You’ve gone through thousands and thousands of websites, and you’ve finally found this fancy-looking real estate investment coaching program only to ask yourself:
Is Fortune Builders a scam or a genuine educational platform that I learn from?
You see, I understand that the brand name is indeed an attention grabber. Who wouldn’t want to build a fortune during these trying times, especially from the comfort of their home?
Well, similar to my previous review onWorld Wide Dream Builders, the brand name says it all. It is as if you know right from the very beginning that this is a company that aims to help your build your empire in the field of real estate.
But here is the thing…
You have to remember that not everything you see online is true to its word. In fact, a quick search onScam Watchshows you that for 2020 alone, about $89 million are lost online due to online scams.
What is scary about this is that the number of reports for this year keeps on growing, and by the looks of it, it’s not planning to stop anytime soon.
As you probably have searched online, there are countless ways to earn an additional income, and real estate one of them. Investing in properties can undoubtedly increase your financial status, but it can also send you to the point of no return.
This industry calls for rigorous training since it is almost impossible to become successful on your own. Realizing this, more and more companies are responding to this challenge by developing educational platforms such as the one I’m writing of today.
I know that there are numerous training tools and educational videos online about real estate, but joining a paid education company might prove to be the best option after all.
And when we’re discussing real estate investment courses, then it would be foolish to overlap the one that has been making the most intense buzz lately – Fortune Builders.
Let me be completely transparent before I proceed with this review.
I am not in any way associated with Fortune Builders, so you can rest assured that I won’t try to pitch or sell you on their courses.
Instead, I will help you make up your mind whether you want to invest in this course by showing you all the realities and sharing all the less-known facts of the product. So, if you are ready to begin, then buckle up and off we go.
Table of Contents
The Fortune Builders Family
Fortune Builders prides itself in being the “premier real estate education” company with their fool-proof systems, training programs, tools, and coaching sessions for aspiring real estate investors.
It was founded in San Diego, California by real estate moguls Merill, Esajian, and Sopielnikow in 2006 and Inc. Magazine quickly recognized it as one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies.
The three of them started their journey as a team back in 2004 when they founded CT Homes, LLC. Based on their company’s timeline, they were able to flip their first property on that same year too!
The following year, JD came into the picture as he helped the team complete a hundred real estate transactions by the end of 2005.
Than Merillis one of the most successful people in the field of real estate. He is a sought-after public speaker who started his speaking engagement career back in 2006 in front of the members of the Real Estate Investment Association (REIA).
He is also an Amazon best-selling author for his books “The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible” (availablehere) and “E-Myth Real Estate Investor” (availablehere) which he co-wrote with Michael Gerber.
Paul Esajianholds under his belt a degree in Economics from the University of California. He is the CFO of three multimillion-dollar companies, namely Fortune Builders, CT Homes, and Grand Coast Capital Group.
Like Merill, he also wrote a book entitled The Real Estate Rehab Investing Bible (availablehere) published by Wiley Publishing.
JD Esajianis the current president of CT Homes, LLC, and he oversees all the deals and rehabs for the company. Unlike Paul and Than, he does not have his own book, but he is regularly involved with the Fortune Builders’ charitable initiatives.
Konrad Sopielnikowis a graduate of Yale University and is the man behind the technology, innovation, and legal systems for the CT Homes and Fortune Builders. His expertise in business systems and technology enabled him to expand the company’s online presence.
Aside from the founders, Fortune Builders also has acomprehensive list(more than 25!) of experts and coaches who have specific expertise. Depending on the event and the session topic, those who are enrolled in the course can meet them all.
What is Fortune Builders?
To simplify, Fortune Builders aims to teach aspiring real estate investors how to go about and earn continuously from their time-tested systems. It is considered to be the perfect educational course for people of all sorts of levels as you will get actual information from successful real estate stars themselves.
I don’t know about you, but for me, an experienced coach is still better than others who only rely on textbook knowledge. Yeah sure, a great book goes a long way, but a great mentor can take you even further.
The Fortune Builders features a pretty big online community. What I love the most about the company though is that it actually has a ton positive reviews from actual atendees.
You see, the thing about scams is that you can easily spot them based on the quality of reviews. This program on the other hand garnered a whopping 4.5 out of 5 stars from 913 reviews! Check out this video below to see some of the comments of the attendees from the Fortune Builders’ workshop.
Fortune Builders’ Training Products
Like what I have been telling all my readers in most of my previous posts, you should invest in yourself first before investing money right away.
Similar to that notion, Fortune Builders states that the sole purpose of their training is to share their knowledge, systems, and coaches with investors at all levels – from aspiring novices to experienced veterans.
With that being said, the curriculum for their courses is explicitly designed to cast light on the challenges that surround investing and running your own business in real estate.
The company offers three things: a Mastery Coaching program, real estate investing events, and materials for real estate investing courses.
Before you become a mastery student, you will be tasked to complete a form on their website to book an interview schedule. After the interview, they will “prescribe” you with the path you need to take to begin your journey in real estate.
But please do note that depending on their prescription, the course fee may be anywhere between $35,000 and $40,000!
The Mastery Coaching program is the all-in-one package which features things such as the one-on-one mentoring and support, the weekly live training sessions, course materials, and access to live events and bootcamps.
The live events are as follows:
- Full Immersion
- Passive Cashflow Intensive
- Wholesaling Bootcamp
- REO and Shortsale Bootcamp
- Marketing Systems Immersion
- Rehab Bootcamp
- Intensive Mindset
- The Money Academy
- Rental Property Intensive
- Internet Quickstart Academy
- Office Systems Academy
- Online Business Bootcamp
The real estate investing events come in different titles such as Acquisitions and Wholesaling Bootcamp, Rehabbing Bootcamp, REO & Shortsale Bootcamp, and the 3-Day Real Estate Workshop. All of these are only reserved for registerered coaching students.
Lastly, they also feature the course materials or what they call the “blueprints” for harnessing the best investing strategy. There are four courses to choose from:
- Marketing for deals $1197.00
- Rehabbing and maximizing profits $1197.00
- Wholesaling for quick cash $1,197.00
- Tax liens and tax deeds $397.00.
3 Fortune Builder Realities
Reality 1: The price of the course may overwhelm you! 😵😵😵
You see, I understand that real estate investments involve risk and that you might find solace in knowing that you learned from Fortune Builders…but is it really worth it?
While there is not doubt that their curriculum can turn you into a pro with its comprehensive topics along with the 1-on-1 coaching, the expensiveness may stop almost everyone on their track. Just take a look at some of the blueprints from above which show you that each course costs around $1K on average.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that it is a deal you should avoid taking. At the end of the day, it all depends on your budget and on your seriousness about this type of investment.
But for people who feels unsure of gambling a huge chunk of money like that, I suggest you stay away and take a look at my number one recommendation for making money online at the end of this review.
Reality 2: You get to learn from the “brain” you want! 👍👍👍
Fortune Builders have different coaching levels by which you can have access to a wide range of real estate investing coaches.
What sets this educational platform apart is that you can be coached by the leaders in the field based on a niche you are interested in.
I’m not sure if you knew, but other similar educational platforms usually have no more than five teachers to handle the coaching sessions. It does sound kind of sketchy at first, don’t you think?
Reality 3: You are not just paying for the course, you are also paying for the tools 🧰🧰🧰
If you are really interested in joining this program, then you might become even more motivated because based on my research, the platform offers you different tools that aim to make your life easier.
The tools are quite relevant, which makes me think that maybe it is one of the reasons why the payment for the course is so big. Some of the tools you can use as a Fortune Builder member are the deal analyzers, the repair estimator, and the readily available templates and plans.
So, is Fortune Builders a Scam?
I know how hard it is to invest your time and hard-earned money without determining whether the educational platform you are choosing is a scam or an actual legit program that can help you thrive in these chaotic times.
Well, there’s no doubt that their flagship course and live events are well thought of and are beneficial for those who aspire to earn from real estate.
In essence, Fortune Builders may not be a scam, but in all honesty, I believe that this is not an opportunity that everyone can take due to the courses’ heavy price tag.
Why Not go for something that’s more budget-friendly? ☺️
Now that you’ve found out whether Fortune Builders is a scam or not, you might be seriously wondering if there are any other legit and investment-worthy platforms out there.
Well, wonder no more because the answer is yes.
There are other platforms online, and as promised, I will gladly walk you through my most recommended way to earn passive income online.
Similar to you, I usually spend my waking hours looking for genuine income opportunities online. I have tried several promising applications and websites, but nothing comes close to my experience with affiliate marketing.
You see,this platform (read full review here)allows me to generate a realistic amount of money that is more than enough to sustain my day-to-day expenses and live life on my terms.
Unlike the courses under Fortune Builders, it teaches you the winning ways and gives you the bulls-eye formula to succeed in this online business by building your own website in a niche you’re actually passionate about.
The platform I’m talking about doesn’t require you to have a degree in computer science, and it has one of the most welcoming communities you can find nowadays.
The platform I’m talking about is called Wealthy Affiliate.
It features an extremely close-knit community that enables you to reach out to any member at any time during the day and get all the support you need to jump-start your new online business.
You can sign-up without paying a dime, and I promise that you won’t get surprised by any hidden costs along the road.
Some of the members are currently earning four figures of passive income within their first year of starting. The following screenshot is proof of that.
All the training and tools you need to thrive as an affiliate marketer in this online chaos can be found within this platform.
You’ll get a chance to learn all sorts of new skills such as; how to create a site, how to build traffic, and most importantly, how to monetize it into a successful source of passive income.
I’m also a member of this community and can personally vouch for the legitimacy of this educational tool. My knowledge and skills in building and managing sites are what got you here on this page.
Hopefully, my review of Fortune Builders has shed light on the intricacies of their courses and ultimately answer the question of whether this educational platform is a scam or not.
If you liked my unbiased review, I would highly appreciate it if you would share it on some of your social media platforms. Also, if you have any additional questions, feel free to comment them down below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
FAQs
Is Fortune Builders a Scam? You Might Want to Read This...? ›
Bought into a scam. They sale it as NO MONEY OUT Of YOUR POCKET. And they had people there to get credit cards so people could join.
What does FortuneBuilders do? ›FortuneBuilders, based in San Diego, is the premier real estate investment education company in the country.
Who are the owners of Fortune Builder? ›ishaaq ahmed - Founder & Managing Director - Fortune builders and developers | LinkedIn.
Who founded FortuneBuilders? ›Paul Esajian, Co-Founder of FortuneBuilders and CFO of CT Homes, is one of nation's premier real estate investors and speakers.
Is tax lien wealth builders legit? ›Tax Lien Wealth Builders is rated "Excellent" with 4.9 / 5 on Trustpilot.
How does real estate asset management work? ›Asset management is meant to cultivate market value so ownership can increase its returns, whether it has to do with real estate or any other asset. An asset manager manages assets on behalf of someone else, making important investment decisions that will help the client's portfolio grow.
What is the revenue of FortuneBuilders? ›FortuneBuilders has 423 employees, and the revenue per employee ratio is $18,203. FortuneBuilders peak revenue was $7.7M in 2021.
What type of company is Fortune? ›Fortune Media Corporation, also known as Fortune Media Group, is the multinational media company that publishes Fortune magazine, Fortune.com, and other business media (including the Global Forum, Most Powerful Women, and Brainstorm conferences) under the Fortune brand.
Who are FortuneBuilders competitors? ›FortuneBuilders top competitors include: McKissock LP, SL Green Realty Corp, Continental Realty Corp, Jamestown LP What companies has FortuneBuilders acquired?
Who is JD Esajian? ›JD is the President of CT Homes LLC, a real estate investment and redevelopment company headquartered in San Diego, CA.
Who owns T Square? ›
Thomas Tollifson - President/Founder - T-Square Real Estate Services, Inc.
Who owns Capital Square 1031? ›Louis Rogers - CEO and Founder - Capital Square 1031 | LinkedIn.
Does a tax lien ruin your credit? ›While tax liens don't impact your credit score, they are a matter of public record and can hurt your chances of getting a mortgage or a loan. A lender may search for tax liens as part of its due diligence when evaluating your credit or loan application.
Is it worth investing in tax liens? ›Property tax liens can be a viable investment alternative for experienced investors familiar with the real estate market. Those who know what they are doing and take the time to research the properties upon which they buy liens can generate substantial profits over time.
How much money do you need for asset management? ›Managers can also charge clients in other ways, which can include hourly charges, fixed fees, commissions and performance-based fees. While the specific amount you'll pay for wealth management will vary significantly by firm, you'll probably need at least $1 million.
Can you make a lot of money in asset management? ›As a post-MBA Analyst at a large mutual fund, total compensation might be on par with what post-MBA IB Associates earn: around $250K to $350K. At the Portfolio Manager level, earning potential is around $1.0 – $1.5 million per year.
How do asset managers get paid? ›As an asset manager, you make money by charging a management fee for your services. The fee structure can vary from firm to firm, but an annual fee of one to two percent of the total value of assets managed is common. In other words, the bigger the client, the higher your fee.
What is Merrill Lynch yearly revenue? ›Merrill Lynch revenue is $13.8B annually. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found the following key financial metrics. Merrill Lynch has 15,100 employees, and the revenue per employee ratio is $913,907. Merrill Lynch peak revenue was $13.8B in 2021.
What is the business model of home builders? ›The Basics of the Homebuilding Business Model
On a basic level, these companies tend to operate either by: Buying land outright, and developing it into new homes. Buying contracts on land, giving them the option to develop. Buying options contracts on fully developed land (in the case of NVR Homes)
It manages real estate assets of around CHF 6.5 billion for Swiss pension funds. The company is headquartered in Zurich and has offices in New York and Sydney. It employs a total of around 40 real estate specialists.
Is Fortune Retail legit? ›
About Fortune Retail
It is further classified as a Non-govt company. It has a total paid-up capital of Less than $10,000 and an authorized capital of Less than $10,000. The CIN number of Fortune Retail Private Limited is U51900MH2004PTC148686.
Digital and Premium monthly subscribers can terminate their subscription by signing in to Fortune.com and navigating to the My Account page and turning “OFF” auto-renew in the Subscriptions tab. You will have access to the end of that paid period and will not be charged for future terms.
Who is Acre Trader competitor? ›AcreTrader's top competitors include Harvest Returns, FarmlandFinder, and FranShares.
Who are realty mogul competitors? ›The other five competitors in the top 10 list are reit.com (117.0K visits in March 2023), equitymultiple.com (39.0K visits in March 2023), fidelity.com (88.3M visits in March 2023), crowdstreet.com (538.4K visits in March 2023), and adventuresincre.com (185.5K visits in March 2023).
Who are Blackstone Asset Management competitors? ›Blackstone's main competitors are Apollo Global Management, Oaktree Capital Group, KKR & Co., and the Carlyle Group.
Where is Than Merrill now? ›Than shot many seasons with the show as it was the first reality real estate show of it's kind and it has since helped spawn many other real estate reality shows. Than Merrill and his partners expanded their real estate and educational companies, and opened offices in San Diego, CA where he now resides.
Is Than Merrill married? › What are T squares used for? ›A T-square is a tool used in technical drawing, primarily as a guide for drawing straight horizontal lines on a drafting table. It can also be used in conjunction with a set square to draw vertical and angled lines. Its name is derived from its resemblance to the letter 'T'.
Why did Masato Honda leave T-Square? ›Masato Honda left T-Square in 1997 to be the leader of the Voice of Elements.
Who owns Times square properties? ›
maryann lynch - OWNER - times square properties | LinkedIn.
Is Biden taking away 1031? ›President Biden's 2024 Budget
President Biden has released his proposed budget for 2024, which again looks to eliminate 1031 like-kind exchanges.
Summary of 1031 Exchanges
However, there are also several potential downsides that investors should consider. They include the cost, the limited time frame in which to find a replacement property, and the requirement that these transactions are limited to real property held for investment.
IPX1031: Best Overall 1031 Exchange Company. IPX1031 is the largest 1031 Exchange company in the US. The company acts as a full-service Qualified Intermediary in all types of tax deferred 1031 Exchange transactions in all 50 US states. IPX1031 was founded in 1988, with headquarters in Chicago, IL.
How does wealth front work? ›Wealthfront offers a line of credit for customers with at least $25,000 invested in their account. You can borrow a maximum of 30% of your portfolio value, sans fees or credit checks. The line of credit application takes less than 30 seconds to fill out and typically charges between 2.40% and 3.65% in annual interest.
Who is Than Merrill married to? › What is Trepac investment? ›TREPAC is a voluntary, nonprofit, unincorporated group whose membership consists of REALTORS® and others interested in protecting the free rights of property ownership in the United States. As a political action committee, TREPAC complies with all federal and state campaign-investment laws.
Is it worth paying for wealth management? ›In general, you should consider a wealth manager if have a high net worth and want comprehensive management of your finances. However, an important element to consider with a wealth manager, or any other financial advisor, is the minimum asset requirement for opening an account.
Are wealth planners worth it? ›A financial advisor is worth the money if you are uncertain about how to manage your money, invest for your future, and take care of your family. Expert financial advice may be needed at various turning points in your life: when you have a child, get a promotion, or come into an inheritance.
How much money do you need to see a wealth manager? ›Any minimums in terms of investable assets, net worth or other metrics will be set by individual wealth managers and their firms. That said, a minimum of $2 million to $5 million in assets is the range where it makes sense to consider the services of a wealth management firm.
What football player turned real estate agent? ›
Former Atlanta Falcons LB Brandon Copeland's next venture is a real estate reality show.
How did Dina Merrill get so rich? ›Her riches not only come from her acting career but also from a variety of businesses she deals with including the Lehman Brothers. Dina was born in New York in the New York City and is the daughter of a great banker by the name Edward Francis and a wealthy mother called Marjorie Merriweather.
What NFL team did Than Merrill play for? ›...
Than Merrill.
| No. 22 | |
|---|---|
| College: | Yale |
| NFL Draft: | 2001 / Round: 7 / Pick: 223 |
| Career history | |
| Chicago Bears (2001) Barcelona Dragons (2002) Amsterdam Admirals (2003) | |
Contributions to the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC), the Texas REALTORS® Federal Political Action Committee (TAR FedPAC), and the REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) are voluntary and may be used for political purposes.
Who is the biggest asset owner? ›Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund remains the largest asset owner in the world, with US$1.7trn. It is followed by the two largest sovereign wealth funds: Norway's Norges Bank Investment Management, with US$1.4trn, and China Investment Corporation, with US$1.2trn.
Who is the biggest private asset manager? ›BlackRock is the largest asset manager in the world and the first to manage more than US$10 trillion, according to the report.