Manning: With the recent volatility in the equity markets, I believe investors are seeing the benefits of non-correlated alternative investments, such as commercial real estate held through non-traded REITs. Long viewed as an income alternative due to their distributions, non-traded REITs with long-term growth potential are also being used as equity alternatives as investors seek greater diversification in their portfolios. Of course, we are also seeing a tightening regulatory environment that will ultimately result in a more varied product landscape as sponsors change the structure of their existing offerings, introduce new product types and add additional share classes.

GlobeSt.com: How do you feel KBS is changing to meet market demand?

Manning: At KBS, we fully embrace the coming regulatory changes and the increased transparency it will bring to investors regarding fees in the industry. We are structuring our new offerings ot be more flexible and completely compliant with these new regulations. In terms of meeting the demand for a greater range of products, we have a history of distributing multiple non-traded REIT offerings that invest in different portfolio types with unique risk and return profiles. This has allowed advisors to select a more income-oriented KBS offering or a more growth-oriented KBS offering depending on a client's particular needs. The one thing common to all our offerings so far is they have been focused on acquiring real estate and making real estate-related investments. We are now exploring distributing multiple product types that may even include sponsors not affiliated with KBS Capital Markets Group.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about the leadership changes in your company?

Manning: One of the things that differentiates KBS is our commitment to consistency and continuity. With this in mind, we promote from within whenever possible. In my case, I've been with KBS Capital Markets Group since the beginning. I was one of the original wholesalers when we launched in 2006. Since that time, I served as national sales manager for many years before being promoted to president and then CEO in 2015. This is also true of other key positions with the organization, such as the appointment of Jeff Kremin to the national sales manager role recently. Jeff had been a senior regional VP and a divisional sales manager with us for years. Corporate knowledge and culture are important to maintain, and our recent changes reflect that.