Boston-based Sperry Van Ness International Corp. (SVNIC) has merged with Ontario-based Rock Advisors Inc. to launch SVNIC’s first Canadian location.

The new office will operate under the name Sperry Van Ness/Rock Advisors Inc.

Sperry Van Ness/Rock Advisors Inc. will encourage brokers work to together as franchisees, sharing client bases and information.

“The traditional brokerage model is dysfunctional,” SVNIC President and CEO Kevin Maggiacomo said in a statement. “The way the system is designed encourages brokers to hold their client base close and not share with the wider market, even though it’s well known that a larger market means more offers, which means higher prices and higher commissions.”

The merger will allow brokers to expand their reach into other real estate classes throughout Canada, including self-storage, hotels and mixed-use development. Rock Advisors Inc. CEO Derek Lobo’s vision for expansion is to grow to over 30 locations in the next seven years.

“We live in an increasingly connected world,” Lobo said in a statement. “The competitive Canadian marketplace is an excellent opportunity for U.S. investors who are looking for a new territory that is also familiar. We are happy to partner with a leading American company to bring institutional level services to the Canadian mid-market, all the while building long-term enterprise value to potential franchisees. Together, we can benefit from each other’s experience and energy, generating business that is greater than the sum of its parts.”