What's the difference between a Broker, Real Estate Agent and a REALTOR®?

Many people mess up these terms so let me clarify.   

First, I am a licensed real estate salesperson.  (Real Estate agents aren't licensed as "real estate agents".  The designation is "licensed real estate salesperson" and the license is issued by the State, meaning I am a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in the State of New York.  (This same license covers all real estate related activities that I do including helping people to rent apartments.)

Second, I am (as is required by law) affiliated with a brokerage, and my brokerage has a broker of record (*which is definitely not me!)   The broker is the person who is responsible for signing off on any paperwork I submit and making sure that I'm following the rules.   My brokerage affiliation is Keller Williams NYC. 

In turn, a REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of a board affiliated with the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  
I was actually a member of LIBOR, NYSAR and NAR and successfully completed their ethics training, but am now a member of a brokerage affiliated with REBNY (The Real Estate Board of New York.)     REBNY withdrew from NAR, so this means that I am a licensed real estate salesperson affiliated with Keller Williams New York (as my brokerage) and am a dues paying member of REBNY.   As a member of REBNY I have access to the RLS, which is the dominant broker shared listing service in New York City and that is one of the key ways that I can find and take listings for my clients.   

And that's pretty much how the cookie crumbles!
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