eXp Realty and Compass are structured very differently for agents. eXp offers an 80/20 split that caps annually, after which you keep 100% of your commission for the rest of the year, plus revenue share and stock ownership. Compass operates on a split model that varies by market and negotiated arrangement, without a universal cap that resets annually the same way. For most independent-minded agents in Peoria, eXp's model creates a clearer path to higher take-home income over time.
Key takeaways:
- eXp Realty offers an 80/20 split with an annual cap, after which agents earn 100% — Compass splits vary by negotiated arrangement with no universal equivalent.
- eXp agents can earn revenue share income by sponsoring other agents, a wealth-building tool Compass does not offer.
- Joining eXp under Riley Hextell means access to weekly training, lead-gen systems, one-on-one mentorship, and a sponsor ranked #1 at eXp Realty Illinois for total transactions in 2025.
- Riley sponsors agents across the country remotely, so Peoria agents get the same level of support as agents in any other market.
If you are a Peoria agent currently at Compass or considering it, this breakdown is worth reading before you make a decision. The comparison below covers compensation structure, technology, training, culture, and what a strong sponsorship line actually provides — because who you join under at eXp matters as much as the brokerage itself.
Commission Structure and Fees Side by Side
- Category: Base split; eXp Realty: 80/20 in favor of agent; Compass: Varies; negotiated by market
- Category: Annual cap; eXp Realty: Yes — after cap, 100% to agent; Compass: No universal cap equivalent
- Category: Monthly fees; eXp Realty: ~$85/month (covers kvCORE, cloud office, etc.); Compass: Varies; often higher desk/tech fees
- Category: Stock awards; eXp Realty: Yes — production and capping milestones; Compass: No
- Category: Revenue share; eXp Realty: Yes — earn from agents you sponsor; Compass: No
- Category: Profit share; eXp Realty: No; Compass: No
The table above captures the structural difference clearly. At eXp, the cost structure is transparent and consistent regardless of your market. At Compass, terms are often negotiated individually, which means what your colleague in another city earns or pays may look nothing like your arrangement. For Peoria agents who want predictability in their business math, that matters.
One category worth its own focus is revenue share. eXp agents who sponsor other agents into the company earn a share of their sponsees' commission income, up to seven tiers deep. This is not a referral bonus — it is a recurring, passive income stream that compounds as your organization grows. Compass does not have a comparable program. For agents thinking about long-term wealth building alongside their production income, this difference alone changes the calculus significantly.
Technology and Training
Compass has invested heavily in its proprietary tech platform, and it shows. Their tools for listing presentations, CMA generation, and marketing are well-designed and genuinely useful. That is a fair point in their favor.
eXp's technology stack centers on kvCORE for lead generation and CRM, Skyslope for transaction management, and eXp World — a virtual campus where agents attend live training sessions, collaborate, and connect with their brokerage. The virtual model means Peoria agents have access to the same tools, training, and leadership relationships as an agent in Chicago or Los Angeles.
eXp also offers structured training through eXp University, with hundreds of live sessions each week covering everything from contracts and negotiation to social media marketing and database systems. Compass provides training as well, but it is typically more localized to the office, which can limit what is available to agents in markets outside major metros.
This is where sponsorship becomes critical. The training eXp provides at the company level is strong, but the agents who grow fastest are the ones plugged into an active sponsor's ecosystem — someone running their own high-production business who shares what is actually working right now, not just curriculum from a corporate training deck.
What You Get Under Riley Hextell's Sponsorship
Choosing eXp over another brokerage is one decision. Choosing who sponsors you is a separate one, and it deserves the same level of thought.
Riley Hextell is ranked #1 at eXp Realty Illinois for total transactions in 2025 and sits in the top 50 of more than 80,000 agents companywide. He earned the 2024 Chicago Association of Realtors Rookie of the Year award and has built a business from scratch that now serves as a model other agents study and replicate. You can read more about how he built that business from the ground up if you want the full context.
Agents who join under Riley's sponsorship get access to:
- Weekly group training calls covering lead generation, conversion, listing strategy, and business systems
- One-on-one mentorship and accountability — not a form email when you have a question, but actual access
- Proven lead-gen frameworks that Riley uses in his own business and has refined through hundreds of transactions
- A community of agents across Illinois and other states who share what is working in their markets
- Direct guidance on how to build and grow a revenue share organization if that is a priority for you
Riley sponsors agents nationwide remotely. You do not need to be in Chicago or even in the same metro to get the full benefit of his sponsorship. Peoria agents work with him the same way agents in other Illinois cities do — through regular calls, direct communication, and shared systems.
This stands in contrast to what most agents experience under a traditional Compass office structure, where support comes primarily from a local manager with a full slate of responsibilities to an entire office.
If you are also weighing eXp against other independents in the Illinois market, the eXp Realty vs RE/MAX comparison built for Springfield agents covers a lot of overlapping ground and is worth reviewing alongside this article.
Who eXp Is the Right Fit For
Not every agent is the right fit for eXp, and it is worth saying that directly. eXp works best for agents who are:
- Self-motivated and do not need a physical office as their primary source of accountability
- Interested in building income streams beyond transaction commissions — through revenue share and stock
- Open to a virtual-first culture where most collaboration and training happens online
- Looking for a sponsor who is actively producing and can offer real, current guidance rather than theoretical advice
If you are the kind of agent who thrives with an in-person team environment, a Compass office may feel more natural. Compass has invested in physical office spaces and a culture built around in-person collaboration, which some agents genuinely prefer.
But if you are a Peoria agent who wants more control over your income ceiling, ownership in the company you are building for, and access to a mentor who is running a top-producing business in real time — eXp under a strong sponsor is worth a serious look.
How to Evaluate the Move
Before making any brokerage change, run your own numbers. Take your last 12 months of gross commission income, apply eXp's split and cap structure, and compare it to what you actually kept at your current brokerage. Most agents find the math shifts materially in their favor once the cap kicks in, especially in a year with strong production.
Then think about support. The most common complaint agents have after switching to any new brokerage is that the training and mentorship they were promised did not materialize. That is why who sponsors you at eXp is not a minor detail — it is central to whether the move actually works for your business.
Riley works directly with the agents in his organization. You can reach him at 815-545-7476, [email protected], or rileyhextell.com to talk through whether eXp is the right fit and what joining his sponsorship line would actually look like for your specific situation.
For a similar breakdown covering another Illinois market, the eXp vs Keller Williams comparison for Rockford agents addresses many of the same structural questions agents across the state are asking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Riley Hextell sponsor me if I am based in Peoria, IL?
Yes. Riley sponsors agents nationwide and works with agents remotely through regular calls, shared systems, and direct communication. Being based in Chicago does not limit his ability to support agents in Peoria or anywhere else in the country.
How does eXp's commission cap work?
At eXp, agents start at an 80/20 split. Once you pay a set amount to eXp in a given anniversary year, you have hit your cap — and for the remainder of that year, you keep 100% of your gross commission income. The cap resets each year on your anniversary date. This structure rewards agents who produce consistently and means your take-home increases significantly in strong production years.
Does Compass offer revenue share?
No. Compass does not have a revenue share program. eXp's revenue share model allows agents to earn a recurring percentage of the commission income generated by agents they sponsor, across multiple tiers. For agents interested in building income beyond their own transactions, this is a meaningful structural difference.
What is the main reason agents choose eXp over Compass?
The reasons vary, but the most common ones are the transparent cap structure that leads to 100% commission, the ability to earn revenue share income, stock awards tied to production milestones, and access to a national network of agents and training through the virtual model. For Peoria agents specifically, having a sponsor like Riley who is actively producing and accessible is often the deciding factor.