Whether it is a bull or a bear market, there are always ways for those who are good at investing to make money. Raine and Horne serves clients who wish to diversify their portfolio and aim to preserve their wealth or make money amid economic volatility.
The 128-year old Australian company, which specialises in selling or leasing investment-grade international property, counts 350 offices in more than 20 countries. But the Hong Kong franchise, with its 10-year history, is not resting on its laurels; it is planning to expand in the city, as well as in the region.
'We see ourselves expanding. With challenged economies in many parts of the world and the vagaries of the stock market, Hong Kong investors realise the importance of portfolio diversity,' says John Monaghan, who took over as managing director of Raine and Horne's Hong Kong office in August last year.
'In addition, Hong Kong has the highest rate of property ownership in the world, and leverage has always attracted great interest,' he says, adding that liquidity in Asia is still high and that developers in New Zealand and Australia are keen to promote their properties here.
Currently working with about 20 staff in sales and marketing positions, Monaghan is planning to double his staff in Hong Kong. In 2013, he hopes to expand the brand to Singapore and mainland China.
'Our culture is quite unique,' he says, explaining that the customer is most important of all, followed by the frontline sales and marketing staff - owing to the fact that they interface with the customer.
'The managers are there to support the frontline staff - about five or six people in each team - and the managing director is there 'to create opportunities for them',' he says.