Which statement about compensation for a licensed personal assistant is correct?

Which statement about compensation for a licensed personal assistant is correct?

• A. The salary may be paid by either the sales associate or the broker. The broker must pay the commission.
• B. The salary may be paid by either the sales associate or the broker. The commission is paid by the buyer.
• C. The salary is paid by the assistant from commissions only.
• D. The salary is paid by the seller.

Answer: (A)

In real estate practice, who pays the licensed personal assistant and who pays the real estate commissions are both controlled by the broker. A licensed personal assistant can be compensated with a salary, and that salary can be funded either by the broker or by the sales associate the assistant works with. The real estate commission itself, earned on a transaction, is paid to the broker, who then disburses portions to licensees involved in the deal. Clients such as buyers or sellers do not directly pay the assistant’s salary or a licensee’s share of the commission. This setup keeps compensation aligned with brokerage supervision and the flow of commission through the broker.