Understanding the model
A short explanation to help agents think through whether the structure fits the way they already work and want to grow.
A brokerage fit assessment for independent-minded Illinois REALTORS®
Are you keeping enough of what you earn from your real estate business?
Take the Brokerage Fit & Commission Clarity Assessment
Answer a short set of focused questions to evaluate whether a 100% commission, transparent-fee brokerage model may fit the way you already work, serve clients, and want to operate.
Enter your details below to begin. The assessment helps Ray understand your current brokerage situation, commission structure, questions about the brokerage structure, and next step so the follow-up can be direct and useful.
No pressure. Answer at your own pace and receive a clearer recommendation based on your situation, timing, and brokerage-fit readiness.
Designed for brokers who value autonomy, clarity, and client-first service
Independent-Minded REALTORS®
Operate your business
with autonomy.
Illinois / MRED
Built for licensed
brokers in the market.
Active Producers
Compare costs against
real transaction activity.
Client-First Agents
Keep the focus on
advocating for clients.
Referral Advocates
Share a consistent
message with peers.
Clear fees. Independent agents. Straightforward answers before you make a move.
Yan B.
Agent feedback
I met with Ray who is very professional and knowledgeable. He was also very clear with all the policies of the company. I also like his idea of the interests of the agent first, then company.
ClarityCompany policies are explained before an agent makes a decision.
Susan Z.
Agent feedback
I was so pleased and impressed to learn about the resources and brokerage structure Charles Rutenberg Realty offers its agents. Ray was very informative and very personable.
StructureIndependent work with brokerage structure, compliance guidance, and answers available when needed.
Workplace Recognition
Company recognition
Charles Rutenberg Realty has been named to the Chicago Tribune Top 100 Workplaces list five times, including being ranked first among mid-size companies.
CultureRecognized for workplace culture and the agent experience it supports.
Service Recognition
Company recognition
Quality Service Certification, Inc. ranked Charles Rutenberg Realty first among the top five large companies surveyed in North America.
ServiceRecognition tied to a service-focused operating standard.
Meet Ray Zabielski
Designated Managing Broker, Charles Rutenberg Realty of Illinois
Ray Zabielski is a 40-plus-year real estate industry veteran and the Designated Managing Broker of Charles Rutenberg Realty of Illinois.
His focus is simple: create the infrastructure for independent agents to build their businesses around while keeping the work moral, legal, ethical, and protective of the company’s good name.
Ray’s style is direct, straightforward, and friendly. The goal is not to pressure agents into a decision. It is to lay out the facts, answer questions, and help each broker decide whether the model fits.
Why keeping 100% of your commission changes the conversation
For independent-minded REALTORS®, every split, fee, and transaction cost affects what is left after the closing. Charles Rutenberg Realty is positioned around 100% commission retention with a fixed, transparent fee structure instead of a traditional production split.
The assessment helps you compare that structure against the way you already work: your transaction volume, your need for autonomy, your comfort with compliance structure, and your current brokerage costs.
This is not an income promise or a guarantee that every agent should switch. It is a practical way to decide whether a clear-fee, autonomy-first brokerage conversation is worth having.
Strength in numbers, without giving up independence
Many agents want the freedom to run their own business, but they still need a brokerage structure behind them for compliance, transaction processing, practical resources, and clear answers when real situations come up.
Charles Rutenberg Realty gives independent Chicago-area agents access to an established brokerage community, direct managing broker accessibility, and practical structure that helps agents stay focused on serving clients.
The right fit is an agent who values autonomy, wants cost clarity, takes client representation seriously, and wants the backing of a brokerage model built around straightforward structure rather than constant oversight.
A clearer look at the brokerage model before the conversation
These short videos give agents more context about the structure, expectations, and fit before deciding whether the assessment and follow-up conversation make sense.
Deciding whether it fits
A short guide to help agents evaluate autonomy, cost clarity, and the kind of brokerage conversation worth having.
Common Questions
Questions brokers often ask before evaluating a brokerage move
The assessment is designed to make the first conversation more useful by clarifying your current structure, production, timing, and brokerage-model questions before you speak with Ray.
Who is this assessment for?
It is for licensed real estate brokers and agents, especially those operating in Illinois and the MRED market, who want to understand whether a 100% commission, transparent-fee brokerage model may fit the way they already work.
What will I learn from my answers?
You will get a clearer snapshot of your brokerage-fit readiness, including commission clarity, autonomy fit, brokerage-structure expectations, switching timing, and whether a conversation with Ray makes sense.
How long does the assessment take?
The questions are short and focused. Most brokers should be able to complete the assessment in just a few minutes.
What happens after I complete it?
You will receive a readiness snapshot based on your answers. Ray or his team can then use that context to answer your questions more directly and help you decide whether the model is a fit.
Is this a sales pitch?
The tone is intended to be direct and educational. Ray’s approach is to lay out the facts, answer questions, and let the broker decide whether the information meets their needs.
Is Charles Rutenberg Realty a lead-generation or heavy-training brokerage?
No. Charles Rutenberg Realty is positioned as a sponsoring brokerage for independent-minded REALTORS®, focused on 100% commission retention, transparent fees, autonomy, compliance, processing, and brokerage structure, compliance, and processing.
Start the Brokerage Fit & Commission Clarity Assessment and see whether a clear-fee, 100% commission model is worth a conversation.
Start the Assessment
Complete the form above to unlock the brokerage-fit questions.