There's a myth that agents switch brokerages because they're struggling. The 2026 data says a lot of the agents moving are doing just fine.

In the National Association of REALTORS®' October 2026 analysis, NAR looked at agents who left their firm in the past two years. Among those with 6 to 10 years of experience, 17% did more than $8 million a year in sales or leasing volume. It was 16% for those with 11 to 15 years and 16 to 25 years. For movers with 2 years or less, it was zero.

A Q3 2026 report from Recruiting Insight and Lone Wolf Technologies put it another way: the top 10% of agents who moved carried 41% of all the production that changed firms.

I'm Rob Bergeron, Owner–Realtor of Winner Realty in Louisville. Other licensed agents hire me to sell and buy their own homes, and I've talked with a lot of producers about moving. Here's what they ask about.

1. The economics, at their real volume

A plan that made sense at eight closings can cost you tens of thousands at twenty-five. Producers want to see the math at their own numbers, not a brochure.

Here's an example using our two plans for experienced agents. Say your average commission is $7,500 per closing, all from business you bring in yourself. (Your numbers will be different.)

• 12 closings ($90,000 in commission): you keep $79,320 on our 100% plan and $71,760 on our 85/15 plan. The 100% plan puts $7,560 more in your pocket.
• 25 closings ($187,500): you keep $172,985 on the 100% plan and $150,800 on the 85/15 plan. That's $22,185 more.

The 100% plan is $595 a month plus $295 per closing. The 85/15 plan is $100 a month plus 15% and $295 per closing. At $7,500 per closing, the two plans break even right around five or six closings a year. Above that, the 100% plan wins. I go deeper in Real Estate Commission Splits Explained.

2. Support that doesn't slow them down

At volume, the bottleneck is time. Producers want contract-to-close help, fast contract review, and a broker who picks up. A brokerage that adds paperwork without adding help is a tax.

3. Deal flow beyond their own sphere

Even top producers want more at-bats, especially in a slower market. The best ones want investor, commercial, and off-market opportunities, not more portal leads they have to pay for twice.

4. Room to build

Some want to start a team. Some want to move into commercial. Some want income streams that don't depend on the next closing. A brokerage that can't grow with them is the reason they started looking.

5. Leadership they respect

Producers don't want to be managed. They want to be backed. The same Recruiting Insight report found agents in an office that just lost 20% or more of its agents were 1.9 times as likely to leave, too. Top producers watch who else is leaving, and why.

How to move without losing momentum

• Read your independent contractor agreement for how pending deals are paid after you leave
• Line up the license transfer so it's same-day, with no gap
• Have your announcement, bio updates, and new signs ready to go the day you move, not before
• Tell your active clients personally

State rules matter here. Kentucky: How to Switch Brokerages in Kentucky. Indiana: How to Switch Brokerages in Indiana.

Where Winner Realty fits

Winner Realty is an independent brokerage in Louisville, licensed in Kentucky and Indiana, built for agents who want investor and commercial deal flow without buying leads. For producers, that means:

• A 100% plan at $595 a month and $295 per closing
• Residential and commercial leads in your inbox every morning at 6:30
• Commercial deals through Winner Commercial
• Contract-to-close support from our COO, Colleen Reilly, and broker support from Lisa Tucker
• Extra income through Winner Services

We don't promise production numbers. We'll show you exactly what you'd be working with.

Book a time with me here, or text or email me at (502) 305-8915 or Rob@thewinnerrealty.com. You can see all three of our plans on our Join page.

For the bigger picture, read Why Real Estate Agents Switch Brokerages: What the 2026 Data Shows.

Frequently asked questions

Do top-producing agents switch brokerages?

Yes, especially mid-career. NAR found 17% of agents with 6 to 10 years of experience who switched firms in the past two years did more than $8 million in annual volume. A Q3 2026 Recruiting Insight report found the top 10% of movers carried 41% of the production that changed firms.

What do top real estate agents look for in a brokerage?

Better economics at their real volume, transaction support that saves time, deal flow they don't have to buy, room to build a team or a commercial business, and leadership that backs them.

When does a 100% commission plan make sense?

When your production is high enough that a flat monthly fee costs less than a split would. At Winner Realty, with a $7,500 average commission, our 100% plan beats our 85/15 plan at around six or more closings a year.