After leaving her job as a litigation paralegal, Laura Forman earned her real estate license to add a next-level challenge to her life. Seven years later, she’s become a shining star in the Chicago real estate industry while still finding time to practice self-care and spend valuable time with her children.

Forman understands the unique feel of each of Chicago’s suburbs and strives to learn more about the areas she serves every day. “I raised my four children here. I’ve explored the trails, beaches and forest preserves. I love exploring each area’s downtown,” she says. “It’s fun to learn the character of each town.”

Forman’s knowledge of the Chicago market and passion for finding the perfect home for her clients make her an agent who becomes more like a friend and advocate rather than a salesperson. “I become a friend they can trust,” she says, adding that she lets her clients in on the “behind-the-scenes” secrets of the industry. “My clients feel like they’re important to me, because they are. I don’t take their transaction lightly and I put my all into each sale or purchase.”

Forman says her biggest accomplishment of the past year has been learning to ask for help when she needs it. “I’ve always been one to do things on my own. I’m picky about how things are done, and how my clients are treated,” she says. However, when her business began to grow, she realized she needed an extra pair of hands on her side. She added agent Kendall Ross to her team, allowing her to assist more clients while maintaining the same level of white-glove service. “It’s incredibly fun to work closely with someone who operates similarly to me and has the same drive,” Forman says. “We keep each other going and have fun with the creative side of our business.”