Phil Pustejovsky review: popular free content, and an apprenticeship you pay for three ways
Phil Pustejovsky’s Freedom Mentor YouTube channel has drawn millions of views, and his Apprentice Program promises hands-on mentoring on real deals. Students pay an upfront fee, a monthly fee and half their profits. We reviewed whether that adds up.
Pustejovsky’s free content and low-cost book are a genuine introduction to real estate investing, and some students report profitable deals. But the Apprentice Program charges $3,000 upfront, $197 a month and takes 50% of profits until students reach $100,000, and his marketing claims more successful students than any program in history without evidence.
Who is Phil Pustejovsky?
Phil Pustejovsky is a Miami Beach-based real estate investor, author and founder of Freedom Mentor. His YouTube channel has been reported at more than 290,000 subscribers and over 50 million views, and he offers his book How to Be a Real Estate Investor free in exchange for an email address. He has run his mentoring program for more than a decade, and describes himself as North America’s leading real estate mentor.
The Apprentice Program
Applicants are screened for being coachable, committed and action-oriented. Those accepted pay $3,000 to enroll and $197 a month, and split profits 50/50 with Pustejovsky on their deals until they have earned $100,000. Those not accepted are typically offered a Pre-Apprentice program, reported at $997. Pustejovsky teaches the program’s modules himself, and reviewers describe the profit split as giving him an incentive to help students close good deals.
What the split really costs
Under the published terms, a student who generates $200,000 in profits gives up $100,000 of it to Pustejovsky, on top of $3,000 upfront and $2,364 a year in membership fees. A profit split can make sense when the mentor is putting in capital or sourcing deals; when the student is also paying upfront and monthly, critics argue students are effectively paying to do deals for their mentor.
Claims versus records
| Claim | Source | Status | What we found |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America’s leading real estate mentor | Pustejovsky’s marketing | Unverifiable | No independent ranking exists |
| More successful investors than any coaching program in history | Freedom Mentor marketing | Unsupported | No data provided |
| No upsells | Third-party review | Context needed | Program has a monthly fee and profit split, plus a lower-priced Pre-Apprentice option |
What students say
Positive
- Testimonials on review pages describe students closing first flips with profits of $47,000, and one reporting four deals netting more than $250,000 in 18 months.
- Students describe Pustejovsky as energetic and genuine.
Concerns
- Several independent reviewers say much of the material is available free online, and that students mainly pay for access to Pustejovsky.
- Reviewers call the combination of fees and profit split overpriced.
- An anonymous Ripoff Report post makes harsh accusations, with a company rebuttal; it is unverified and we have not relied on it.
We found no lawsuits or regulatory actions involving Phil Pustejovsky or Freedom Mentor.
Strengths and concerns
Strengths
- A large library of free videos and a free book.
- Clearly reported program pricing.
- Personal teaching from Pustejovsky.
- A profit split that aligns him with student deals.
Concerns
- Three layers of cost: upfront, monthly and 50% of profits.
- Unsupported superlative claims.
- Material that reviewers say is largely available free.
Who it suits
Good value: his free YouTube content and book.
Think carefully: before giving up half your early profits on top of upfront and monthly fees.
Questions to ask before joining
- Is there any refund if I don’t close a deal?
- Does Phil contribute capital or deal flow in exchange for the 50% split?
- Do monthly fees continue after I reach $100,000 in profits?
- Can I speak with several recent apprentices directly?
What would change our verdict
- Dropping either the upfront fee or the profit split;
- documented apprentice outcomes;
- removing unsupported superlatives.
What we couldn’t verify
- Current pricing and contract terms.
- Apprentice success rates.
- Refund policy.
Verdict history
October 15, 2026 · Initial review · Caution (5.3)
Sources
About this review
Investors Verdict is independent. We have no affiliate, referral or business relationship with Phil Pustejovsky or Freedom Mentor or any company mentioned, and no payment of any kind affects our verdicts.
This review is based on public records, court filings, news reports, company materials and published sources as of the date shown. Claims and allegations are attributed to their source. Verdicts and scores are our opinion based on the facts disclosed above, using our published review method. This review is not financial, legal or investment advice.