Fortune Builders 3-day Workshop???????

Question

Hey guys. I purchased the 3-day workshop for 197 (for two tickets) and I am able to get a refund if I wanted to. Has anyone gone to the 3-day summit? I know they're going to try to sell us their bigger, more expensive program, which I will not be purchasing, but I was wondering if the 3-days were worth it...

J Scott · Answer

Some places to start:

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/7565...

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1586...

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1132...

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1736...

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/88/topics/1786...

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1509...

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1301...

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/9275...

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1394...

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1453...

Jon Whitener · Answer

For what it's worth, I just completed the real estate insiders summit, Fortune builders' three day workshop in Romulus Michigan which is in Metro Detroit. Overall I'm glad I went. With some reservations.

I wasn't able to attend Friday morning, but three people told me I didn't miss much. Friday afternoon was worthwhile. I should say that I am fairly brand new to real estate investing have done some reading, listening to BiggerPockets podcasts, etc.

Generally I would break the workshop down into three roughly equal thirds.

• one third was motivational speaking which I liked.
• 1/3 was useful information. 
• And 1/3 was selling fortune builders mastery program.

As I said, Friday afternoon was worthwhile; I took a lot of notes. All day Saturday was a waste of my time. All they did was talk about the various features of Fortune Builders system once you buy in. You can buy in at three levels, from $20,000 to 34 or $35,000. So Saturday sucked and I was angry about it.

Sunday was much better with a lot of information. The presenter spent significant time on exotic deals that were nowhere near what I was interested in at this point, but the day was still worthwhile.

The presenter's name was Gerald Martin, and he was excellent. If he breaks out to become  a motivational speaker on his own, I would probably pay to see him.

So yes one day (Saturday) was a waste of my time, but overall I'm glad I went. He spent a lot of time teaching the "make money"/success mindset and getting over your fear, which was helpful to me.

They passed out cards for people to fill out so they could be interviewed for the very expensive Mastery Program. I simply didn't fill out my card so they didn't call me for that. So I can say that besides the waste of an entire day talking about the features of their paid system, the overall sales was not a very hard pitch. In other words you didn't have anyone trying to corner you into doing something you weren't comfortable with.

At the end, on the survey, they asked what I thought the value of the summit was. I said it was about $150, less than the 197 I paid. That's all due to the wasteful Saturday. Also my wife was not able to come so it was just me. So I'm not entirely unhappy that I went. I expected the sales pitches so I wasn't too surprised. I got some solid information and perspective for a real estate beginner.

Oh and one more thing about the Saturday when they went over all the features of their online fortune builders system that you can buy into. Although they didn't give me any information that I can use (because I'm not going to buy that system), it was interesting to see all the things that their system does. It gave me a good sense of all the functions I will need to tend to one way or another. It really is an impressive system if it works as well as it was presented.

Hope this helps.

Jon

David Dachtera · Answer

@Andriana  Babikian,

I have done the FB three-day as well as others and it is, as is said here, some information, some motivation and some selling - they're pushing a circa. $40k program.

However, for $197 for three days, it's actually a fair value, in my estimation.

Like others here, I've been through other education and have only a limited amount of experience. Still, I came away from FB's 3-day with notes I never got anywhere else.

So, from that perspective, it was money and time well spent for me.

That said, the 3 days will be quite grueling - 9 hour days and since it's held on the weekend, conveniently available lunch places will likely be closed by the time they actually break for lunch, often after 2pm.

If you want to learn salesmanship as well as the RE info. let yourself listen to the pitch for the upsell. Engage them to the point of frustration because they will pursue you to get the "yes" that you know going in you're NOT going to give them. You will learn a lot about pursuasion and overcoming objections.

REI isn't just properties and closings, y'know, it's also engaging with potential partners, team members, buyers and sellers - you're going to need some keen marketing "arrows in your quiver" to be successful in REI. These people are highly trained salespeople - never hurts to learn from the best.

Just leave your checkbook and credit cards at home so you're not tempted.

My $0.02...

Disclosure: I have no relationship of any kind with Than Merrill or Fortune Builders

Bob B. · Answer

Spend the same amount of time on this site and you will learn much more.

Get your money back as soon as possible.

Good Luck

Lumi Ispas · Answer

@Adriana Babikian, go ahead and take the workshop. That's $33/day for each one of you, and the amount you'll learn - it will take you months to learn it from books or reading through posts. This class can get you ready to take action immediately!

I've taken the class and I am an experienced investor and broker, and I can say I still learned few new things. You always learn something new!

Buying into their more advanced program I don't advice, as it's kind of buying a PHD program when you barely are passing your middle school!

Good luck to you!

Evans Marcie · Answer

hi!  We are actually at the three day seminar, day one end.  While there have been some things I already knew from studying and listening to BP, I have also learned an incredible amount - it was worth it this far.  I will not be doing the mastery program.  However, I feel confident that I can actually leave here Sunday and DO the business - that confidence, to me, is invaluable.

James Wise · Answer

We went to a guru event once.

Click here to see how it went.

Melissa Gittens · Answer

Get your money back you will learn more by going on this site. I hate those guru events. I really believe you will learn more by just educating your self on this site and finding a mentor in your area who is actively investing. Best of luck!

Tim Grimmett · Answer

I also have paid for the three day seminar. I was very disappointed. It offered less information than the free four hour seminar. It was all about the upsale for the two days I was able to stomach. I left at lunch the second day around noon and did not even ask for my money back.

I often get coaching students in my program, that purchased Fortune Builders, who want private hand holding during the rehab process and were disappointed with out of state coaching by phone.

Fortune Builders 3-day Workshop???????

Most Popular Reply