses as well.
Who is Phil Pustejovsky?
Phil Pustejovsky is the man behind the course. He tells his rags to riches story right on the homepage about how he was homeless, living out of his truck until his real estate coach changed his life.
Through this transformative experience, Phil talks about how he was able to achieve personal success through the coaching he received and go from living in his truck to a waterfront mansion in Florida with all the palm trees he could want.
Phil maintains a humble demeanor throughout the content, talking about how this experience was the motivation behind starting Freedom Mentor. The drive to give back to others and fill the role of the mentor who changed his life helped Phil, in a self-proclaimed statement, become one of the sought-after real estate investing mentors on the planet.
Goodbye, humble – at least for a time. Overall, the guy seems like he’s got a good head on his shoulders, but it’s up to you to get the work done if you want to become successful the industry. (2)
While the content on the homepage does a great job detailing Phil’s personal life with just enough vague statements to make you wonder if this is a legitimate offering, the course sections talk more about the actual investing course which begins to bring Phil’s full story together as he introduces himself in the video modules and talks a little bit about his success.
Phil's YouTube Channel
Phil runs a YouTube channel to promote Freedom Mentor which currently has over 300K subscribers. He claims that his channel is “the most popular real estate investing YouTube Channel in history” which is quite a bold claim for one man to make, but he does appear on quite a few influencer lists for real estate investing.
How Does This Program Work?
The program isn’t a traditional course that you pay for like most programs. In fact, Phil offers a free course that requires no payment to get you started in learning the ropes of real estate investing. (3) The real offer comes with the Apprentice Program, which gets you in touch with Phil himself if approved.
The Apprentice Program means that you’ll be forming a partnership directly with Phil and he’ll be mentoring you one-on-one as the two of you close real estate investing deals.
What is the Apprentice Program?
While it’s available to anyone on the site, a lot of people wait to sign up until they’ve gone through one of the courses available.
The Apprentice Program is meant to help you get ahead in the industry faster through one-on-one mentorship with Phil. This system requires that you split your profits 50/50 with Phil Pustejovsky through Freedom Mentor until you reach a threshold of $100,000 with the program.
He makes the reason behind the 50/50 split clear: he’s personally coaching you and helping you close deals, so it gives him some skin in the game.
I can’t argue with that.
Additionally, if you’re not ready to get into the apprentice program, Phil does offer a “Pre-Apprentice” program that costs a little less than $1,00 which gives you access to a limited version of the Apprentice program.
Instead of Phil closing the deals for you and splitting profits, you’re given access to a bunch of vendor lists, a knowledgebase, more videos to watch, and one-on-one calls with Phil. It is dubbed the “All in one SuperCourse.”
Free VS. Paid Training
The free training provides you with an overview of real estate, but it doesn’t give you any kind of framework to get started. The free course does include hours of video content taught by Phil, including common pitfalls, how to test your skills, and how to think like a successful investor. All you need to join this course is a free Teachable account.
If you’re just getting started in real estate investing, I do think that the free course has a lot of value to offer. Still, it’s not clear how long it has been since this course was updated, so be prepared to do a little groundwork outside of the course as well to verify some of the information in a modern setting.
The primary goal of the free course is to get you to purchase the Pre-Apprentice program for $997 or sign up for the Apprentice program where Phil will help you close deals for a 50/50 split.
Nothing Comes for Free: Freedom Mentor Cost
While Phil’s How to Become a Real Estate Investor is available for free on his website in exchange for an email address, his Real Estate Investing Gone Bad book is available on Amazon for $9.99 in print, or $0.99 on Kindle. It is also available on Kindle Unlimited, making the book free for those with the subscription.
The Pre-Apprentice Program is a one-time cost of $997 and gives you self-directed access to a variety of lists, videos, and a knowledgebase on real estate investing.
But, if you’re looking for what the Freedom Mentor cost is for the primary Apprentice program, you might find yourself with sticker shock, so brace yourself:
Once you’re accepted into the Apprentice program, you’ll be required to split any profits 50/50 with Phil as the two of your close deals together. You are responsible for all expenses in this venture, and there is an upfront Freedom Mentor cost of $3,000. Beyond that, you will also be required to maintain the Apprentice program with a membership fee of $197/mo.
Is There a Free Trial?
There is no free trial of the Apprentice or Pre-Apprentice Program. If you’re not sure if real estate investing is for you, or if you’re uncertain about Freedom Mentor, there is a free course that Phil offers right on the website that can help you get a better feel for the type of work you would be doing.
The Pros and Cons of the Program
Pros:
- You get direct access to Phil Pustejovsky in the Apprentice program.
- Phil has a lot of credibility with his students, with a lot of positive reviews from those who worked hard to get there.
- There’s a free course which provides a lot of basic information on real estate investing, preparing you for the Apprentice Program.
- You don’t have to jump right in; Phil offers a Pre-Apprentice program as well which gives you a wide range of resources, knowledgebase material, and self-directed study guides.
Cons:
- The upfront payment for the Apprentice Program and Pre-Apprentice program can be prohibitively expensive, especially if you’re getting started with only a little cash.
- Not only do you split profit with Phil 50/50 inside the Apprentice program, but you’re the sole responsible party for any and all costs.
- In addition to the enrollment fee, there’s a monthly fee to the program.
- A lot of the criticism the course has received is that the information can be found for free; the primary source of value comes from talking directly with Phil.
Relevant Upsells and Downsells
Fortunately, there are no upsells to the course, which is a surprise in itself in this kind of industry. There are, however, four separate downsells that you have the opportunity to access by getting involved in his program, however.
The first downsell is free, and it is his free introductory course. While this course is comprehensive and gives away a lot of value, it’s ultimately a teaser for his primary apprentice program.
The second and third downsells are two books that Phil has authored and offers on his site titled Real Estate Investing Gone Bad which covers a variety of mistakes newbies to the industry often make, as well as How to Be a Real Estate Investor, which is a step-by-step guide for beginner investors with case studies.
While both books are available on Amazon, Phil does offer his How to Be a Real Estate Investor book for free with a training video series in exchange for your email address.
The fourth downsell is his Pre-Apprentice program, which provides you with a lot of self-guided information as an addition to the course. This program is a lead in to get you to apply for the Apprentice program, giving you a taste of success in real estate investing.
Can You Make Money with the Freedom Mentor Program?
Yes, it is possible to make money with the Freedom Mentor program, but if you’re not careful, it could be a flash-in-the-pan success. If you want a sustainable, easy, consistent income, then it’s going to take a lot more work in building something reliable.
Investing of any kind involves a significant risk that’s hard to ignore. While real estate investing has a potential to grow and become very lucrative, there’s quite a few risks along the way.
Do I think that Phil Pustejovsky’s Freedom Mentor course is the real deal? Yup, I do think that he runs a legitimate company and does find a true calling in helping people make money. There’s nothing shady that I could find about how he operates his business, which is a breath of fresh air.
Still, it should be noted that I found no clear success rate or percentage of students who have really succeeded and made it big as a direct result of the course.
From the sounds of it, it’s all up to you to figure it out, and unless you’re selected for the Apprentice program, the Freedom Mentor program is more of a springboard to success rather than a direct path.
Do You Need Previous Experience in Real Estate?
No, you don’t need any previous experience in real estate to join the course but having experience will definitely help you get established in the industry.
Whether you have you have previous experience in real estate investing, or any other field, knowledge of how real estate works is certain to give you an advantage in the market.
The primary focus of the Apprentice program is to provide one-on-one guidance into Phil’s “secret to success” in the real estate investing space. This kind of structure may prove valuable if you’re already in the space, but it’s not required.
Does Freedom Mentor Have a Refund Policy?
Yes, the Freedom Mentor Apprentice Program does have a refund policy, but it’s important to note that it’s primarily to assuage any buyer’s remorse. (Which is a very real and important thing to consider with a high-ticket sale like that.)
Why do I say that?
Well, because of the window – to take advantage of the refund policy, you must request your money back within 3 days of purchasing. That’s a rather narrow timeframe, but it is available as a full refund.
Is Freedom Mentor Backed By BBB?
No, while Freedom Mentor has a lot of reviews from students, neither the company nor Phil Pustejovsky show up in a search on BBB.org.
This isn’t to say that Freedom Mentor or Phil engage in shady practices; they just simply aren’t in the database. The program is, however, rated at 4.6 on Trustpilot, a similar site based on customer reviews.
Is the Program Legit?
Yes, I believe the Freedom Mentor program is a legitimate program that can help you create a successful real estate investing business, but only if you’re serious and willing to dedicate enough money to the venture.
My only real concern with the program is that I’m unsure how often the free coursework is updated, so I wouldn’t consider the Pre-Apprentice program as a valuable offering when the real value, according to many students, is not in the coursework and lists that can be found elsewhere with a little legwork, but in the one-on-one coaching with Phil.
I do believe that it’s important to be aware of all the costs incurred with the Apprentice Program, including any expenses required for purchasing and repairing properties. There are certainly easier ways to make money online outside of real estate investing.
Would I Recommend This Program?
While I do believe the program has a legitimate offer, I can’t bring myself to recommend anyone dives right into investing, especially with something so high-ticket and high stakes that it might plunge you into debt if you’re not careful.
Real estate investing is highly saturated and requires a significant investing skill. To me, it’s too much of a gamble to take without any familiarity in the market, and the mentoring program is very expensive if you don’t have a lot of starting cash to work with.
Overall, while it looks like a legitimate offering, I don’t recommend the program. I do, however, encourage you to make your own decision and do your own research into what is right for your individual circumstances.
Is There a Better Alternative?
I know what you’re thinking.
“Surely there’s a better way to make money.”
You’re right, too. I’ve been there, reviewing hundreds of companies, business models for years now, taking a deep dive into what makes a successful entrepreneur.
You might not be surprised to learn that very few, if any, are in MLMs. If they are, they’re usually at the top of the pyramid, with all their students or distributors parting with their cash just to line their pockets.
Chances are, you’re like me though, and you don’t want to feel like you’re ripping off someone else to get a little extra cash. I hate that feeling, which is why I went in search of a better business model.
After a few years, I finally found it: Local Marketing Vault.
This program puts you in the shoes of a professional networker, giving you the tools you need to create your own business and become your own boss. No upline to give your money to, and no obligation to bring anyone else into the business.
What you’ll learn: how to provide real, live local businesses with leads. These customers are already looking for the business’ services, it’s just your job to bring the two together.
Want to see if it’s the right choice for you? Check it out below to learn more.
References:
- Forbes.com, How to Invest in Real Estate, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/how-to-invest-in-real-estate/
- Huffpost.com, The Hiring Guru: Interview with a Mentor, Phil Pustejovsky, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-hiring-guru-interview_b_7072898
- BusinessInsider.com, 6 Tips from Top Entrepreneurs on Turning Real Estate Into Real Wealth, https://www.businessinsider.com/6-tips-on-turning-real-estate-into-real-wealth-2017-8
I buy and review courses so you don’t have to. Sometimes, I even find courses that are legitimate and worthwhile; and that’s how I accidentally came across one that led me to building a 6-figure business in a little under 5 years. Now, I still review courses because it’s my favorite hobby. 🙂 Learn more about me here.
