Picture this: a Wall Street whiz trades his pinstripes for a chalkboard, turning math meltdowns into million-dollar paydays. That’s Steven Menking’s story, and in a recent Forbes podcast, Kieran Meadows unveils how Forum Education, a New York City tutoring agency, is making it rain for tutors—up to a cool million a year. Tutors, this isn’t your grandma’s gig work. It’s a talent agency for brain-shapers, and Menking’s journey from finance flop to tutoring top dog is your wake-up call. Ready to ditch the hustle and cash in on your skills? Let’s dive into the goldmine.
Tutors, Meet the Million-Dollar Mentors Rewiring Brains
Meadows spotlights Forum, co-founded in 2014 by Thomas Howell and David Phelps, who flipped the script on tutoring’s gig-economy blues. Tired of scraping by on $45 an hour while agencies raked in $200, they built a model where tutors are the stars—think Hollywood agents, but for number-crunching and word-wrestling wizards. With Menking grossing $500,000 yearly and top earners hitting seven figures, Forum’s proving that tutoring’s not just a side hustle—it’s a brain-changing career. Here’s how they do it, and how you can too.
Three Key Points:
- Forum treats tutors like talent, not temps, boosting earnings big-time.
- Specialized skills—like math mastery or neurodivergent support—pay off.
- Smart systems match tutors to clients, cutting the grind.
Numbers That Add Up
Menking’s no fluke—he’s a number sense ninja who swapped trading floors for tutoring desks. “He makes more now than in finance,” Meadows marvels, and it’s no wonder. Forum’s tutors, handpicked after a grueling vetting process (tougher than Harvard’s!), wield skills that turn chaos into clarity. Whether it’s cracking algebra or coaching kids through tricky concepts, they’re rewiring brains one session at a time. Tutors, hone your niche—those digits could be your ticket to the big leagues.
“Steven grosses around $500,000 a year,” Meadows said. “More than he did in finance.”
Brains Over Burnout
Forum’s secret sauce? They value the tutor’s mind, not just the clock. “Two tutors grossed over $1 million last year,” Meadows reveals, spotlighting their mastery of private school curricula and cognitive processing skills for neurodivergent learners. These aren’t rote drillmasters—they’re executive function gurus, helping kids organize, focus, and thrive. Tutors, ditch the gig mindset. You’re not a temp; you’re a talent. Forum negotiates your rates (up to $1,000 an hour!) and markets you, so you can focus on sparking growth.
“If you assume tutoring is a career, you design a business differently,” Howell told Meadows. “Tutors are the asset.”
Parents, Pony Up
Here’s my stickler moment: Forum’s magic doesn’t work without parental buy-in. They’re shelling out $400 to $1,000 per hour for these elite tutors, and they’d better back it up at home. Howell’s crew matches families with tutors who fit like a glove, but if parents flake on follow-through, that million-dollar potential fizzles. I’ve seen it—kids soar when moms and dads reinforce the plan. Tutors, you’re the maestro, but parents are the orchestra. No excuses—get them on board, or those brilliant brains stay grounded.
The villain? That dusty “tutoring’s just part-time” lie that keeps your wallet—and your students’ futures—stuck. Forum’s fix: talent-first thinking, specialized skills, and parental grit. Tutors, turbocharge your impact and your income with the Learning Success affiliate program —it’s your playbook for brain-boosting tools and bigger paychecks. Let’s rewrite the script and make every kid a winner!
Author: Laura Lurns
Find me on X https://x.com/lauralurns