Power Sessions — The Dos and Don'ts of Teams: Firewalls, Agency and Advertising (11/2/2026)

On a team, about to join one, or thinking of starting one? Here's how to keep your supervision, your firewalls and your advertising on the right side of the rules. The broker support team works through what trips teams up most often. A team isn't a separate brokerage: your team leader is your first line of defense, but the broker stays responsible for supervision, and a team that operates as if it's on its own creates real problems. From there it's designated agency on a team and what it takes to honor it: a firewall between the listing side and the buyer side, in team meetings, on the phone and in your transaction platform, where one wrong click can hand someone access to everything in the file. You'll hear when a team leader's name needs to be on the paperwork, how a team leader gets proper access, and what changes when someone on your team brings a buyer to a team listing. The second half is advertising: why your brokerage's name has to follow your name and your team name wherever they go, what belongs in your team agreement, whether team members can have their own signs, and why AI makes great marketing easy without changing a single rule. What's covered: • A team isn't a separate brokerage, and the broker is still responsible for supervision • What designated agency asks of a team • Keeping a firewall in team meetings, on calls and in your transaction files • The difference between adding someone to a file and adding them to your team • When a team leader's name needs to be on the agreements • Who can see a client's file, and how to disclose it when others can • Why your brokerage's name has to follow your name and your team name • Using AI for your marketing, and why what it makes is still your responsibility • Running your advertising past the design team and broker support first Chapters: 0:00 The dos and don'ts of teams 1:18 A team is not a separate brokerage 2:56 What designated agency means on a team 3:44 A listing agent and a buyer's agent on one team 4:22 Who can see the contracts 5:26 Disclose it when others will see the file 7:02 When the team leader's name goes on everything 8:42 The firewall in team meetings 9:47 The firewall in your transaction platform 10:55 Add a person, not a team member 13:10 Starting a team: how a team leader gets access 14:30 Adding someone to a file versus adding them to your team 15:12 Co-listing, supervision and a buyer from inside the team 17:26 Broker ID: your brokerage's name follows you 20:04 Can team members have their own sign? 21:00 Whose phone number goes on the sign? 21:57 The brokerage's address or phone on everything 26:36 Using AI for your advertising 27:57 Quick recap: agency, credit and confidentiality 28:32 Broker support is here for you Questions answered: Q: I'm on the same team as the agent on the other side of my deal. What do I need to do? A: Keep a real firewall. Don't share a client's motivation, urgency or anything else confidential, whether it's in a meeting, on a call or in your transaction file. If the way your team works makes that impossible, change how it works. Q: Can my team members put their own logo on their listings? A: Not while they're on the team. Team members advertise under the team and its supervision. If someone wants their own brand, that's a sign they may be ready to go solo. Either way, the brokerage's name still has to be there. Q: I made a great ad with AI. Am I done? A: Not yet. Give it your brokerage's logo and your team's, make sure the brokerage's contact information is on it, and check it yourself. If it isn't compliant, that's still on you, so ask broker support if you're not sure. Note: this conversation covers team and advertising scenarios for training purposes and is not legal advice. Bring specific situations to broker support or to counsel. Session: Power Sessions, recorded November 2, 2026 Hosted by the Five Star Real Estate broker support team. — Five Star Real Estate: the most supportive brokerage on the planet. Five Star: https://fivestarleaders.com Homebase, agent resources: https://homebase.fivestarleaders.com/ More Power Sessions:    • Power Sessions 2026