Is There Really a Different Kind of Brokerage? Josh Ries Says Yes.

Josh Ries did not say yes right away. He said no.
When Holly Brink reached out cold on LinkedIn about a Managing Broker role in South Dakota, Josh politely declined. He was happy where he was, and switching brokerages is not a casual decision.

Then something unusual happened.

There was no pitch. No pressure. No “get on a call and we’ll tell you the details.” Instead, the conversation stayed human, and the information stayed public. Josh did what most serious business owners do. He researched.

What he found made him circle back.

This blog post breaks down the key moments from Josh and Sandi Lyn’s interview and why the conversation matters for agents in South Dakota, and for growth markets like Texas and Iowa.

The Moment Josh Realized, This Is Not a Typical Brokerage

Josh described the recruiting he was used to, constant outreach from national virtual brokerages, heavy on scripts, light on substance. He said the difference with My Real Estate Company started immediately:

• The conversation did not feel like recruiting

• The value was visible before any call happened

• The brokerage was not hiding the model, the pricing, or the plan

Josh shared that he could find “everything” publicly, including trainings, streams, and leadership discussions. In his words, it felt like value, not a hype campaign.

Transparency Over Gatekeeping

One theme came up repeatedly: no gatekeeping.

Josh pointed out how common it is for brokerages to say “we’ll explain when we meet” and to treat information like it is a sales asset. Sandi’s response was simple, why waste time for either side?

The brokerage approach is direct:

• Publish the systems

• Publish the standards

• Publish the training

• Then meet for questions, not a sales presentation

For agents who have been burned by vague promises, that shift matters.

Not an MLM Model, Not a Rev Share Pitch

This section of the interview went deep, and it is a big reason this conversation will get shared.

Josh explained why he has never believed in MLM style rev share structures long-term. His concern was not about personalities, it was about sustainability.

He described three recurring issues:

1. Revenue gets spread thinner over time

2. Growth becomes dependent on constant recruiting

3. Public company incentives eventually shift away from agents

Sandi added her own experience, including how recruiting hard at prior companies created risk when the company failed to deliver on support and operations.

The takeaway was clear:
This brokerage is built to be durable, not flashy.

Invite Only Culture, Protecting Agent Reputation

Another standout point was the idea of being invite only, not open enrollment.

Sandi framed it this way, a brokerage’s reputation is only as strong as the agents inside it. Agents who take a chance on a new brand should not be forced to share space with people who damage that brand.

Josh agreed, saying many brokerages feel like an arms race, anyone with a license gets a chair. Here, the bar is different:

• Culture matters

• Ego does not get rewarded

• Contribution is expected

Training That Actually Shows Up on the Calendar

The interview outlined a weekly rhythm that supports agents with structure.

Monday through Thursday at 10:00 AM Central, there is always something happening.

• Mondays: Open forum, real deals, real problems, real solutions

• Tuesdays: True crime in real estate, agent safety, scams, hard lessons

• Wednesdays: Work on the business, systems, marketing, lead flow, execution

• Thursdays: Company meeting, updates, alignment, then back to production

Josh said he has received more training in two months than he received in years at prior brokerages. The difference is consistency and accessibility.

Broker Support With Real Humans, Not Ticket Systems

Support was described in practical terms, not buzzwords.

Sandi explained the live support window:

• Weekdays 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Central

• A live Zoom room agents can enter for help

• Support channels inside Slack for quick answers

• Managing brokers available across markets

Josh added that even outside set hours, the system makes it easier to get help fast, without waiting weeks for an email response.

Why This Matters in South Dakota, and Why Texas and Iowa Are Watching

Josh’s story starts in South Dakota, and he referenced Rapid City, Sturgis, and the reality of operating in a market that needs more options and better systems.

But this interview is not only about one state.

The same problems show up everywhere:

• agents paying more and getting less

• outdated structures being treated as non-negotiable

• broker access disappearing when you need it most

This model is being built to scale across markets, while keeping training and support visible and consistent.

Key Takeaways From the Interview

• Josh said yes because the value was public before the pitch

• Transparency replaced gatekeeping

• The brokerage is not built on recruiting pressure

• Invite-only culture protects reputation and standards

• Training is structured, weekly, and consistent

• Support is designed for real-time agent needs

If you are exploring options and want clarity, start with questions.
You do not need a sales call to get basic information.
You need a straight answer, a clear model, and a place that will still make sense a year from now.

Josh Ries is a real estate broker and a lead generation consultant. You can connect with him on TikTok and Instagram.
Sandi Lyn Burnett is a Marine Corps Veteran, Licensed Real Estate Agent in Iowa & Illinois, C0-Founder & CEO. You can connect with her on  Instagram and LinkedIn.
Holly Brink is the Co-Founder and COO, Multi-State Managing Broker, Inman Contributor. You can connect with her on  Inman and LinkedIn.