"Life is short. You have to make the most of every day and every interaction," says REALTORⓇ Alice Chin of Compass in Naperville. This simple yet powerful statement sums up the philosophy behind Alice’s accomplishments and what continues to drive her in the world of real estate. 

For nearly two decades, Alice has built a thriving career by staying grounded in her core values: hard work, integrity, and genuine care for people. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Alice immigrated to the United States at the age of three with her family. Her parents, like many immigrants, worked multiple jobs to provide for their two daughters. Growing up in this environment gave Alice an appreciation and understanding of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of success. 

"The American dream is very personal to me, and I love that I have a job that helps other people achieve it as well," Alice shares.

Alice attended Naperville North High School and later graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign with honors in finance. She soon found herself in the corporate finance world, working at Bank One Corporation (now JP Morgan Chase) as an analyst and underwriter. But life in a cubicle, crunching numbers all day, wasn't fulfilling. 

"The highlight of my day was my morning pastry," Alice shares. "Every day would always go downhill from there."

Realizing the corporate world wasn’t for her, in a moment of bold decision-making, Alice quit her “dream” finance job without warning. She called her now-husband, Michael, from the train to deliver the news. 

“He was in disbelief,” she recalls. “We had a mortgage to pay.” But Alice had no doubts about her decision. 

She chose to enter real estate because she sought a career where she could build her own business and make a direct impact in people’s lives. However, Alice’s first few days as a REALTORⓇ were far from glamorous. She started on Memorial Day weekend in 2005, eagerly waiting for clients to call. 

"I sat by the phone just knowing that it would start ringing off the hook once people heard about this new agent in town!" she recalls, laughing. "Needless to say, that didn’t happen." 

Alice didn’t wait for things to fall into place. She started making calls herself, learning the ropes through sheer determination and grit. The beginning wasn’t easy. Alice struggled to gain her footing in a competitive market, but her natural ability to connect with people became her strongest asset. She soon learned that her clients weren’t just buying or selling houses; they were navigating their way through one or more of life’s biggest moments like starting a family, going through a divorce, or retiring. 

"More than once, clients have told me, ‘Hiring a REALTORⓇ is cheaper than hiring a therapist,’" Alice says. "It’s rewarding to be able to help relieve my clients’ stress where I can."

In the last few years, Alice has built a strong team around her—one that shares her commitment to service and integrity: “James Gargano’s unique skill set and depth of knowledge are invaluable assets,” says Alice of the thirty-five-year real estate veteran who operates a full-service valuation firm in addition to being a full-time broker; REALTOR® Tiffany Kniffin’s area of expertise extends from Naperville into the small farm communities past DeKalb; and agent Samantha Moran brings a legal administration background to the team.

Behind the scenes, a full-time administrative staff ensures that everything runs smoothly. Christina La Fiura, the team’s transaction coordinator, handles the contracts from start to finish with precision and reliability; Megan De La Torre, the listing coordinator, is always ready to jump into new projects and brings boundless optimism to each new listing; and Jessica Tate, the operations manager, handles marketing, events, training, and more. 

“We work together on every transaction, problem-solving as a group. Our clients benefit from our combined eighty years of experience. And we [our team] truly are friends. This business can be a lot to handle. Knowing that you always have passionate and trustworthy people in your corner makes a big difference,” she says.

With her well-established team and strong business model that includes dedicated service to her community, Alice looks toward the future with great optimism. She’s also working for a larger vision:  

"I would love to build something that lasts beyond me," Alice says. "Most agents’ businesses end with their retirement or death, but I hope mine does not. I hope that my teammates find value in what we’ve built to keep serving our community."

In her downtime, Alice enjoys staying active with her husband, Michael. The two often participate in Spartan Races (long-distance obstacle course races) together. Their children, Annabelle (11) and Isaac (6), also keep them busy. Alice serves her community as a member of Edward Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which supports Endeavor Health Edward Hospital, and as a board member of the Downtown Naperville Alliance.

As Alice continues to grow her business and balance her family life, one thing remains constant: her passion for helping others achieve their dreams of homeownership. “The true measures of success are the relationships you build along the way. Because for all of us, life is short,” she says. "We get to assist our clients, our neighbors, during their most monumental life events. It’s important to keep that perspective."