What is it about your company association that benefits you the most as a Realtor? Is it the size of the company? It's market share? Its educational programs? Its affiliations? Advertising support? Which of these or other benefits puts the most money in your pocket and peace of mind in your heart?

At RE/MAX® International, having a Dave Liniger as your CEO means unparalleled publicity for such things as company-logoed outer space balloon missions, an award winning private golf course used for charitable functions, and satellite TV for news, information, and continuing education. But how much is having RE/MAX's balloon worth to you on your business card? Do your customers and clients choose you...or the balloon?

Coldwell-Banker® was among the first large brokerage firms to actively embrace the Internet as a means of contacting and serving customers, launching it's Retriever® program for consumers in April of this year. It is today the only national brokerage firm with a new listings e-mail program for consumers. Only Realtor.com and Microsoft HomeAdvisor have that kind of service. Coldwell was also among the first large brokerages to foretell the return of the second home and luxury buyer, implementing an Internet search and program for the top tier buyer and seller. Does being with a technology-savvy firm make a difference to your bottom line?

On the West Coast, few Realtors have the name cachet that Fred Sands enjoys. Known as the Realtor to the Stars, Hollywood's, that is, Fred Sands, Realtors® provides boutique-quality service, but with national clout. What is the name of your broker worth to you in your market?

What about actual employee benefits, which are nonexistent or at best, more costly, to the independent contractor - the Realtor? Century 21® Millenium on the East Coast has solved that problem. As of July of this year, the company is offering its agents a full benefits package - salary, health coverage, 401K plan, sick leave, vacation time, and profit-sharing. The caveat? You're no longer self-employed, but you can leave the worries of self-employment behind.

This is also the plan of Soma Living, a San Francisco-based buyer's agency. All of the commissions earned by the group goes into the till to pay everyone. The advantage is no one ever gets desperate enough to tempt the rules.

Are these salaried agents happier? Are they making the kind of money they want to make? If you are on salary, let us know. What do you give up and what do you get back in return?

You may be with a small firm of only a few people, or you may be part of a five digit sales force with associates from around the world. If you have left a company, tell us why, and if you love the company you're with, what makes you stay?

Let us know which companies offer the best benefits, and why you think so. Be sure to include your name, company, and contact information.