According to HousingWire, Ruth Reffkin, the mother of Compass CEO Robert Reffkin, has launched her own real estate team under the Compass banner in New York City. She is partnering with Susan Hirschorn, who will serve as the team's principal strategist. The team is starting as a two-person operation, though Reffkin has indicated openness to expanding in the future.
In announcing the team's launch, Reffkin and Hirschorn explained their mission is to provide personalized service and broad support to various client groups including buyers, homeowners, investors, families, and seniors going through major life transitions. They also highlighted that Compass International Holdings now gives them access to a stronger national and international network to better serve clients.
What's particularly interesting about this story is that despite having more than two decades of experience in real estate, this is actually the first team Reffkin has led or owned. She told HousingWire that she had previously worked on other people's teams but struggled with confidence and some self-doubt about starting her own. Finding the right business partner in Hirschorn has helped shift that mindset.
Reffkin emphasized that having access to Compass's platform and back-office support has been crucial to her confidence in launching this venture. The infrastructure and transaction services available through Compass mean she doesn't have to manage payroll and other operational headaches that typically come with running a team, allowing her to focus on client relationships instead.
Drawing on her previous role leading Compass Plus, which focused on serving senior clients, Reffkin already has established relationships with many agents at Compass. She sees potential to formalize some of those existing working relationships down the line, particularly with professionals like their senior moving manager.
What I am seeing locally here in the Bay Area is that experienced brokers and agents continue to recognize the value of building specialized teams within larger platforms like Compass. This trend reflects how the industry is evolving toward more collaborative, niche-focused service models rather than solo practitioners trying to do everything themselves. For our East Bay and Fremont buyers and sellers, this kind of specialization means more options to find agents who truly understand your specific situation, whether you're a senior downsizing, an investor, or a family navigating major transitions.
