If you're an Aurora, IL real estate agent considering a move to eXp Realty, you're probably already researching the commission structure, the cloud-based model, and the revenue share opportunity. But one question doesn't get enough attention during that research process: who you pick as your sponsor matters just as much as the brokerage itself.
Your sponsor is the agent who introduces you to eXp. They don't take a cut of your commission, they don't manage your license, and they have no administrative authority over you. What they do — if they're the right person — is show up for you. They answer your questions, plug you into real training, share what's actually working in their business, and help you build income streams beyond the transaction side. A bad sponsor is someone you never hear from again after you sign. A great sponsor is a resource you use for the entire time you're at eXp.
So what does a great eXp sponsor actually look like, and why are agents across Illinois and the country reaching out to Riley Hextell?
What to Look For in an eXp Realty Sponsor
Not every active eXp agent makes a strong sponsor. When you're evaluating someone, there are a few concrete things worth asking about.
Production and credibility
The first question is simple: are they actually doing deals? An agent who sponsored their way into eXp without building a real sales business can't teach you what they don't know. You want a sponsor who is in the market every week, negotiating contracts, navigating inspections, managing difficult clients, and closing transactions. That lived experience is what separates useful guidance from generic advice.
Riley Hextell is ranked number one at eXp Realty Illinois for total transactions in 2025 and sits in the top 50 of more than 80,000 eXp agents companywide. He was named the 2024 Chicago Association of Realtors Rookie of the Year. These aren't vanity numbers — they reflect a production level that very few agents at any brokerage achieve, and they mean that when Riley talks about what works, he's speaking from current, firsthand experience. You can read more about how he built that track record in his account of winning the Rookie of the Year award.
Structured training and accountability
eXp Realty has a robust internal training library, but the agents who grow fastest aren't just clicking through videos on their own. They have a sponsor who offers structured, recurring training with real accountability attached. Ask any sponsor you're evaluating: do you run a weekly call? Do you cover lead generation, scripts, contracts, and business planning? Or do you hand someone a login and wish them luck?
Riley runs weekly training sessions that cover the practical mechanics of building a real estate business — lead-gen systems, conversion strategies, listing presentations, and the revenue share model itself. These aren't recorded replays you watch alone at midnight. They're live, interactive, and built around what's actually moving the needle in today's market.
Lead generation systems
One of the biggest reasons agents struggle at any brokerage, including eXp, is that they never build a repeatable system for generating business. They rely on referrals until the pipeline runs dry. Riley's approach is to give agents the frameworks he uses in his own production — specific lead-gen strategies that agents can deploy in their own markets, whether they're in Aurora, Rockford, Springfield, or anywhere else in the country.
Revenue share understanding
eXp's revenue share model is a genuine long-term income opportunity, but most agents don't fully understand it when they join. A good sponsor takes time to walk you through exactly how it works, what your potential earnings look like at different sponsorship levels, and how to build a downline that generates passive income alongside your transaction business. You can get a foundation on how the model works in this breakdown of eXp Realty's revenue share for Illinois agents.
Riley sponsors agents specifically because he believes in the compound value of building both a production business and a revenue share organization at the same time. He's built both, and he teaches both.
Does It Matter That Riley Is Based in Illinois, Not Aurora?
Riley is based in Illinois and sponsors agents across the country remotely. eXp is a cloud-based brokerage by design — there's no physical office you commute to, and there's no reason your sponsor needs to be down the street from you. Riley works with agents in multiple states who receive the same training, the same access, and the same level of responsiveness that his local Illinois agents do.
What matters is whether your sponsor is reachable, whether their training is relevant to your market, and whether they have the production record to back up what they're teaching. Geography is not the constraint it would be at a traditional brokerage.
What Agents Gain Under Riley's Sponsorship
To be direct about what you're actually getting:
Weekly live training sessions covering lead generation, business development, and the eXp platform.
Direct access to Riley for questions about transactions, business strategy, and building a sponsorship organization of your own.
Lead-gen systems drawn from a business that ranked number one in Illinois for total transactions at eXp in 2025.
Mentorship from a USN veteran who built his business from scratch and reached the top 50 of 80,000-plus eXp agents in his first years.
A clear walkthrough of the revenue share model and how to build it alongside your sales production.
A sponsor who is still actively selling — not someone who retired into team-building mode.
Riley has over 135 five-star Google reviews from clients, which reflects the kind of client experience and operational consistency that translates directly into teachable systems for the agents he sponsors.
How to Connect With Riley
If you're an Aurora-area agent seriously considering eXp Realty and want to talk through whether it's the right move, reach out directly. Riley is straightforward about the pros and cons of the brokerage, what the transition looks like, and what you can realistically expect in year one. You're not going to get a sales pitch — you're going to get an honest conversation.
Reach Riley at 815-545-7476, [email protected], or through his website at rileyhextell.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my eXp Realty sponsor have to be in the same city as me?
No. eXp Realty is a cloud-based brokerage, which means there is no physical office requirement and no geographic restriction on sponsorship. Riley Hextell sponsors agents across the country remotely and provides the same training and access regardless of where an agent is located.
What does an eXp Realty sponsor actually do for you?
A sponsor introduces you to eXp and ideally becomes a long-term resource for training, accountability, and business development. They do not take a portion of your commission and have no authority over your license. The value of a sponsor depends entirely on how engaged they are — a great sponsor offers structured training, shares proven lead-gen systems, explains the revenue share model, and remains accessible after you join.
Can I change my eXp Realty sponsor after I join?
Sponsor changes at eXp are possible under limited circumstances and are not automatic. This is one reason why choosing the right sponsor before you join matters significantly. It's worth doing the research upfront rather than assuming you can switch easily later.
Why is Riley Hextell considered one of the strongest eXp sponsors for Illinois agents?
Riley is ranked number one at eXp Realty Illinois for total transactions in 2025, sits in the top 50 of more than 80,000 eXp agents companywide, and was named the 2024 Chicago Association of Realtors Rookie of the Year. He runs weekly training, offers direct mentorship, and sponsors agents nationwide. His production record means the systems he teaches come from active, verified experience — not theory.