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Authority Income Accelerator Review (Updated 2025): Is Justin Saunders The Best SMMA Coach?

By: Joel & Josiah
authority income accelerator review

Authority Income Accelerator is a Social Media Marketing Agency (SMMA) program from Justin Saunders, and he’s confident it’ll take you to the next level in the world of digital marketing.

And if you’re reading this, you probably saw one of Justin’s ads that promise you all kinds of glory with his AIA program, which focuses mostly on Instagram marketing.

It always interests me when SMMA gurus decide to focus on one specific platform, as I do feel that they’re putting all their eggs in one basket – but on the flip side, they’d probably argue this method leads to more focused and specialized marketing.

The other interesting thing is that you will usually see this focus centered on TikTok, where Americans spend 53 minutes on TikTok vs 33 minutes on IG. Justin Saunders might be a little worried about any future laws from the USA banning TikTok, or perhaps he just wants to niche down.

Regardless of all that, making money off of social media is attractive to a lot of people for a lot of reasons. It sounds a lot better than grinding out a 9-5 every day, for a start.

People are looking to spend less time in a cubicle, and more time with family and friends…

…but you know who else knows that? Scammers.

You’re smart to have some concern, coming here to figure out if AIA is legit or not. Heck, you might have even checked out some of Saunders’ competition like Iman Gadzhi or Douglas James to see if they’re offering anything better.

Well, you’re in the right place.

I’ve been writing up reviews on these gurus and their programs for years now, covering all kinds of stuff from affiliate marketing niches to how to become a real estate investor, and you eventually figure out who the good, bad and the ugly are…

So I’ll take you through the pros and cons of Saunders’ own online course, we’ll figure out what the Authority Income Accelerator cost is, and we’ll even see if an IG SMMA is really the most profitable online business for you.

But for now, let’s get rolling with our Authority Income Accelerator review!

Disclaimer:
This authority income accelerator review has been thoroughly researched with information and testimonials that are available to anyone in the public. Any conclusions drawn by myself are opinions.
Training Curriculum
Mentorship
Community

Average Rating

3.00

You know, I think AIA's Justin Saunders just needs to get back to lead generation and making the 7-figures he claimed to make from that. Instead, he's limiting his students to only one social media platform, which really limits your income possibilities. Although I'd prefer more transparency than what he offers on his website, I do think it sounds like he's got a decent course - especially all the 1-on-1 coaching that happens. That and the community bring his score up for me, but I still think you can do better.

PROS

  • Justin Saunders has a solid following on Instagram, which means it's more believable he can help you there too.
  • Instagram keeps growing in popularity, which means you should be able to tap into potential customers.
  • Apparently you'll be paired up with a coach for accountability, which could mean you'll be more likely to stick to your plan.

CONS

  • While Instagram is popular, it's losing ground to TikTok at a rapid rate - which means you might be losing out on potential business.
  • A lack of transparency on the AIA website means you're left guessing as to what you'll really be getting here.
  • Because IG has been around for a while now, that means you'll have some intense competition already built in.

Why Listen To Us?

My name is Josiah, and this is my Dad, Joel.

Together, we make up the team here at Scamrisk.

If you’ll let me bother you for two minutes, I’d like to quickly explain why I’m even here writing this review.

In early 2020, I had just graduated from college & had no real career prospects.

I knew I was destined for something more, but I had no clue how I was going to make it happen.

I had this sinking feeling in my gut all the time… like the “big man upstairs” had accidentally given me the version of life where I’d be mediocre forever, instead of the one where I was, ya know – happy & fulfilled.

Anyway…

I had fiddled around with some different online businesses in college:

Some random MLMs, a bit of affiliate marketing, a (failed) dropshipping store or two, all the usual suspects.

Even my dad had been involved in MLMs back in the day… selling knives & other random nonsense people (probably) didn’t need.

All I really wanted was to find something that was going to actually work for me.

Maybe those things had worked for others, but for me it all turned up a fat “0” in the bank account department.

So I searched! And searched… and searched… and searched…

And eventually, I somehow stumbled upon a program that promised to help me build an income online (read about it here if you’re curious).

I didn’t really want to be “rich”.

The thought of making a reliable $5K per month & not having to worry about clocking in to a 9-to-5 ever again was all I needed.

Sure, there were people in the program doing high-6 and low-7 figures per year… but that wasn’t what I was out for.

I just wanted to provide freedom for myself, and if I was lucky, take my family along for the ride.

Fast forward a few days and a few phone calls & I was enrolled!

Here’s the first “money making website” I put up:

I built that site in 2020, and it still makes me $1,500 per month. It’s a basic 5 page website I built based on a template the program provides.

The best part to me? My dad and I get to do it all together!

So between the:

  1. Ease of reaching $5-$10K per month in income online
  2. Straightforward-ness of the system to do it
  3. Fact that I get to do it w/ my family

Is why I recommend local lead generation as my #1 business model for making money online.

Sure, it takes some work and dedication – but anyone that tells you that there’s a business out there that requires no work is selling you a lemon.

I’m not saying you need to sign up for the same program I did, but I would definitely recommend giving the business model a peek!

Contents

TLDR – What’s The Verdict On Authority Income Accelerator?

what is authority income accelerator

Authority Income Accelerator is a program that hits a sub-niche of the SMMA business model, in that they exclusively deal with Instagram marketing.

I think niching down is generally a good idea, but we also have to acknowledge that you’re automatically leaving some “meat on the bone” by not expanding your marketing reach to other social media platforms like Twitter/X, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

Not to mention the benefits you’re missing out from SEO-ranking onto Google’s front page of search results.

And with Mark Zuckerberg’s notorious issues with advertisers, it’s extra dangerous to put all your eggs in this one basket, in my opinion.

That said, AIA’s model of paid ads on IG isn’t without its merit. There are advantages to doing this, as you won’t be spread out and should be able to market very effectively since you’ll be hyper-focused.

Ad agencies in general are a pretty solid bet if you’re gonna start your own internet marketing business, and social media is out-performing traditional online media outlets in a lot of ways.

But if you really wanna take digital marketing to the next level, then you won’t limit yourself.

Digital Leasing is killing it these days with a local lead generation business model where you consistently get paid for bringing in customers to local business owners! This reduces your competition instead of facing down everyone else on IG, and you could actually break out of that rat race.

Have you ever had a nightmare where you’re getting chased, but you can’t get away?

How about you turn that nightmare-anxiety into an action-movie dream, where you take control of your destiny – and control of your life. Digital Leasing can give you that confidence, all while stacking cash in your hand.

The students seem extremely passionate about what they’re doing – not just getting by, but creating their own future.

digital leasing legit

That said, if you’d like to hear some more about our Authority Accelerator review, let’s keep on rolling.

Who Benefits From AIA…And Who Is It Wrong For?

AreaScoreDescription
Time Investment3/5This shouldn’t take too long to get off the ground, especially since it only focuses on Instagram.
Level of Control2/5If you’re only on one platform, then you’re risking a lot if anything goes wrong.
Ease of Implementation4/5Mostly easy to start, although you’ve gotta have a good handle on social media to maximize ease.
Profit Potential4/5Solid start, but needs to branch out in order to maximize ad agency potential.

Sometimes looking for programs and courses online can be super frustrating. It seems like just when you think you’ve got the coolest guru, you realize you can’t actually make any money with what they offer…

…and then on the other hand, you’ve identified a can’t-miss business model, but all the coaches are too boring to listen to!

So, let’s go over AIA and figure out if it makes sense.

Authority Income Accelerator might be for you if…

  1. You spend a lot of time on Instagram and would like to make money off it
  2. You like Saunders’ youthful energy
  3. You’ve done well with other courses before (like Local Marketing Vault)

On the other hand, it probably doesn’t make sense to join up if…

  1. You’d like to see a few more student reviews out there
  2. You don’t wanna put all your eggs in one basket
  3. You prefer more open information on a program’s website

Authority Income Accelerator At A 1,000 FT View

justin saunders instagram course

When it’s time to start your own SMMA, you gotta make sure you do it right.

For example, while paid ads can give you a solid short-term boost, drawing in organic traffic can be much more sustainable in the long term.

However, since AIA mostly focuses on bringing beginners on board, it’s no surprise that their business model is primarily all about paying for sponsored ads. This is much easier and straightforward, although you do have to make sure you still strategize correctly.

Think about it: you’re still trying to get your ad seen before every other SMMA campaign, in addition to anyone else targeting similar demographics or keywords on Instagram! It’s a huge ocean of rivals to face down each and every day.

If you wanna keep your clients happy, you’ll need to be sure you can deliver success – they’re not gonna give you money for nothing, after all.

I would give you a word of warning, however: I saw a video on Jason Saunders’ YouTube channel where he says he can take a beginner with 0 dollars to their name, and help them generate 100k overnight.

Those kinds of big promises can mess with your mindset, and leave you feeling down and out when you inevitably struggle.

If you really like stacking cash every month, it’s hard to argue with the way Digital Leasing are taking ad agencies to the next level. They don’t guarantee you anything except the knowledge you need to succeed – the rest is up to you slamming down that alley-oop!

If it’s financial freedom you’re after, give it a shot!

Who Is Justin Saunders?

who is justin saunders

Justin Saunders is a young entrepreneur who originally came out of Kentucky (graduate from the University of Kentucky) but now lives down in Miami, Florida. Back in KY he was a literal frat boy, serving as a key leader in his Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

He first got his shot in the marketing world by going door-to-door pitching advertisements to local businesses in his area, but in 2017 he realized he should just go ahead and take the whole operation online.

Justin began in lead generation, niching down into healthcare and solar energy providers – it’s too bad he didn’t stick with this, as local lead gen is typically the most profitable business model out there!

In 2019, he decided to branch out into becoming a full-blown digital marketing coach, and I guess he figured it would be easier to teach people how to market on IG. After all, while there is less upside, it is easier to focus on.

How Much Does Authority Income Accelerator Cost?

While they are not entirely transparent about it, it appears that it’ll cost you at least $2,000 to join up with AIA.

What Is AIA’s Refund Policy?

Unfortunately, it seems like there is no official refund policy for Justin Saunders’ course.

Personal Opinion On Authority Income Accelerator

authority income accelerator scam or legit

I’ve got a lot of opinions on AIA, but let’s start with the basics.

It’s a tricky world out there…how exactly should you go about finding the right course for you?

  • Ask yourself if you can really do this for the rest of your life
  • Think about the guru’s energy and if it matches yours
  • See if they have a refund policy for peace of mind

It’s hard to say if Authority Income Accelerator is the best at what they do – they certainly don’t seem like the worst, for what that’s worth.

To be fair, here’s a quick 3 things I like about their program:

  1. Instagram is a very popular platform
  2. Justin Saunders has lots of fiery, youthful energy
  3. Starting a marketing agency can be very profitable

…and, to be fair, 3 things I don’t really like:

  1. Focusing only on IG seems like you’re missing out
  2. No refund policy
  3. This program has only been around since 2022

Is There An Authority Income Accelerator Scam Going On Here?

Social Media Page
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/authorityincomeaccelerator/
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/justinjaysaunders/?hl=en
YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@JustinSaunders

“Authority Income Accelerator scam” pops up often when you do a Google search for Justin Saunders’ program…

…but does that really mean he’s running a scam?

Probably not.

Technically, something is only truly a scam when the guru makes a ton of big promises and gives you no real product or service in return.

So, even if Saunders’ program isn’t the best, I still think you’ll get some value for your money – so he’s not technically running a scam.

While AIA has only been up and running since 2022, it does seem like Justin Saunders knows what he’s talking about, and won’t rip you off entirely.

I just think that we’re missing something here with the Instagram-only approach, you know?

It reminds me of opening a pizza shop and then only serving pepperoni. You’re leaving extra opportunity on the table!

If you wanna open up a whole menu of options (in addition to the social media marketing world), then you’ve gotta go for Digital Leasing.

This way, you’ll learn how to engineer traffic organically through Search Engine Optimization! That means you save monthly expenses, while creating more sustainable cash flow.

The local lead generation model provides that financial freedom you’re really looking for, where you can really rake in the money and watch it roll in every month!

What’s Inside Authority Income Accelerator?

whats inside authority income accelerator cost money online strategy module

While AIA’s transparency isn’t great, I did manage to dig a few things up from what you’ll get:

  • Lifetime access to everything that you are taught in the course
  • One-on-one calls with coaches up to five times every week
  • A spreadsheet so you can track your goals and output
  • A private community where you can celebrate wins and figure out losses
  • IG Ads templates to help automate everything
  • Scripts that you can “copy/paste” to close sales
  • A workbook that’ll hold your hand step by step

Conclusion Of My Justin Saunders Review

So, should you go all-in with AIA?

I wouldn’t.

If you’re really obsessed with marketing only on Instagram, then sure, it might be worth experimenting with Saunders’ program.

But if you’re just looking to kill it anyway you can online, then you’ve gotta get out there and find something a bit more established – and something that covers more ground than just one social media platform.

If I’m running a Social Media Marketing Agency, why leave meat on the bone?

I’d wanna maximize my income stream.

I’d wanna spend the most time I can with my family and friends, and Digital Leasing gets that job done for you. This way, businesses chase YOU down because selling a product that’s “evergreen” in demand – customers – is so valuable. You’ll keep the cash streaming in no matter what’s going on with the world!

Who knows, maybe you’ll even work from the beach one day…

What’s My #1 Way To Make Money In 2025?

What Is My Top Recommendation For Making Money Online - Digital Leasing

I have spent years researching, reviewing, and vetting dozens of business models and thousands of programs.

While there may be no “perfect business”, the research IS conclusive:

Digital Leasing is the #1 online business model for those just starting out.

Whether you’ve never made a dollar online, or you’ve been in this space for a while but never really “made it,” Digital Leasing is for you.

Why?

1) It’s Flexible: got an hour a day? You can do this. Ready to drop everything else and dive in full time? You can do this. Yes, the more time you put in, the faster you see results. But even with a little time each day, you can move the needle in a Digital Leasing business.

And because this system is so flexible, you don’t have to constantly be working to make more money. It’s called PASSIVE INCOME because if you stop working, the money doesn’t. 

Imagine taking 3 months off to just tour around Europe, rent a cabin in the woods to write a book, hike the Appalachian Trail, or live on the beach and surf all day. 

This is only possible if you have an income stream that’s not tied to your time.

2) You Own & Control EVERYTHING: With an Instagram marketing agency, you don’t really own anything. 

You’re a hired gun for clients on ONE app, and if anything ever happens to that app, you’re done.

Sure, you own your agency, but if your business grinds to a halt once you stop working, all you really have is a self-created job.

If Mark Zuckerberg keeps on going after marketing agency ads, then your livelihood goes down the drown. Doesn’t sound very stable, does it?

With Digital Leasing (a passive income stream), you own all the assets, which means you have all the power and all the control.

3) Little To No Startup Costs: It’s possible to get into Digital Leasing with zero dollars upfront. Because, using the strategies outlined in this program, you can get a client to pay you BEFORE spending a penny out of your own pocket…even before you do any work. 

Even without getting paid in advance, you can have your first Digital Rental Property up, running, and generating profits for less than $100.

With AIA, the startup costs are a little high, and then there are upsells after that.

All in all, it’s gonna take a lot more investment with Justin Saunders, when they only teach you about ONE way to advertise – IG. That means no Facebook, no YouTube, and no Google ranking methods.

Personally, I think you could get a lot more with Digital Leasing.

4) Easy To Duplicate: Ok, here’s the best part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up and running, you can literally DOUBLE your income with a few clicks, a couple keystrokes, and a single phone call (and you don’t actually need the phone call).

Remember: each Digital Rental Property is worth $500 to $2,000 a month in semi-passive income (over 95% profit). Every time you decide to create another one and increase your income, it gets easier.

Because you have more knowledge, more experience, more results, and more momentum. 

If you wanted to double your income with AIA, you’d have to double your clients OR double the monthly payment of your existing customers. And, guaranteed that’s a lot harder than a few clicks and a few minutes of your life.

And if you wanna double up your audience to start, you’d probably have to double up your paid ads to get that done. Doubling those kind of ads would also double your monthly expenses, which sounds like a real pain in the butt…

5) Make Money Helping Real People: This part is what makes it all worth it. With Digital Leasing, you’re actually helping people by solving your clients’ biggest problem:

Small, local businesses need more customers, and with Digital Leasing, you are unleashing a flood of happy, paying customers for these businesses. It’s deeper than social media marketing.

You make money by helping them make money. 

Not a big, faceless corporation either…a small business owner who’s using that money to put food on the table for their family, start a college fund for their kids, or take care of a sick parent. 

Once you see how Digital Leasing makes a real impact in the lives of real people, you’ll sleep like a baby with a big smile on your face.

Now, the choice is yours. You could continue browsing, looking at opportunities like AIA which could one day make you money.

You could continue researching, never making a decision. 

OR, you could take a look inside, consider what you really want, and join a program that makes your dreams a reality. At the same time, joining a community of over 2,000 successful students that are living life on their own terms thanks to Digital Leasing.

A consistent, reliable, semi-passive stream of income that doesn’t depend on you or your time to keep producing profits. 

All while genuinely helping real people who are grateful and happy to pay for it. 

If this sounds more like what you want out of life (or if you just want some nice side income), click here to learn more about Digital Leasing.

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