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cott Hustis and Mark Jovanovic, founding partners of Compass-affiliated Paradigm Advisory, have spent 20 years building a blueprint for success. Their journey is ranked No. 9 by sales volume in New York State in the RealTrends Verified 2025 agent and team rankings.
Hustis, a finance graduate from Virginia Tech, and Jovanovic, who grew up in San Diego but ended up in New York with his wife's job, met and started building their business one client at a time. They quickly adopted data analysis and financial modeling, setting themselves apart from the industry standard.
Their early success led to founding roles at Compass in 2014, where they helped build the tech stack and rebranded as Paradigm Advisory several years ago to stand out within the growing organization.
The team emphasizes putting clients first, even when it's not easy. "We look at each individual client like a project," Jovanovic said. "Our whole business is referral-based. We don't mail buildings or sign up for Zillow leads."
Hustis echoed the sentiment: "Doing what's right for the client – even if it's not right for us in that moment – is the key." Their advice to other agents? Think long-term and act with integrity.
Despite a volatile market, Paradigm Advisory remains steady. In 2024, they posted $178.62 million in volume, down from pre-pandemic highs but far from the industry-wide cliff some experienced.
Hustis said continued perseverance during the initial post-shutdown months eventually paid off in the form of a sizeable deal. "We did close one of the larger sales of our career, about $61 million," he said. "That kept us in the game."
The pair is optimistic about current market dynamics, citing a 9% increase in New York City numbers this year. While interest rates remain high and development lags, Jovanovic said people want to be in New York City because it's exciting, with jobs and energy.
Paradigm Advisory continues to grow by keeping things simple – take care of clients, innovate where possible, and stay grounded. "We're running a small business," Jovanovic said. "People don't think about it that way."
